New rector embraces Canonsburg community
The Rev. Eric Rodes was working as the assistant rector at Grace Anglican Church in Grove City when he and his wife Beth sensed it was time for a change.
“I was ready for a new challenge,” said Rodes.
It was right around that time – in early July – that the rector of the Anglican Parish of Christ the Redeemer in Canonsburg, the Rev. Canon Dr. David Wilson, retired.
A move to the South Hills of Pittsburgh felt like the right fit for Rodes, who is originally from Charleston, W.Va.
“The culture here is similar to the culture in Charleston,” he said. “When you go north, the affinity changes. They look to Ohio and Erie. When you get south of Slippery Rock, we look to Pittsburgh as the cultural hub.”
So, he and Beth and their three daughters made the move. Rodes said the transition has been an easy one.
“The congregation here has been fantastic. It’s gone as well as it could go,” he said. “I’m really excited about the future here.”
Rodes received seminary training at Dallas Theological Seminary. In 2004, he became assistant pastor in Harmony church. In 2014, he was ordained both deacon and priest in the Anglican church.
“What I am, what I strive to be, is a Christ-centered, gospel-preaching pastor,” he said.”We talk without embarrassment, without equivocation. We are all sinners fallen and flawed, but we serve a God whose nature is always to have mercy upon the repentant.”
Rodes’ previous church was located in a college town, therefore, many of his parishioners were affiliated with the college. At Christ the Redeemer, Rodes is looking forward to growing the ministry and getting out into the community.
“The church is only about six years old, so I’m really looking forward to reaching more people,” he said.
The sanctuary of Anglican Parish of Christ the Redeemer in Canonsburg
In 2012, Wilson and the majority of the congregation of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Peters Township left to establish Christ the Redeemer.
One of their most successful ministries has been their diaper pantry. Since February 2015, the church has donated more than 400,000 diapers to mothers who have WIC cards or are on food stamps. These programs offer nutritional assistance, but do not provide diapers. Since its start, the pantry has branched out to collecting infant and toddler clothes, children’s books, formula and baby food.
To further community outreach, the church joined with Mt. Olive Baptist Church to host one Vacation Bible School over the summer.
“It was a really good experience for both churches,” Rodes said. “A lot of people thought we should stay apart, but everything worked well. I was very happy to be a part of that. It was a really beautiful expression of what the gospel can do when people let it work in their lives.”
Rodes said the church is also building upon their Sunday school program for adults and children, and encouraged the community to stop in for a service.
“As Anglicans, we worship in the liturgical tradition. If someone is looking for protestant worship that is different, they may want to give us a look,” he said.
Parishioner Vivian Ramey said the congregation is thrilled to have Rodes and his support of the diaper pantry mission.
“We are ecstatic that Rev. Rodes answered our call as rector and look forward to his teaching and enthusiastic leadership of our ministeries,” said Ramey.
For information, visit www.redeemersouthhills.org.