The Old Rugged Cross
A note on the history of the wooden processional cross from Archdeacon Don Burr, member of Christ Church, East Norwalk:
The "old rugged cross" was crafted by my father, Alan C. Burr, Sr., nearly 40 years ago. The idea was to process with something more "humble" during the season of Lent, before returning to the more ornate processional cross at Easter. Alan and his four brothers grew up as part of St. Paul's on the Green in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, (Father Emerson and the congregation played an instrumental role in their formation) before Alan's young family found their way to Christ Church, East Norwalk, in the early 1960s.
I can remember vividly the crafting of this cross because, once he had it beautifully put together, Pop asked me to use old pieces of chain, hammer heads, nails, and screwdrivers to mark the wood of the cross, making it appear more "rugged" once we applied the stain and finish in his shop. Even today, there is beauty in the old cross.
Over the years, the cross has been carried curing Lent; and even on occasions when a young crucifer couldn't bear the weight of the heavier brass crosses. This most recently occurred last month when our seven-year-old grandson, Bradley, served as crucifer for the funeral of my brother, Bo.
Thank you for allowing the "old rugged cross" be part of the Lenten season this year for the people of St. Paul's on the Green — I pray they find as much beauty and meaning in it as I have all these years.
Peace,
Don
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Dr. Kearney brings a successful perspective of more than 30 years experience in management consulting, executive and inclusiveness coaching, research, philanthropy and education leadership. Previously, she was an Executive Director for the Gallup Institute for Global Well-Being, responsible for planning and management of an annual International Positive Psychology Summit, its Programs and Executive Board. As part of a Gallup and Thurgood Marshall College Fund partnership, she served as Chief Academic Officer for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s board and 47 member universities. Also at Gallup, she was Vice President for Social Audits, leading and publishing national surveys on such topics as: Child Discipline, Inclusiveness, Race Relations, Drug Use in America, Gambling, Mentoring and Have and Have- nots. Upon joining the Gallup, Dr. Kearney was trained and certified as a Human Resources Selection Analyst and Consultant, also a Leadership and Strengths group facilitator and coach. Prior to joining Gallup, she was Director of the Executive Leadership Council-Foundation (an association of African American Corporate Executives) in Alexandria, VA, and before, she was an Education Program and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at The Prudential Foundation. Kearney received her Doctorate and Master’s Degrees in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from Boston College, and her Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University.