Who Are Our Priests?

The Rev. Scott Monson has become St. Mary's Priest-in-Charge. We welcomed him into the Basswood Parish on January 22. Our first service was easily enjoyed by all in attendance and we look forward to the months and years to come.

The Rev. Lisa Cressman is our non-stipendiary (she receives no salary) Associate Priest who has been with St. Mary's since 2006. A nurse by training, and married to her physician husband, Erik, she is the mother of Benjamin and Abram. A talented musician and cantor, she has a special interest in retreats and spirituality.

What is an Episcopal Congregation?

That means we strive to incorporate the wisdom and treasures from both the Catholic and Reformation traditions. We don't always get it right, but we have a sense of humor and a belief that the Lord is in our midst, helping us to make sense of the human situation. We would be delighted to have you visit at either 8:30 or 11:00 this Sunday! Feel free to contact the church (651.436.1872) with questions. Take a look at our "Why the Episcopal Church?" for more.

As you can see by the image, which dates to our 125th anniversary celebration in 1985, St. Mary's is an historic, country parish. For some this is synonymous with tired or unenthusiastic or perhaps simply dull. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are lots of children in this congregation and it is a lively place with a bright future.

We have plans for enhancing both our ministry and our two buildings (the church in the foreground and Guild Hall at the left). Our parish welcomes visitors warmly and is looking for people who don't have a church to call home. Regardless of your background, if you would like a welcoming parish that relishes how Christianity can change lives, St. Mary's is worth a visit.

What's Our Focus?

We are community-centered in the weekly celebration of Eucharist, a meal with Jesus Christ as the host. Worship includes sermons that speak to the heart, a rich liturgy that leaves us believing God is in our midst, and lively music that brings alive the message of the Gospel so that we may, in turn, minister to the larger world. In fact, our liturgy centers on the "the gifts of God for the people of God." Education is also very important, both for our children and our adults. We have a full curriculum, "Godly Play," and "Journey to Adulthood," for our approximately 25 children. As well, our adult education hour at 9:45 averages 25 or more each Sunday. Our call is to instill the life-changing joy of Christianity in all people.