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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1979)
*K (W , < . e .- r t4 4 ,. .Y u» z- ♦ . Ai-» a Portland Observer Thursday. August 30. 1979 Page 7 Alcena Boozer joins Deaconate by Kathryn H. Bogle At St. Philip Episcopal Church, in a bright, colorful ordination service o f Friday. August 24th, which was conducted by the Right Rev. Mat thew Bigliardi, Bishop o f the Episco pal Diocese o f Oregon, Alcena Elaine Caldwell Boozer became the first Black woman to be ordained to the Episcopal deaconate in Oregon. The event was the culmination of months and months o f study and a lifetime o f testing. This evening, the evening o f her recognition, was marked by the high voltage o f love which vibrated from the priest-filled sanctuary o f the church to its con gregation and back again. According to the Reverend Father 300 students, establishing contact and rapport with them from their freshman days to their graduation four years later. Now Mrs. Boozer, in her new assignment, w ill be in charge o f discipline fo r all the girls in the student body, according to Stan Blair, the principal at Grant. Mr. B lair had known fo r some tim e about M rs. Boozer’ s hoped-for position with her church. In an interview prior to the actual ordination, he expressed his sincere regard and appreciation o f the high caliber o f Mrs. Boozer’s standards. He mentioned his awareness o f her compassionate understanding o f the students who have come to her for guidance and help. Mr. Blair sees an LOOK FOR THE BIG "T” "A Sure Sign of Good Taste" BBQ SAUCE OPEN ON LABOR DAY K raft Hickory or Onion Smoked or TÔ DORITOS TO OPEN ON LABOR DAY H ot or Rag Flovoo I I si. Tortilla Chipi: Regular, Toco, Nacho, or Sour Cream & Onion Father W illiam W etzel. J r., pastor of St. Philip Episcopal Church, w elcom es Alcena Boozer to the Deaconate. W illiam Wetzel Jr., priest at St. Philip Church, Mrs. Boozer joins fo u r other women who occupy similar positions in the diocese. She is the only Oregonian, by b irth , among them. We believe her to be the first, and only, Black woman or dained to fill such a role on a regular basis in any Oregon church. About 300 available seats in the nave and the parish hall were filled well before the hour arrived, and every inch o f standing room was utilized. Some persons stood patient ly outside. A long w ith her priest and her bishop, family support was strong for this event, their presence attest ing th e ir a ppreciation fo r M rs. Boozer’ s place among them as daughter, sister, wife and mother. Scattered through the congregation o f well-wishers were many personal friends, some made in association w ith her d a ily w ork outside her home. Among these latter were her high school principal and his wife. Earlier in this exciting week, one other distinction had been brought to Mrs. Boozer. This remarkable lady was named as acting administrative vice-principal at Grant High School, a step up from her long held position there as counselor. Formerly, she had been responsible for as many as “ admirable deepening" o f the chan nels o f communication,” which can only be, he said, " a very practical assistance to her work as a coun selor. The two positions, as he sees them, “ w ill be aligned in a com plimentary fashion with each other." A Portlander by b irth , Alcena Boozer is a daughter o f Mrs. Mar- celene Caldwell and the late Edward Caldwell, both members o f St. Philip C hurch. She was the fifth child among three brothers and two sisters. She received her elementary education at Holladay and Irving ton Schools. She was graduated from Washington High School in 1956 and later attended Portland State Univer sity. Her m arriage to James C. Boozer came in 1960. A return to college completed her work in social studies and she was awarded her Bachelor’ s degree from Oregon State in 1970. Mrs. Boozer earned her Master o f Science degree at Portland State in 1974. The couple has two sons, Bentley, 17, and Clarke, 16. Clarke is a junior in high school, plays football and is a track letterman at Benson. Bentley is handicapped by a degree o f mental retardation. Mrs. Boozer speaks openly now about Bentley’ s situation and she DO YOU NEED HELP? Is the DEVIL working against your home, nature, job, church, money, child