Vintage Voice Archive
Download past editions of the Vintage Voice, reflections from retirees of The Episcopal Church. Articles are published with the permission of the authors.
Tell Us Your Story
We invite retired clergy and lay employees, along with their spouses and surviving spouses, to submit their stories for possible publication in a periodic column in our new quarterly CPG Connect newsletter. For submission details, see Tell Us Your Story. Questions? Email vintagevoice@cpg.org.
2020
- Cloudy Vision, Clear Sight, the Rev. James Estes
- Uncivil Rights, the Rev. Richard Edwin Craig III
- Searching for YES, the Rev. Lyn Gillespie Brakeman
- My Name Is “Gives Bread”, the Rev. Cynthia M. Spencer
- Lost and Found, the Rev. Dr. John K. Graham
- Dear Reader, Be Prepared, the Reverend Robert Layne
- After 50 Years, a Second Chance, the Reverend Robert Walcott
2019
- Marriage at 84, the Reverend Fred Fenton
- Leprosy in Liberia: A Missionary Encounter, Barbara C. Reynolds, PhD
- Bruised but Not Broken, the Reverend J. Michael Povey
- Inviting Others In, the Rev. Ken Kroohs
- Retirement Gifts, the Rev. William E. Swing
- Wonders Never Cease, the Rev. Dr. Jim Hargis
- We Are All Immigrants of God, the Rev. Thomas J. Buechele
- Declining Numbers — A Response, Barry Verdi
- Surprise, Charles Homeyer
- From Sunday Sermons to Sunday Columns: My Second Career as a Journalist, the Rev. Russell H. Allen
- Change, Judi Wright Mathews
2018
- December: Back Where We Started, the Rev. Ben E. Helmer and the Rev. Ken Kesselus
- November: Figure and Give Thanks, the Rev. Robert Riegel
- October: A Song for Moises, the Rev. Dori Zubizarreta
- September: Daily Bread, the Rev. Robert Gribbon, D.Min.
- August: Racing Through Retirement, By the Rev. Canon Paul David Lawson
- July: Reflections from the Very Rev. George Werner
- June: The Golden Thread, the Rev. Canon David M. Baumann
- May: That Woman That You Gave Me, the Rev. Richard Craig
- April: New Wine in New Wineskins, the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt
- March: Renewals, the Rev. Steve Norcross
- February: Returning to the Passions of Our Youth, the Rev. Mary Anne Dorner
- January: The Employee Support Guy - A Story of My Second Career, and Second Retirement, the Rev. Ken Kesselus
2017
- December: Downsizing Surprise, Father Paul Evans
- November: Cartooning Priest, William (Bill) P. McLemore
- October: Reminding, the Rev. George Back
- September: Retirement is a time to be alone with God, the Rev. Harold Lockett, D.Min.
- August: Finding Yourself In Retirement, the Rev. Courtney A. Shucker II
- July: Second Chances - the Rev. Dr. Robert T. Copenhaver
- June: Retirement is an Adventure - the Rev. Jonathan B. Coffey
- May: Liturgical Assisting - the Rev. Steve Norcross
- April: Thanksgivings for joys experienced in life - the Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Cowardin
- March: Our Church New and Old - Judy Wright Mathews
- February: A Faith Deepened and Refreshed - the Rev. Robert W. Cromey
- January: Story-telling on a Full Sea - the Rev. Alfred Stefanik
2016
- December: The Unexpected Blessing of Christmas in Retirement - the Rev. J. Kenneth Asel
- November: Something to Do - the Rev. Fred Fenton
- October: Finding Redemption in Being the “Last Pastor” - the Rev. Dr. Gail Cafferata
- September: Ministering in a New Way at the End of My Life - the Rev. Robert J. McCloskey, Jr.
