I loved Fr. Ted's sermons - they could be absolute stream of consciousness. When he'd walk up to the lectern, my wife and I would look at each other: "Okay, fasten your seat belt." If you blinked, you'd miss at least four Scriptural truths. And yet somehow within the frenetic pace, there was calm. How did he do that?
I loved Fr.Ted. I described him as “the confessor to the Choir” to people outside the church although I later learned he was much more than that.
He also knew when to joke and when to be serious. As a brand new member, I asked if if he thought committing to praying the Daily Office was a good Lenten discipline. “That’s a big job. You should consider carefully if you can keep that promise.”
Another time when I was joking with him he answered deadly serious: when I joked another year about “giving up work for Lent”, he replied “what you really have to ask yourself is ‘does this thing I want to give up bring glory to God?’, if doesn’t, then you should reconsider your Lenten discipline.”
Contrast that with the “down home humor” when he recognized it was time to have fun. One year when we sang a particular hymn to close a service, I asked him “can we as Good Southern Men sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic?” He saw the smile on my face and gave me a very good punch line “I think it’s been long enough that we can get away with it now.”
Even in a joke, there was a lesson and a challenge. I went back and studied the Battle Hymn and what it truly meant. Canon Mark may not remember the exchange, but when a fellow choir member asked one year if we could change the last line to “live” instead of “die to make men free”, I protested loudly telling her that changing one word changed the entire meaning of the song. Canon Mark shut the discussion down with a quiet “we sing it as written.”
I loved Father Ted. I still remember going to his Sunday School class at Christ Church. I don’t remember the year. What I do remember is he knew the Bible. When he was teaching that class he would talk so fast and include so many bible verses in everything he was teaching us. I just wanted to soak it all in! Basically when he preached or taught everyone needed to be paying attention because Father Ted was conveying something important! He was a gift to Christ Church! Thanks for writing the story about Ted and Lee Ann. I’m so glad you and Fran are able to pour your love into Lee Ann.
I have really enjoyed this series on Christ Church, probably because I lived through part of it. This section on Ted and Lee Ann really touched me. Recently I have become aware of how often I think of things that Fr. Ted told me over the years that I knew him. Fr. Ted had a large impact on my life and I miss him.
I read this episide aloud to my husband this afternoon and even he was holding back the tears at a couple places. We were attendees and then members at Church of the Resurrection from 1981 - 89. Our children were baptized there and made their first communions there. I was very involved in the NOEL chapter at Resurrection, and then helped get a Cub Scout pack chartered to the church. (Yes, Fr. David, I was Josh Havens' Webelos den leader.) We have special memories of Fr. Ted and Lee Ann and our time there as a young family. Thank you for sharing all this with us!
I love Father Ted and Lee Ann! I was one of the lucky many (probably thousands) of people who was baptized in the spirit by Father Ted. I especially loved the healing services and being chalice bearer, serving with Father Ted.
I was blessed to get to know Lee Ann a bit, on a retreat where we learned about the Enneagram. It was so impactful that I’ve just launched my coaching business with the Enneagram at the center of my practice. She was such a special lady and I’m so glad to hear that she is such a big part of your lives. Take her some beauties from a fan!
I loved and love them dearly. Lee Ann and I were in Bible Studies together. I loved the stories she would tell me about when they met. Beautiful lady! She was the light of love to me.
I loved ft Ted’s honesty. I loved his deep connection to our Jewish roots of faith. He was close friends to Zola levitt. We had Seder He wore his prayer shawl and kippah. I remember seeing them with their family. He adored his granddaughter with special needs. We were so blessed to have them in our church.
Sharon and I send our love with the gift of flowers. They were always there for us and Ted was a beloved mentor to me. I remember his memorial service with joy.
One time after a service, we stood together beside the Columbarium. He point to one and said, that’s mine. Before I could say anything, he turned and gave me one of his playful grins and added “But not yet!” ❤️🩹
One of my favorite moments with Father Ted and LeAnn was when the church celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. When you asked LeAnn the secret to fifty years of marriage, she grabbed the mic, and paused. The entire church leaned in to hear what we all believe we be this pearl of wisdom. She deadpanned, “He was gone a lot.” Not sure if I have ever heard that volume of laughter. Awesome moment.
Thank you for sharing your life as Rector. Especially the article on Fr. Ted and Leanne. Is it possible to send her cards?
Still talk about our trip to Israel with you and Fran. A trip we will never forget. I haven’t taken my bracelet off from the Monks who made it. ♥️🙏🏻🙏🏻 (January 2018) blessings Don and karen Dalton
Wonderful and very Godly man. I went to his 80th birthday party. I will never forget his smile. My friend and I took them their cavalier puppy. Ted loved her so much.
I never had the privilege of meeting Fr. Ted, mostly because he was always surrounded by so many people on a Sunday. But I did get to teach his great-granddaughter (the one on the right with LeeAnn) in my preK Sunday School class. Or is she a "great-great"? I would love for you to expound on this statement: "Ted served a small parish in Garland until he was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and then everything changed. The Church of the Resurrection caught fire." I know what that means in a charismatic church, but this is seldom discussed in the liturgical realm. How did that happen for Fr. Ted? He's certainly right. "You need to tell them about the Holy Spirit."
I loved Fr. Ted's sermons - they could be absolute stream of consciousness. When he'd walk up to the lectern, my wife and I would look at each other: "Okay, fasten your seat belt." If you blinked, you'd miss at least four Scriptural truths. And yet somehow within the frenetic pace, there was calm. How did he do that?
Yes indeed!
One time he told me that he preached a sermon at Church Of The Resurrection that from start to finish was 100% scripture quotes. Nothing else.
