Congregation to bid farewell to vicar

St. Mary’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church will bid farewell to the congregation’s interim vicar, the Rev. Dr. Herbert F. Barker, after a special combined service on Sunday, April 18.

Fr. Herbert has been at St. Mary’s for nearly two years, but, with the calling of a permanent pastor to St. Mary’s, he will be moving to a new congregation in Taipei, Taiwan. During his tenure in Ramona, he has been able to stabilize the congregation after the fires of 2007, when six of the church families lost their homes, including the former vicar, Fr. Leland Jones, who subsequently retired.

Following the service, scheduled for 8:30 a.m., the congregation will provide entertainment and gift presentations to Fr. Herbert and his wife, Elizabeth, and then host them at a festive brunch.

The congregation welcomes others but asks that they call the church office at 760-789-0890 so there will be a head count for the food preparation.