- August: Retirement is a Calling To Do What You Love - the Rev. Denny Allman
- July: Walk, Don't Wait - the Rev. Richard Edwin Craig III
- June: To Stay or Not to Stay? That is the Question - the Rev. Glenn Busch
- May: Finding - and Helping - Seniors in Need Even in a Retirement Paradise - the Rev. Hugh Duncan
- April: Three Keys to Creative Aging - the Rt. Rev. David Emrys Richards
- March: Retirement Reinvented - Margaret Sanford
- February: Retirement: Rediscovering What It Means to be an Introvert - the Rev. Paul D. Rietmann
- January: Retiring Abroad in Berlin - the Rev. Daniel Conklin
2015
- December: Old Linchpins - the Rev. Douglas M. Carpenter
- November: "What's Retiring Like?" - the Rev. Donald Allston Fishburne
- October: Unholy Mysteries - the Rev. Canon Robert Hayman
- September: Lost In the Forest - the Rev. Hugh Stevenson
- August: Blessings From Acts as Small as a Mustard Seed - the Rev. Dr. Robert T. Copenhaver
- July: Not Merely Standing and Waiting - the Rev. Stewart Pierson
- June: That's the Breaks - the Rev. Mel Schlachters
- May: Gadgets and Technology - the Rev. Robert Warren Cromey
- April: SELMA - the Rev. Fred Fenton
- March: The Sometimes Associate - the Rev. Hartshorn Murphy, Jr.
- February: Holidays, Holy Days - the Rev. Mary Anne Dorner
- January: What Do I Do Now? - the Rev. Canon Lee Powers
2014
- December: The Unexpected Gifts of Christmas - the Rev. Melford “Bud” E. Holland, Jr
- November: We Are Thankful - the Rev. Canon Nelson W. Pinder
- October: Letting the Voices In My Head Out To Play - the Rev. Tom Woodward
- September: A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to Retirement - the Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr.
- August: D-Day Remembered: The Age That Shaped a Ministry - the Rev. Canon George I. Chassey, Jr.
- July: Being Different - Or, How to Cope With "Thigh Gap" - Joyce Anderson Jackson"
- June: Are We What We Do? - the Rev. Ted Karpf
- May: In Anticipation of Father's Day Next Month - the Rev. Fred Fenton
- April: Poetic Reflections - the Rev. James Burns
- March: Welcome to "Old-Old" Age - the Rev. P. Kingsley Smith
- February: Priestly Hands - the Rev. Ken Kesselus
- January: Not Preaching to the Choir - the Rev. Canon David M. Baumann
2013
- December: Herald Angels - the Rev. Max M. Reynolds
- November: My Litany of Saints - the Rev. David K. Fly
- October: Retirement Teaches a Retirement Teacher - Mary L. Shiflet
- September: The Miracle Worker - the Rev. Fred Fenton
- August: Praying on the Run - the Rev. Robert Warren Cromey
- July: Downsizing/Upsizing - the Rev. Canon J. Fletcher Lowe, Jr.
