From Hartford CT-
The Rev. Ronald Gauss was preparing in his office moments before the last service inside the church the Bishop Seabury Episcopal congregation has always called home.
"All of a sudden it might hit me," said Gauss, 73, putting on the traditional dressings for the 10 a.m. service Sunday. Gauss, who has been with the 137-year-old church for 37 years, wasn't sure what exactly would happen that morning, or how big a part emotions — his and his congregation's — would play.
Gauss' parish parted ways with the Episcopal Church of the United States in 2007 after the church ordained an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire and then chose a woman as presiding bishop. The state Supreme Court in 2011 ruled that Bishop Seabury Church was to return everything — the 6.5-acre church site, the sanctuary and its contents — to the Episcopal diocese. The church appealed the decision to theU.S. Supreme Court, which in June declined to hear the case.
Gauss described the mixed feelings among the parishioners – confusion, anger and sadness – but he was planning to express a different and greater understanding on Sunday.
"I don't have any animosity," Gauss said. "I don't have time to be angry. I have too many people to take care of."
To Gauss, having to leave the church at 256 North Road is simply another act of God, another challenge thrown at his parish, and he believes there must be a reason for it.
"For some reason we are going out," said Gauss. "There's some importance in what [is happening]."
More here-
http://articles.courant.com/2012-08-05/news/hc-groton-church-last-service-20120805_1_gauss-bishop-seabury-church-episcopal-church
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