At 118, St. John's Episcopal church is known for its warmth and friendliness and is determined to be known as "the little church that could."
By JEAN JOHNSON
Published May 3, 2003
BROOKSVILLE - One aspect that parishioners of St. John's Episcopal Church often take note of is its size - or lack thereof.
The building at 200 S Brooksville Ave. is small, and so is the parish.
But St. John's parishioners would be quick to point out the saying: "Good things come in small packages."
"Yes, it's the smallest church I've ever been with," said member Joe Piermatteo, "and I love it. It's friendly. Everyone seems to know each other and get along pretty good with each other."
The Leesburg transplant is one of the church's oldest members - in age, at 70, and in tenure, since 1981. He also has seen many transformations occur at the 118-year-old church.
"There've been some difficult times, but mostly there've been good changes, like the latest," said Piermatteo, referring to the arrival in July of the Rev. William Bozeman. "He's a very positive, very upbeat kind of fellow.
"There was a period when the church was in decline in membership. But now . . . we've really been having some good growth."
A member of the vestry - the Episcopalian equivalent to a board of directors - Piermatteo said it has been incredible how parishioners have responded to recent church activities, including a bingo supper, a sleep-in for teens and preteens, an ethnic dinner and an Easter luncheon.
"Father Bill is working hard, meeting people and attracting people, and his sermons are from the heart with no notes or anything," Piermatteo said.
Velda Brown echoes Piermatteo. A snowbird for five years, she attended St. John's a few times, but had no thoughts of joining because of the absence of a full-time pastor at the time.
"I attended another Episcopal church a few times," said Brown. But she preferred the warmth and friendliness of St. John's and joined about two months ago.
The 64-year-old part-time resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., describes Bozeman as personable, warm and genuine.
Brown, whose husband, Howard, is president of the African American Club of Hernando County, has periodically invited friends to attend St. John's, and her mother attends fairly regularly.
The church recently asked the congregation to complete a survey gauging interest in volunteer work. Brown checked several and already is becoming active in the church.
"(Bozeman's) services are wonderful, and the sermons are about everyday life and make you think about what being a Christian is all about. . . . I love my Sunday mornings, which set the tone for the week."
Margaret Hull and her husband, Jim, visited St. John's during a visit to Spring Hill two years ago.
"Everyone was so nice and so friendly and congenial," said Mrs. Hull. After attending another Episcopal church, they decided they "liked the small homeyness of St. John's" and have been attending since July.
Bozeman and his wife, Mary Ann, a Parrott Middle School teacher of gifted children, had the Hulls to their home for tea recently, even though he had visited them shortly after they began attending St. John's.
It's something the Hulls appreciated.
"A good (priest) works 120 hours a week, and we have found a good parish priest," Mrs. Hull said.
Nancy Farnham has been the parish administrator for four years and said she has seen wonderful changes at St. John's - beginning with the Rev. Brian Burgess, who preceded Bozeman.
Farnham said when she first came to St. John's, there were no baptisms, "and now we've had four in four weeks. It's a wonderful indication of what's happening."
She also mentioned the acquisition of an Allen organ that was purchased for $27,500 with donations from the congregation, allowing the church to remain debt free.
She said the sanctuary has been brightened with a fresh coat of paint and handcrafted wainscoting, and that more activities are being centered on hospitality and filling the parish hall to capacity.
Worthy of mention, she said, was a generous Easter offering to help local ministries. Also, the parish answered the call of Bishop John Lipscombe for assistance with the military family relief fund, and is providing summer camp scholarships for children.
"During the revamping period," said Farnham, "the diocese called us "the little church that could' . . . because of the commitment to keep moving on with physical changes (to the parish hall) and the attitude and commitment of the vestry, we now are called "the little church that did.' "
Bozeman, 60, affectionately referred to as Father Bill, says he is happy to be at St. John's.
"I love the people," he said. "It's a real nice place, and (the people) respond well and are willing to do things. That's good for me and for them."
"The people here, liturgically, are willing to try different things," said Bozeman, who moved to Brooksville from Beckley, W.Va. "And how wonderful it is to work with the vestry."
Bozeman said he isn't planning a lot of new things at St. John's, but rather will emphasize being supportive of ongoing ministries.
The traditional "first Sunday lunch" will be replaced with a "first Sunday breakfast" each month from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
Other coming events include a community games evening at 6:30 on May 14, a prayer breakfast on May 17 sponsored by the Episcopal Church Men, and a continuing antiracism dialogue that will begin from 1 to 4 p.m. May 18.
"Many people believe the racism problem is solved, and it's always a shock when they hear people of color talk about the issues and problems that still exist," Bozeman said. "So it's good to get white people and people of color to interact."
The church leader expects to be certified in the near future by the national church as an antiracism trainer, allowing him to work in any congregation or diocese in the country.
Bozeman said he will make home visits so he can better know parishioners.
As for the future at St. John's, Bozeman said his goal is pretty simple: "Be more open and continue to grow so that more people will see this is a church that cares about people."