- June: An Unexpected Alleluia - the Rev. J. Gary Fulton
- May: A Call in the Night – the Rev. Lewis W. Towler
- April: Call to Ministry – the Rev. Steve Norcross
- March: An Essay on Thin Skin – Bob Williams
- February: The Miracle of the Broken Window – Joal Donovan
- January: Two Worlds – the Rev. Jim Gill
2012
- December: Blessings from Jesus – the Rev. Frank E. Wismer III
- November: The Darker Side – the Rev. Frank Carson Knebel
- October: Returning to College – the Rev. Bruce Jacobson
- September: The Help – the Rt. Rev. Sanford “Sandy” Hampton
- August: Putting a Puzzle Together – the Rev. Philip S. Krug
- July: Painting in Retirement – Fred Peck
- June: A Wedding to Remember – the Rev. David K. Fly
- May: Adventures in Teaching – the Reverend Canon Colville Smythe
- April: Amazing Grace: An Early Ministry Revisited – Don R. Greenwood
- March: Cast a Cold Eye – Sally Hayman
- February: The Beggar—Revisited – the Rev. Timothy C. Eberhardt
- January: Preaching to Shepherds – the Rev. Woody Bartlett
2011
- December: A Different Christmas – Joal Donovan
- November: Redefining Clock and Calendar – the Rev. Dr. Clayton L. Morris
- October: Meeting Old Friends Again – the Reverend Canon Marshall
(Mark) Shier - September: The Chaplain’s Assistant – the Rev. Donald A. Stivers
- August: The Beggar – the Rev. Frank E. Wismer III
- July: The Priest’s Speech – the Rev. Tad de Bordenave
- June: Women in the Church – Judy Wright Mathews
- May: Some Thoughts on Mom, Reverend Mothers, Baptists, and the Blessed Virgin Mary – the Rev. Fred Fenton
- April: Semana Santa at Seventy – Sally Hayman
- March: Blue Herons & Unchangeable Change – Mary & Walter Taylor
- February: Joining the “Y” in My Senior Years – the Rev. Lew Towler
- January: What is the Role of a Clergy Spouse? – Mary L. Shiflet
2010
- Dec: I Remember Pearl Harbor - Sort Of - Fred Peck
- Nov: Magical Mystery Tour - the Rev. David K. Fly
- Oct: The Day the Electric Arrived: Alleluia! - the Rev. Dr. Wayne L. Smith
- Sep: Take a Day Off from Retirement - the Rev. Robert Warren Cromey
- Aug: My Kind of Saint - the Rev. Canon Laurence Larson
- Jul: The Most Homeless of the Homeless - the Rev. Steven E. Hulme
- Jun: Sally and Roger Meet and Are Married - the Rev. Roger Noyes
- May: Sharing in Christ’s Service - the Reverend Canon George I. Chassey
- Apr: Mexican Passion - Joal Donovan
Mar: Of Pensions and Pastors - The Rev. Canon John C. Powers - Feb: Abu - the Rev. John M. Keith
- Jan: The Hundred Days - Fred Peck
2009
- Dec: Newport, Arkansas - the Rev. William Jacobs written by his wife Marian
- Nov: The Unflappables - Rev. Walter C. Righter
- Oct: Knowing Stuff - Joyce Anderson Jackson
- Sep: Retired Priest in a Pew - Rev. Don R. Greenwood
- Aug: Begin With Laughter - Rev. Fred Fenton
- Jul: Retirement Surprises! - Rev. Hal White June: Horizons Ahead - Bruce A. Weatherly
- May: The Friend I Never Knew - Rev. Ken Kessulus
- Apr: I Was a Stranger - Rev. J. Michael Povey
- Mar: An Alternative to Golf or Gardening - Very Rev. William F. Maxwell
- Feb: God Still Speaks to Us - Rev. B. Madison Currin, Ph.D.
- Jan: Life at the Feeders - Nancy Duvall
2008
- Nov: Mom's Last Gift - Rev. Dr. George L. W. Werner
- Oct: Living Alone - Judy Wright Mathews
- Sep: Remembering Scotland - Rev. William M. Kirkland, Ph.D.
- Aug: Pearl Harbor Memoir - Rev. David Edman
- Jul: Spiritual Renewal in Retirement - Rev. Don R. Greenwood
- Jun: The Blessing of Weakness - Jane Sigloh
- May: What Does It Mean to be a Leader? - Walter C. Righter
- Apr: Nosegay - Mary Wilson Taylor
- Mar: Liberating Retirement - the Rev. David Cox
- Feb: Retiring in a College Town - Lewis W. Towler
- Jan: The Score Vs. The Game - Edward R. Sims, D.D.