ren, sex, neighbor, health, sick, family, loved ones? Are there demons on your body or in your home? Have you been in a fix where you cannot keep or find the RIGHT man or woman? If you need help with any or all of these problems you should call me NOW II Tomorrow may be too latelll Does your luck pass you by? If so, I have lucky hands to help you be a winner in all GAMES OF CHANCE —Bingo, Reno, Tahoe, Las Vegas, Special, Miami, Fla., etc. If you are a spiritual seeker who needs help not promises -call me. I am a "God Gifted" man. I can help you in a hurry. TESTIMONIALS 1) Miss Joyce J .W .. Portland, O R ., was in a fix where she could not find or keep a good man. I, Rev. Hoskins, removed the fix and the jinx from her. NOW she can draw the man of her desire to her like a magnet. 2) M r. & M rs. C.P. of C om pton, C A ., could not win the BIG one. They called Rev. Hoskins and Rev. sent them a for-sure win blessing money hand. They went to Las Vegas and their luck kept on coming, winning more than ♦16,000. 3) M s. Barbara T ., In g le w o o d . C A , had a man who left home for another woman. She called Rev. Hoskins with tears in her voice. She want ed him backll Now he is back and eating out of her hand. 4) M r. Paul. Los Angelas, C A., was in a fix and rooted by this woman. As a result he lost his nature for other women, but through Rev. Hoskins’ work, Paul regained his nature and became luckier than ever with women, money and his business 6) M rs. O .I.. Long Beach, C A ., had demons in her body, and in her home, causing all kinds of bad luck, and unnatural sickness. She called Rev. Hoskins and in 72 hours her home and body were free of unclean spirits. (The names in the above testimonies have been changed for the protec tion of the individual.) I guarantee to do what I say I can do. I have a big re putation to protect. I know the power of the SPIRIT Don’t put it off. Don’t let distance keep you from calling. Call nowlll You will be glad you did. Tell a friend where to get HELP today. RE8ULTS G U A RA NTEED . REVEREND CLAUDE HOSKINS 563 GLENVIEW AVENUE OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94610 TELEPHONE: (416) 444-4883 Paid Advertisement------------------------------------------- The Right Reverend M a tth e w Bigliardi conducts service of O rdin a tion of Alcena Boozer. Her husband. James C. Boozer, participates in the cerem ony. (Photo: admits freely that at a certain period o f her life she was frustrated and angry that one o f her children could be so affected. There was a time when she cried out angrily to her Maker. "H ey! God! I’ m mad! How could you do this to me?!” During those trying years, Mrs. Boozer remembers that she learned much o f patience and acceptance o f Bentley’ s condition, plus how to gradually cope with the problems this presented within the family con stellation. The fam ily’s dear friend and counselor, their minister, the late Reverend Lee Owen Stone, was the bridge. Mrs. Boozer, a member o f St. P h ilip, was confirm ed by Bishop Dagwcll. She became a lay reader at St. Philip in I976. Quite possibly because o f Father Stone’s influence in her life, she began to feel that somehow God had prepared her uniquely fo r some form o f the ministry. Enthusiastically Mrs. Boozer gives credit to Father Wetzel for giving her the chance to learn, and to find her niche. W ith Father W etzel's en couragement, she persevered in ef forts to be admitted to the Diocesan School o f l.earning, which, in turn, cleared away the first hurdles on the path toward the deaconate. There follo w ed six m onths o f study with various priests o f the diocese, succeeded by days o f ar duous interviews conducted by relays o f other priests and laypersons o f the diocese. A ll this was necessary before she could be considered eligible to be declared a postulant equipped to begin serious study! M eanwhile Father Wetzel continued to coach her and to make his extensive per sonal library available to her. How did the family fare with all this outside w ork and a c tiv ity surrounding the mother? Clarke found his mother a very in teresting person in her am bitions and, on more than one occasion, Clarke brought in school friends just to see “ my mother, the preacher!” Husband James Boozer is a “ very organized” person Mrs. Boozer