Safety and sanctuary

~ New rector continues church's tradition of outreach

When you lead a church known for its red front door, which has historically been a symbol of safety and sanctuary, you feel a responsibility to live up to that tradition in as many ways as you can.

The Rev. Edie Bird, rector of Christ Episcopal Church since June 9, said the multiple duties she has undertaken at the "Red Door Church" at 101 N. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau are a natural progression from her childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she grew up with an intense interest in religion. She explained that a rector in the Anglican Church performs duties similar to those of the pastors in other denominations.

"From the Middle Ages, a church with a red door was a place where anybody could come and be protected," said Bird, 53, who moved to Cape Girardeau from Cassville, Missouri, where she had worked with four small congregations.

"I was very religious as a child," she said. "The Holy Communion and the sacraments always fascinated me."

Bird earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1983 and was rector of an Episcopal church in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for nine years before going to Cassville.

The rectors of all four of the churches in the Southeast Convocation of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri are women, Bird noted. They are Catherine Hillquist, serving Farmington and Ironton, Suzanne Wolfenbarger in Sikeston and Annette Joseph in Poplar Bluff.

Continuing the programs sponsored by the Christ Episcopal Church Vestry, or board of directors, and the Rev. Robert "Bob" Towner, her predecessor, Bird said her small church's outreach programs include serving a community meal at 4:30 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month and giving away food from its pantry to people in the neighborhood and the homeless from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each Monday and Thursday.

Adding that it also has 12-step recovery programs for people with alcohol, drug and over-eating problems, Bird said, "We have a lot of recovery groups that meet in the church almost every week."

The church's average total Sunday attendance is 65 to 75 people, said the minister, whose parents, brother and sister are Anglicans.

Asked if that unanimity ensures familial harmony during their reunions, she laughed and said, "Unfortunately, it doesn't.

"My family likes to debate. We are an argumentative group of people."

Christ Episcopal's worship services are at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sundays, and it has an evening prayer service at 5:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

"We are open to people in the neighborhood and those in need," Bird said. "Our mission is to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves."

The vestry consists of senior warden Gerald Jones, junior warden Joel Rhodes and members Ann Hogan, Dan Fetherston, Kathy Farwell, Barbara Muench, Deborah Brewer and Breita Sullivan. Bird is a non-voting member.

More information about the church is available at reddoorchurchcape.org or at573-335-2997.