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As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22
St. Thomas Episcopal Church continued its tradition of celebrating St. Andrew the Apostle Sunday, Nov. 27.
“Blessed by a sky of sunshine, warm weather, a joyous congregation, and led by a bagpipe and Scottish tenor drum the procession went from the historic old church and then out, following the Lord’s Supper, to the parish’s beautiful West Gardens for a wreath-laying in ‘Old Town’ Elizabethton,” said Father Timothy Scott Holder, priest and pastor.
Holder himself, as many others here in the mountains of Appalachia, claims ancestry back to the American Revolution and before from Scotland.
“We figure that St. Andrew being a great fisherman and all, hardworking for Jesus, and with Scottish roots, would make a fine Carter Countian today,” Holder said. “We have to admit, however,” he continued, “that venerated in Scotland for at least 1,200 years as patron, St. Andrew is claimed and beloved by at least seven countries and dozens of cities and smaller regions across the world.”
Jesus said, “Follow me,” and Andrew followed, “the Gospel tells us, and may we do so today!” Holder said. He also noted that an announcement is forthcoming in 2023 about the development of the St. Thomas Memorial Gardens with prayer and memorial gardens, evergreens, trees, flowers, bushes and more, all adding to the natural beauty surrounding the historic church, the city’s oldest church building still in use today.
“We envision a sanctuary for all both inside and outside the church,” said Holder.