Palm Sunday celebration with Revs. Kate and Bruce Epperly!
Saguaro Christian Church is “where it all began” for both Rev. Kate Epperly D. Min. and Rev. Bruce Epperly, Ph.D. who are this year celebrating 43 years joined in ministry and marriage! Kate was ordained at Saguaro Christian Church in 1979 and Bruce, in 1980. So too, their son, Matthew was born in Tucson and dedicated at Saguaro Christian in 1980! They and their extended family are traveling from Washington, D.C. with great thanksgiving and joy to join us in worship on Palm Sunday and celebrate afterwards during coffee hour.
Kate and Bruce will talk about their journey together as “mystics in action.” Kate and Bruce penned together an award winning book on this topic entitled: "Tending to the Holy: The Practice of the Presence of God in Ministry" (2009). Their mysticism is grounded in their ongoing practice and teaching of reiki healing touch. (see: The Energy of Love: Reiki and Christianity)
Bruce and Kate’s ministerial careers represent a commitment to the challenges and joys of bi-vocational team ministry and a commitment to holistic spirituality and health within the setting of congregational ministry and service.
While Bruce, Ph.D. has served as a university chaplain (Georgetown University, 17 years), congregational pastor (most recently, South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Centerville, MA, 8 years), seminary administrator (Lancaster Seminary, Lancaster, PA, 8 years), and professor of theology (currently at Wesley Theological Seminary), he has always served the wider church by mentoring seminarians and clergy in self-care and spiritual growth and written multiple theological, practical, and devotional resources (70+ published at this time) and for the past 10 years writing online lectionary commentaries for both Patheos and Process and Faith. In his “retirement,” Bruce is continuing to do adjunct teaching at Wesley Theological Seminary and online.
Kate has served as a campus minister (including 4 years in co-ministry with Bruce at Georgetown University), and as a congregational pastor (including 10 years at The Palisades Community Church in Washington, D.C. and most recently, 3 years at Christian Union Church in North Truro, MA). In addition, licensed as a massage therapist in 2003, Kate has for several decades carried on a small private practice as a pastoral counselor/holistic spiritual director focusing on clergy, seminarian, and congregational leadership wellness. Serving the cause of holistic wellness, Kate served for many years on the Commissions for Ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Capital Area and Pennsylvania. A lifelong peace and social justice activist, Kate served seven years on the staff of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Division of Homeland Ministries as Minister of Justice and Advocacy for Families and Children (from which she retired in 2020). In this capacity she curated (and created) family and congregation-based resources combining intergenerational faith formation and social justice advocacy (see docfamiliesandchildren.org/gunsafety) and remains active throughout her ministry in refugee resettlement, the NAACP and the Fellowship of Reconciliation peace efforts.