2007
- Dec: Ghosts of Advents Past - Rev. Dr. Robert T. Copenhaver
- Nov: A Thanksgiving Story - Nancy R. Duvall
- Oct: An Unforgettable Woman - Rev. Fred Fenton
- Sep: What's Next, Lord? - Rev. Cornelius deWiit Hastie
- Aug: That was a Humdinger! - Walter C. Righter
- Jul: Connections - Rev. Dr. Timothy B. Cogan
- Jun: A Clear Memory - Rev. Woody Bartlett
- May: Like Trees Walking - Jane Sigloh Apr: In Memoriam - Rev. Frank Carson Knebel
- Mar: My Last Great Mountain Hike - the Rt. Rev. Charles Duvall
- Feb: Our God Is Too Small - the Rev. Edward R. Sims, D.D.
- Jan: Here and There, Now and Then - Rev. Canon Madison Currin, PhD.
2006
- Dec: How Does Christmas Come? - Rev. Canon Warren S. Nyback
- Nov: Moving - Rev. Dr. Edward Stone Gleason
- Oct: How I Lost My Mind and Put on a 50th Reunion - Nancy R. Duvall
Sep: New Tricks for Old Dogs - Aug: Ordination and Retirement, Freedom to Choose
- Jul: Ten Things I Learned from Living in a Bird Cage
- Jun: Three Nickels
- May: My Chaplain
- Apr: Holy Week on Holy Ground
- Mar: ?Ultreya!
- Feb: Honoring the Mystery
- Jan: Frontier Place
2005
- Dec: O Come, Let Us Adore Him!
- Nov: Mother Wippell and the Half-Pint Princess
- Jul: Remembrances From Times Past - the Rev. William Kirkland, Ph.D.
- Jun: I heard you...(I hope) - the Rev. Ashmun Brown
- May: The Parable of the Talents Revisited - Janet Hillman
- Apr: Jesus Is The Bread Man - the Very Rev. Bob Libby
- Mar: Love Travel? Love Learning? Try This! - June Steffensen Hagan, Ph.D.
- Feb: T.K.R. Grace - the Rev. Holt Jenkins
- Jan: You Can Be Better Than You Are - You Could Be Swinging On A Star! - the Rev. Edward R. Sims
2003
- Dec: Your Very Own Christmas Story - the Rev. Albert S. Newton
- Nov: Thanksgiving - the Rev. David K. Fly
- Oct: Words Writ Large... - the Rev. Dr. Wayne L. Smith
- Sep: O Lord, You Are My Portion And My Cup . . . Indeed, I Have A Goodly Heritage! - the Rev. Vern E. Jones
- Aug: The Widowed - Judy Wright Mathews
- Jul: Hope from Ground Zero - Mary Sudman Donovan
- Jun: In Praise of Old Age and Aged Marriages- Rochet and Thom Blair
- May: Summer Romance Still Strong - Peggy Young
- Apr: Reflections on Retirement - the Rev. Canon George I. Chassey
- Mar: The Wayward Wallet - the Rev. Ashmun N. Brown
- Feb: The Legacy - the Rev. Canon Nelson W. Pinder
- Jan: A Taste For Uncertainty... And A Talent For Trust - the Rev. Edward R. Sims
2002
- Dec: Christmas, Hurricanes, and the Importance of Family - the Rev. Bob Libby
- Nov: How Much Is Our Profession Our Protection? - Leigh Sherrill
- Oct: Prayers for the Later Years: A Compendium - the Rev. Canon Malcolm Boyd
- Sep: Reflections 9/11 - the Rev. Joseph M. Zorawick
- Aug: A Time to Gather Stones Together - the Rev. Frank C. Knebel
- Jul: Salvation Through Squash (or, at least, survival to age 73) - the Venerable Bill Brison
- Jun: A Case for Books - the Rev. Ashmun N. Brown
- May: Decoration Day - the Rev. David K. Fly
- Apr: Poetry? Try It, You Might Like It! - Emily S. Getz
- Mar: Hearing God's Call Anew - Suzanne Farnham
- Feb: The Shoreline of Wonder - the Rev. Edward R. Sims
- Jan: So Much To Still Enjoy - the Rev. Franklin B. Dalton