Our Mission is to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and to seek and serve Christ in all people.
St. John's Episcopal Church Mission Statement, January 2019
St. John's Episcopal Church Mission Statement, January 2019
Our Leaders
Bestowing a Birthday Blessing
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Michael Drinkwater was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida. He first came to the Episcopal Church as a teenager in Gulf Breeze, Florida when his family began to attend St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. He has fond memories of the people at St. Francis. The welcome they showed him as a newcomer continues to influence his ministry.
Michael first started working for the church when he joined the Bishop’s staff in 2008 as Coordinator for Youth Ministries for the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, a post he held while completing his Bachelor’s in Business Administration at the University of West Florida. In August of 2009, Michael left on a new adventure to attend the General Seminary of the Episcopal Church in Manhattan, where he was recognized as the Robert C. Dentan scholar for excellence in Old Testament and Hebrew Studies.
Following his graduation in 2012, Michael accepted a position at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he served as Canon for Outreach and Formation for over 6 years. He left in 2018 to complete his Master’s degree in Linguistics at the University of New Mexico.
Michael Drinkwater accepted the call to be the next Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Alamogordo in May of 2019. He looks forward to spending the next phase of his life serving his new parish and the community of Alamogordo.
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Offering prayers of the people
The Rev. Deacon Aileen Pallister-Walther came to Alamogordo from Orlando, FL just over a year ago. She served Episcopal Church of the Resurrection and three other churches while in Florida. Her outreach ministry included founding the Center for Christan Women's Spirituality and its support for women dealing with domestic violence and homelessness. The Center also published booklets on women in the Bible and journal writing as well as sponsoring spiritual retreats. She also taught world religions at Valencia College.
Currently she leads an ecumenical prayer and support group for women at St. John's. She has completed her thesis on the spirituality of Richard Hooker for Graduate Theological Foundation. It was accepted by a panel of reviewers and she will soon be formally awarded her PhD! She is delighted to be at St. John's and be of service to the church and community in Alamogordo.
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Br. David-Luke Henton, BSG was ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 19, 2021, and is blessed to continue to serve at St. John’s, where he completed his seminary field placement.
David-Luke’s adult Christian Formation began within the inclusive, multicultural community of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin; was ignited in prayer within the White Mountain Wilderness of southern New Mexico; and led to vowed religious life in the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, a canonical religious community of the Episcopal Church, in which he entered postulancy in 2005, and was Life Professed on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 15, 2015.
David-Luke retired in 2016 from a 30-year social work career, the last 20 years of which he served on the faculty and as Director of Field Education for the School of Social Work at Texas State University. Prior to that, he served as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas’ public mental health system, where he worked primarily in the areas of intellectual and developmental disabilities and older adult mental health. He holds graduate degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Spiritual Formation (MAPM), completed doctoral coursework in Social Welfare (ABD), and earned a Certificate in Theological Studies from the Bishop’s School for Ministry in the Diocese of the Rio Grande as part of the Iona Initiative of the Seminary of the Southwest.
Along with Tim Kruse, his partner of 35 years and spouse of five, David-Luke maintains a seasonal hospitality and retreat ministry at St. Brigid’s Rest in Cloudcroft. The joy of his “retired” life has been serving where needed in the Church and in the world. He is particularly overjoyed to get to serve, learn, grow and journey with the Beloved Christian Community of St. John's!
And, David-Luke seems to particularly enjoy signing off his messages with,
"Soli Deo Gloria, with much love and gratitude, David Luke!"
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David-Luke’s adult Christian Formation began within the inclusive, multicultural community of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin; was ignited in prayer within the White Mountain Wilderness of southern New Mexico; and led to vowed religious life in the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, a canonical religious community of the Episcopal Church, in which he entered postulancy in 2005, and was Life Professed on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 15, 2015.
David-Luke retired in 2016 from a 30-year social work career, the last 20 years of which he served on the faculty and as Director of Field Education for the School of Social Work at Texas State University. Prior to that, he served as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas’ public mental health system, where he worked primarily in the areas of intellectual and developmental disabilities and older adult mental health. He holds graduate degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Spiritual Formation (MAPM), completed doctoral coursework in Social Welfare (ABD), and earned a Certificate in Theological Studies from the Bishop’s School for Ministry in the Diocese of the Rio Grande as part of the Iona Initiative of the Seminary of the Southwest.
Along with Tim Kruse, his partner of 35 years and spouse of five, David-Luke maintains a seasonal hospitality and retreat ministry at St. Brigid’s Rest in Cloudcroft. The joy of his “retired” life has been serving where needed in the Church and in the world. He is particularly overjoyed to get to serve, learn, grow and journey with the Beloved Christian Community of St. John's!
And, David-Luke seems to particularly enjoy signing off his messages with,
"Soli Deo Gloria, with much love and gratitude, David Luke!"
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St. John's is overseen by a Vestry that works with the Rector to manage our parish. Current members of the Vestry are: Steve Van Vliet, Sharon Kelman, Joyce Summers, Junior Warden John Shipe, and Senior Warden Nancy Gregory. Members of the Vestry meet monthly with the Rector, review all budgetary matters with the support of Treasurer, Tony Burnett, look after the building and grounds of the parish, oversee all contractual matters, and must approve all purchases of significance. Vestry members are elected at the annual parish meeting in January. Members' individual ministries include volunteering in the churches outreach programs such as the Day School, working in the Community Kitchen, participating in the Blessing Bag ministry, as well as other community outreach activities.
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Photos by Ann Bagby
Commissioning of Altar Guild