de clares, and theirs is a “ very organized household.” Mr. Boozer is an Industrial Relations Coordina tor for Portland General Electric, but he does his share in keeping the household running smoothly. When the family leaves the home in the morning, the house is in order. This way is now habitual with all o f them. Periodically, Mrs. Boozer selects menus and recipes from her extensive files o f what she styles as “ do nothing dinners." Someone, she says, “ puts them together so that we are all well fed. We have lists and lists for everything.” How does this amazing woman manage to keep her beautiful calm serenity, her optimism and her stores o f energy adequate? She is a jogger! Gets up at 5:00 a.m. and runs from three to five miles every other day! She is joined by two other Grant teachers who find this an exhila rating way to start the day. Alternate days o f walks, or Satur day jo g g in g , are taken w ith her husband. Sometimes on Saturday the couple walks ten miles. As men tioned above the extended family o f the Boozer’s are all supportive o f the Reverend Mrs. Alcena Boozer. Some o f them took part in the ordination ceremonies. They were among the 35 persons o f the clergy and laymen listed on the program. Mrs. Mar- celene Caldwell, the mother, and James Boozer, the husband, were among the seven persons of the church who o fficially presented Mrs. Boozer to the Bishop for the ordination. Mrs. Delores Leggroan, sister, and Bentley Boozer, the elder son, presented the elements for the com munion service. Clarke Boozer and Kris Caldwell were listed as Taper Bearers. The Reverend Father Renee L. Harris o f Saints Peter and Paul acted as Master o f Ceremonies for the en tire celebration. Women o f the church joined in arranging an informal reception afterward at the Masonic Lodge on Russell Street adjacent to the church. Soft-spoken, with the joy o f life and living eminating from her being. Deacon Alcena Boozer began her functions and duties prom ptly on Sunday, August 26th, offering the Bread o f Life to all who knelt at the Communion Rail. The Reverend Deacon Boozer has chosen not to accept a stipend for her services to the church and its people. She prefers to give her time and strength because "th is frees me to o ffe r back the g ifts I have been given.” She states emphatically, “ I have no ambitions to be a priest, I just want to be a deacon. I am accepting my servanthood; I want to interpret to the church the needs o f the world, and to the world—the church. " I am o f the world, and I want to stay in i t — I do not want to live separately from life. I enjoy people, and life is too short for me to take it too seriously.” HUGHES M EM O R IA L UNITED M ETH O D IST CHURCH REV. AUSTIN V. RAY, MINISTER 111 N.E. FAILING Owl A Prayer 284 0684 Church School 9 46am Worship 11:00am Office 281 2332 Specializing In Individual • Marriage and Family • Group Therapy The Church W here NO Stronger Feels Strange’ 1 s i. er mere 14410 S I (»VISION 3955 S I POWELL N.E. 74th 4 SLISAN HILLSBORO-960 S E OAK W. BURNSIDE at 2 1 it SAN RAFAIL-1910 N.E, 122nd 4 A 20th 4 DIVISION S.l. 72nd 4 RAVEL N.E. 15th 4 FREMONT Forest Oreve-2329 FAClr Oregen City-171 MOLALLA Canby-1OSI S.W. l i t LLOYD CENTER T R D0QE3Q L L ENERGY. W e can 't a ffo rd to w a s te it. ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHURCH Corner of 8th and Skidm ore Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Worship 11:00am Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00pm (second and fourth Sundays) Reverend Thomas L. Stray hand. Minister NEW HOPE M ISSIO NARY BAPTIST CHURCH REVEREND A. BERNARD DEVERS, PASTOR THE CHURCH DESIGNED TO MEET YOUR NEED Sunday School Morning Worship Evening Service 2nd. 4th and 5th Sundays Communion 1st Sunday W ed Family Prayer Meeting and Bible Study Friday Brotherhood Fellowship Service with Morning Star 3rd Sunday 9 30ain 10:30am 7 00pm 5 00pm 7 30pm 7 00pm Prayer and Pastor Phone 281 6476 Church Phone 281 0163 3725 N. Gantenbein Avenue. Portland, Oregon 97227 ST. ANDREW S CATHOLIC CHURCH 806 NE ALBERTA STREET Reverend Bertram G riffin, Pastor 281 4429 Masses 5 00pm Vigil -S aturday 10 00am Choir - Sunday 12 00pm Folk — Sunday ST. ANDREW C O M M U N ITY SCHOOL 4919 NE 9th Ave Norita Kelly, Principal Phone 284 1620 Grades 1 thru 8
