A Journey of Evangelism, Activism, Faith

Maggie McDowell’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were long-time residents of Baltimore.

“We lived in the family home with my grandmother who had a great influence on me,” Maggie said. “She and my mother were peace activists.”

Maggie grew up as a Quaker, attending the Homewood Friends Meeting on Charles Street in Baltimore. During summers in the Berkshires, she attended the Congregational Church with her grandmother and the Episcopalian Church with her aunt.

As a child, she enjoyed attending church, but in her young adulthood, she wasn’t a member of a faith community. It was only after she was married and had children that she realized “the power of a faith community. It (St. Anne’s) was the right place for my family and me,” she said. “I’m forever grateful for finding my faith community.”

Rev. Richard “Dick” Landis, the rector then, and parishioners, Lutie Rayhart and Trish Cove, welcomed her to St. Anne’s.

Through the Baptism Ministry, Rayhart visited her at home, bringing her a wooden cross when her first child was born. Buoyed by such a warm welcome, Maggie was drawn to the Newcomers Program developed by the Rev. Janice Gordon, the priest-in-charge at St. Anne’s from 1987 - 1989, and parishioner, Fran Lukens.

“Everyone loves Maggie,” says St. Anne’s parishioner, Lutie Rayhart. “She’s a dynamic force. Happy. Personable. Easy to talk to. Welcoming. Fun. Helpful. Always smiling and laughing. Just a vivacious person. I always remember her standing at the door, welcoming everyone to church. She always wanted everyone involved and part of the church.”

Maggie was a perfect fit for the Newcomers Program. She enjoyed greeting people, inviting them into the church, helping them feel welcome, and getting involved.

“My favorite part of working at St. Anne’s was working with the newcomers,” Maggie said. “Now, as a receptionist, I feel that I’ve come full circle.”

As Maggie became more and more involved in the Newcomers Program, she attracted the attention of the Right Rev. Albert Theodore “Ted” Eastman, the bishop of Maryland from 1986 to 1994. He asked her to join the Evangelism Ministry on the Diocesan level.

In this ministry she did a lot of traveling -- visiting many parishes and learning about the workings of the church. “That was a big step for me,” she said. As a result of those visits, she became even more involved at St. Anne’s and this eventually led to her taking over the Newcomers Program.

“Becoming involved in the faith community had a big impact on me,” Maggie said. “It was personal and rewarding for me,” Maggie said. “Wonderful people came to St. Anne’s.”

When a new rector arrived at St. Anne’s in 1989, Maggie took another big step. The new rector, Rev. John R. Price, asked her to reorganize and rebuild the Sunday School program. Maggie started by creating a Childhood Education Board made up of 15 parishioners. Over the next few years, the program grew to between 175 to 200 children with 50 teachers, superintendents and childcare support.

“John Price was a supportive and appreciative boss,” she said.

The program featured parish-wide, fun activities around All Saints’ Day and Halloween, Advent wreath making and covered dish suppers, a Christmas pageant, and a “Christ-child” Christmas Eve service where young families brought donations of food for the needy.

In 1990 she developed the Ministry Fair in coordination with the Sunday School registration that occurred each September. In 1994 the Vestry asked Maggie to take on a new job as ministry coordinator which developed into a “Time and Talent Ministry.” She produced a booklet with a list and description of all the ministries. This booklet was given out with the pledge sheets so that parishioners could pledge to use their time and talent to work within certain ministry areas. They could choose new or continuing areas of interest.

At the same time that the Time and Talent Ministry was getting underway, a Fellowship Committee was identified as an important part of St. Anne’s Capital Campaign. Maggie spent the next few years, getting to know new members and helping them become involved in ministries. Welcoming newcomers and providing them with opportunities to serve went hand and hand.

Parish-wide activities became popular. These included Foyer Groups with gatherings in parishioners’ homes for fellowship, St. Anne’s Day with a picnic and reenactors recognizing St. Anne’s growth from colonial times to the present, and ministries providing refreshments after Sunday services.

During his tenure at St. Anne’s, Price worked closely with Maggie. “She was open, warm, honest and patient,” he says. “She was involved in childhood education and for many years served as the point person for the Sunday School, recruiting and supporting the teachers.

“She also set up a strong network of volunteers to help with projects. She encouraged them to follow their interests and become involved.”

Looking back, he recalls how Maggie’s personality was conducive to forming long-lasting relationships and how she helped newcomers “become woven into the life of the parish.

“A lot of people stayed at St. Anne’s because of Maggie,” he said. “She was a really good listener and very supportive. She was great at staying in touch with people and working with them. She was wonderful.”

Through the years, her life has become intertwined with St. Anne’s. She’s had stints as a Sunday School teacher, reader, chalice bearer, evening prayer leader and even spent some time working with the Habitat for Humanity. “My husband was involved in the church and my children were baptized and confirmed here. This is home,” she said.

By the time she retired from St. Anne’s in 2006, Maggie had a lot to be proud of. She originally came to Annapolis in the early ‘70s to improve customer service for the Bell Telephone Company. After 10 years with the Bell System, she spent 10 years at home, raising her children, Brandon and Skylar. Then, she rounded out her career with 16 years at St. Anne’s.

She’s also proud of the work she did in the early ‘80s with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Anne Arundel County. Notably, members of that organization were able to raise the drinking age for the state of Maryland from age 18 to 21.

“I’ve seen firsthand the destruction that alcohol has caused,” she said. “The work we did was very important because lives were saved.”

She has stayed active in retirement and is “happily involved” with her six grandchildren. “There’s always a pillow for them at my house,” she says.

She’s traveled with friends to Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Ireland and Iceland. She’s circumnavigated some countries and is still looking for the aurora borealis.

Maggie has also volunteered, serving as a trustee for Chase Home, Inc., the historic Chase–Lloyd House at 22 Maryland Avenue. She’s also served on the board of Camp Wright (a children’s camp that’s an Episcopal Diocese of Easton’s ministry). “All my life I’ve served on boards,” she notes.

Currently, she serves as a volunteer receptionist at St. Anne’s Parish Hall. “I love St. Anne’s,” she says. “It’s been my rock and my anchor. “The Holy Spirit is a strong personal component in my life.”

People come and people go, but for Maggie, the Holy Spirit is always with her, and she’s always in a loving and welcoming place at St. Anne’s.