Reverend Sharon K. Gracen, 47th Rector,Trinity Episcopal Church, Branford

Trinity's 47th Rector

After sixteen months of extremely intense work and prayer, the Vestry and Search Committee members are delighted to call The Reverend Sharon K. Gracen as the 47th Rector of Trinity Church, Branford.

Sharon comes to us from Faith Episcopal Church,Laguna Niguel, California where she has been Vicar since 2004. She was Canon Pastor atCathedral of the Holy Trinity, (American Cathedral) Paris, France from 2001-2004. After being ordained in 2000, she was the Assistant to the Rector atChrist Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In addition to being an ordained priest, Sharon is a classically trained singer (coloratura mezzo soprano).

Sharon is married to Peter Schuller, founder and managing director of a think tank called The Institute of Applied Theology and Science. Peter comes from an Episcopalian family; his great-grandfather, The Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, founded the Church Pension Fund while serving as Bishop of Massachusetts.Sharon has a married daughter and grandson in Ohio and a married son and grandson in Massachusetts.

Sharon’s first Sunday worship will be August 29, 2010. Please join us at either service as we celebrate her arrival on that day.

A message from Sharon:

"God has blessed me greatly in my ministry but never more so than now. I look forward to serving the Trinity community as we follow Christ into the Kingdom of love and peace."

Thoughts on Rev. Sharon

“When you are with Sharon and she speaks of the circumstances of her calling into the priesthood one is amazed. The story involves a tornado and a recovery effort that propelled Sharon into a leadership position within the church thus sowing the seeds of entering the seminary. Sharon shares this story in the context of how the Holy Spirit has directed her life. She speaks of having faith and confidence in God's plan and her willingness to being led to where she needs to be. I sensed Sharon knew she was being called to Branford and am so excited that through the power of the Holy Spirit we answered that call.” — Maureen McGuinness, Vestry

“Meeting Rev Sharon Gracen and discussing the love of music was my initial encounter; what a memory! She remembered I was as a tenor in the Trinity choir. She has the art of knowing you and your attributes! She shared what her experience in outreach was all about and welcomed thoughts from others. An aura of spirituality surrounds her.” — Steve Sharma, Vestry, Chair Missions & Outreach

Our impressions of Sharon...

“Upon first meeting and thereafter, Sharon is warm, gracious, loving and filled with the Holy Spirit. She calls us all by name after the first introductions and draws us in with her beautiful blue eyes and terrific smile. She genuinely cares for everyone.” — Martha Monico, Search Committee

“God knew who our next Rector would be way before we even started the long discernment process. The Holy Spirit brought Sharon and Trinity together.” — Peter Otis, Search Committee

“She has a spiritual presence about her …” — Roz Jones, Search Committee

“I was most impressed with a missionary program to feed and clothe the homeless who lived out of their cars in a local Wal-Mart parking lot.” — Otty Norwood, Search Committee

“We were spiritually moved by her introduction to the sanctuary of Trinity Church. She reverently touched the altar, the linens, the pews, the pulpit and anything else she could. It was as if she were introducing herself to the Holy Spirit that lives at Trinity Church. She was the only candidate who seemed to be soaking in ‘the feeling’ of Trinity and seeing how she would feel when she joins us.” — Mark McElrath, Search Committee and Sandy Baldwin, Search Committee/Senior Warden

It’s impossible to be around Sharon and not be uplifted by her vitality and energy. She is warm, open, and both intellectual and very down to earth. Her conversation reveals knowledge that is enlightening and provoking, while she shares our values. She respects tradition yet searches for a deeper meaning in everything we say and do in worship. I believe she will deepen our spirituality and strengthen our ability as a church community to do so much more for those in need. — Ann Freeman, Vestry

The Holy Spirit Brought The Rev. Sharon Gracen and Trinity Church Together

[Peter Otis’ account of a visit to Faith Church, Laguna, Niguel, CA, April 11, 2010]

The Search Committee was told at its very first meeting that “God knows who your next Rector will be; but it will take the entire year of the discernment process for you to discover that fact.” I’m convinced that God had Sharon Gracen in mind to work with us on our ministries in the Branford area and beyond.

When The. Rev. Eric Larson (Diocesan Deployment Officer) gave us the documents on 35 candidates in late March, I noticed there was one candidate who was vicar of a church only 5 miles from our son Jake’s home in Southern California. Since I enjoy attending other Episcopal churches when vacationing, I naturally decided that that would be the church where I would attend a service when my wife and I traveled to Orange County in April to visit kids and grandkids. Coincidence? Holy Spirit? I believe it was the Holy Spirit. My Garmin took me to a commercial business complex where space had been tastefully converted to a church a few years ago. Although a different feel from our historic church on Branford Green, the Holy Spirit radiated brightly as I walked into Faith Episcopal Church, Laguna Niguel on that “Doubting Thomas Sunday, April 11th. (Faith Church seats about 100 persons with a choir of about 12 accompanied by a piano.) I was drawn into the service by Sharon’s spiritual delivery of the Eucharist.

Here are a few of my observations:

As soothing recorded instrumental music played, Sharon led us through Prayers of the People with our eyes closed. This was one of the most moving renditions I have ever experienced.

Her sermon, “Telling it in six words” (http://vicardoodlesermons.blogspot.com/), wove in biblical references as well as humor and pop culture. Well done!

Sharon, a trained vocalist, provided solos on a number of times during the service.

Birthdays and wedding anniversaries were recognized up front with prayers for those celebrating that week.

During the announcements period some active parishioners spoke about their Supper Club, their youth group, and also their "Little Red Wagon" ministry shared with the local Lutheran Church, where parishioners take a red wagon to the Wal-Mart parking lot to give out food and shower coupons and breakfast for the next morning to homeless people living in cars in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Faith Church’s web site tells a lot about their members and their work.

Since that serendipitous visit I have had a chance to become acquainted with Sharon and her husband Peter here in Connecticut (while still waiting to meet Max the Church Dog). I’m convinced that God has planned for Sharon to come to Trinity Branford to continue God’s work among us. It was the Holy Spirit that led her to apply for our opening; it was the Holy Spirit that nudged me to attend her church 3000 miles away from home on a family visit; and it is the Holy Spirit that is leading all of us as we begin our lives together in God’s service. — Peter Otis, Search Committee

Examples of Sharon’s sermons (in PDF format)

A video welcome from Sharon (coming soon!)

[If you have trouble viewing this video, click here to view it directly on YouTube.]

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