I loved Fr.Ted. I described him as “the confessor to the Choir” to people outside the church although I later learned he was much more than that.
He also knew when to joke and when to be serious. As a brand new member, I asked if if he thought committing to praying the Daily Office was a good Lenten discipline. “That’s a big job. You should consider carefully if you can keep that promise.”
Another time when I was joking with him he answered deadly serious: when I joked another year about “giving up work for Lent”, he replied “what you really have to ask yourself is ‘does this thing I want to give up bring glory to God?’, if doesn’t, then you should reconsider your Lenten discipline.”
Contrast that with the “down home humor” when he recognized it was time to have fun. One year when we sang a particular hymn to close a service, I asked him “can we as Good Southern Men sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic?” He saw the smile on my face and gave me a very good punch line “I think it’s been long enough that we can get away with it now.”
Even in a joke, there was a lesson and a challenge. I went back and studied the Battle Hymn and what it truly meant. Canon Mark may not remember the exchange, but when a fellow choir member asked one year if we could change the last line to “live” instead of “die to make men free”, I protested loudly telling her that changing one word changed the entire meaning of the song. Canon Mark shut the discussion down with a quiet “we sing it as written.”
Thank Fr. Ted for that.
Wonderful to hear from you.
I loved Father Ted. I still remember going to his Sunday School class at Christ Church. I don’t remember the year. What I do remember is he knew the Bible. When he was teaching that class he would talk so fast and include so many bible verses in everything he was teaching us. I just wanted to soak it all in! Basically when he preached or taught everyone needed to be paying attention because Father Ted was conveying something important! He was a gift to Christ Church! Thanks for writing the story about Ted and Lee Ann. I’m so glad you and Fran are able to pour your love into Lee Ann.
I have really enjoyed this series on Christ Church, probably because I lived through part of it. This section on Ted and Lee Ann really touched me. Recently I have become aware of how often I think of things that Fr. Ted told me over the years that I knew him. Fr. Ted had a large impact on my life and I miss him.
I'll love tellling this to Lee Ann.
I read this episide aloud to my husband this afternoon and even he was holding back the tears at a couple places. We were attendees and then members at Church of the Resurrection from 1981 - 89. Our children were baptized there and made their first communions there. I was very involved in the NOEL chapter at Resurrection, and then helped get a Cub Scout pack chartered to the church. (Yes, Fr. David, I was Josh Havens' Webelos den leader.) We have special memories of Fr. Ted and Lee Ann and our time there as a young family. Thank you for sharing all this with us!
Please listen to my sermon included in the post. (Skip the part where I sing). But you’ll love it.
I just visited LeeAnn and played it for her. She laughed and cried and thanked me. I did too—laugh and cry.
I did! Even to your singing. ;) May God bless and cheer Lee Ann.
I love Father Ted and Lee Ann! I was one of the lucky many (probably thousands) of people who was baptized in the spirit by Father Ted. I especially loved the healing services and being chalice bearer, serving with Father Ted.
I was blessed to get to know Lee Ann a bit, on a retreat where we learned about the Enneagram. It was so impactful that I’ve just launched my coaching business with the Enneagram at the center of my practice. She was such a special lady and I’m so glad to hear that she is such a big part of your lives. Take her some beauties from a fan!
Sweet story!
I loved and love them dearly. Lee Ann and I were in Bible Studies together. I loved the stories she would tell me about when they met. Beautiful lady! She was the light of love to me.
I loved ft Ted’s honesty. I loved his deep connection to our Jewish roots of faith. He was close friends to Zola levitt. We had Seder He wore his prayer shawl and kippah. I remember seeing them with their family. He adored his granddaughter with special needs. We were so blessed to have them in our church.
Sharon and I send our love with the gift of flowers. They were always there for us and Ted was a beloved mentor to me. I remember his memorial service with joy.
One time after a service, we stood together beside the Columbarium. He point to one and said, that’s mine. Before I could say anything, he turned and gave me one of his playful grins and added “But not yet!” ❤️🩹
That is awesome. I’m reading these to Lee Ann directly.
Thank you!
One of my favorite moments with Father Ted and LeAnn was when the church celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. When you asked LeAnn the secret to fifty years of marriage, she grabbed the mic, and paused. The entire church leaned in to hear what we all believe we be this pearl of wisdom. She deadpanned, “He was gone a lot.” Not sure if I have ever heard that volume of laughter. Awesome moment.
Hah. I remember. It wasn’t Ted and LeeAnn, but it did happen with another senior couple married 65+ years.
Fr David,
Thank you for sharing your life as Rector. Especially the article on Fr. Ted and Leanne. Is it possible to send her cards?
Still talk about our trip to Israel with you and Fran. A trip we will never forget. I haven’t taken my bracelet off from the Monks who made it. ♥️🙏🏻🙏🏻 (January 2018) blessings Don and karen Dalton
I’d love to give you the address. Can you email me at David@LeaderWorks.org. I send you her address.
Blessings, D
Wonderful and very Godly man. I went to his 80th birthday party. I will never forget his smile. My friend and I took them their cavalier puppy. Ted loved her so much.
I never had the privilege of meeting Fr. Ted, mostly because he was always surrounded by so many people on a Sunday. But I did get to teach his great-granddaughter (the one on the right with LeeAnn) in my preK Sunday School class. Or is she a "great-great"? I would love for you to expound on this statement: "Ted served a small parish in Garland until he was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and then everything changed. The Church of the Resurrection caught fire." I know what that means in a charismatic church, but this is seldom discussed in the liturgical realm. How did that happen for Fr. Ted? He's certainly right. "You need to tell them about the Holy Spirit."
Wish I had known them. What a sweet story.