06/04/2026
Yesterday, June 3 2026, Preachers’ Aid Society hosted our Annual Clergy Luncheon. It was, once again, a wonderful time of connection and fellowship. At the Clergy Luncheon the following milestones in ministry were lifted up.
The following persons were Celebrating 50 Years of Ordination:
Janet E. Smith-Rushton
James W. Daniels Jr.
Barbara B. Herber
Linda Littlefield Grenfell
Wesley D. Williams
David Uhnkyu Pak
We shared congratulations with the 2026 Ordinands:
The Order of Deacon
Kristy Erin Besada
Tallessyn Zawn Grenfell-Lee
The Order of Elder
Eungil Cho
Benjamin Daggett
Junsang Lee
Evan Reid McElreath
We also congratulated our new Retirees:
Greg Carpenter, Ted Brandt, Ernest Farrar, Peter Hey, Susan Frost, John Mueller, Steve Murray, Anne Marie Hunter, Linda Reynolds, Anne Robertson, Seok Hwan Hong, Alecia Reeves-Freeman, David Arruda, Elizabeth Bachelder-Smith, Judith Jones, Evelyn Doyon and Imani-Sheila Newsome-Camara.
We presented 4 Taylor Fellowships for $10,700 each. This was the first presentation since Lois Taylor’s passing. She and Blaine created the Fellowship and the funds to support them over 30 years ago. Blaine died a year before the first Fellowship was granted in 1995. Lois sought to be present and a part of every presentation since they began. Her smile and stories will be missed, but we are thankful that Herb and John Taylor can carry on the tradition of the Taylor family presenting the Fellowships.
The winners this year are Elizabeth Bachelder-Smith, Peter Hey, John Mueller, and Janet Smith-Rushton. Elizabeth will be using the funds to add a deck to their retirement home. Peter will be using the funds to improve their summer cottage in southern Maine. John will be using his fellowship to explore many of the western National Parks. Janet Smith-Rushton will be giving her fellowship to 2 different charities. $10,000 to Waquoit Zero Waste Bulk Buying Group and $700 to H.O.M.E. in Orland, Maine. We congratulate all of this year’s winners.
