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Military spouse serves as Episcopal priest
Rev Adrianna Shaw and husband Lt Col Scott Shaw
Mother Adrianna Shaw stands with her husband, Lt. Col. Scott Shaw. - photo by Photo provided.

The priest in charge of Hinesville’s St. Philip’s Episcopal Church is known as mother instead of father.

Mother Adrianna Shaw was appointed in February 2014 as the assistant priest. A year later she was appointed as the priest at the church.

Shaw was ordained in June 2012. She attended the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, and has a Master of Divinity degree. Prior to attending seminary, she worked for three years in the Episcopal church in Austin. She also spent time in East Africa, working on a project with the Lutheran church.

Her husband, Lt. Col. Scott Shaw, is assigned to Fort Stewart as the battalion commander, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment. The Shaws have two children, Aidan and Lucy.

“My husband brags about me,” Shaw said.

Since her arrival, St. Philip’s Episcopal has undergone spiritual and physical growth, as well as renovation.

“We have a nursery and a primary classroom and also a loft. Our attendance is up about 10 percent,” she said.

“In September 2015, St. Philip’s kicked off adult education and youth education programs. Different parishioners teach the adult class. We added a healing service on Wednesday nights, and it is well attended. The church also went on a retreat in March 2015,” Shaw said.

St. Philip’s has many active ministries and is noted for a doll ministry, Strawberry Festival, Apple Festival and a display of Nativity scenes from around the world.

She said the Episcopal Christian Women support various charities and give scholarships for children to attend summer camp.

“Rev. Dea. Ada Chaffee, a longtime member, does a lot of work with the homeless in the community and always participates in the Good Friday homeless walk,” Shaw said.

“I feel our church does a great job of representing the diversity of the community. People of all races and background come. If you come to St. Philip’s, you will find people who look like you.”

Shaw said, “I love to teach and I want to inspire. I want people to think and when they hear scripture, I want them to see what it means. On Sundays, I want to touch them.”

Shaw credits Meg Deal, who was one of her mentors at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with helping shape her ministry. She also credits two seminary professors (the Revs. Cynthia Kittredge and Kathleen Russell) with influencing her ministry.

“The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, The Rt. Rev. Dean Wolfe, is a phenomenal leader who dealt with many churches in the diocese. He believed in me; he sent a military spouse to seminary. I have some great people who believed in me,” Shaw said.

During Lent, the St. Philip’s family will have a light supper each Wednesday, followed by services at 6 p.m. On Good Friday, they will have service at 6 p.m., Saturday service at 9 am, and Easter service at 10 a.m.

Members are also looking forward to the annual Strawberry Festival on April 16 on the church’s grounds. They invite the community to attend.

Shaw and the members of St. Philip’s invite you to join them for their weekly worship at 10 a.m. each Sunday. Sunday school starts at 9, and morning prayer on Wednesdays at 9:15.

The church is at 302 E. Gen. Stewart Way, phone 912-876- 2744. Its website is stphilipshinesville.org.

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