When the NAGA Board met at Beckwith Conference Center, our president Mary Lu Jarvis put us to work immediately, but we all were thinking happily of the surprise for Barbara Gent the following night. Did she know, have any hint, that our insistence that she be at the meeting was to present her with an award? Indeed the highlight of the meeting for us was presenting the first Helen Loring Award to Barbara.
As long as I have known Barbara, she has revered Helen Loring and often reminded us of Helen’s contribution to our organization. In the history of the National Altar Guild, written by Barbara in 2006, she reminded us that it was Helen Loring, who by her energy and talents brought the National Association of Diocesan Altar Guilds into being. And if you’ve read that history, you’ll find that we can thank Helen for the idea of Epistle as well. Helen’s eye for the future of this organization is deeply rooted in Barbara’s heart, as Barbara’s many contributions indicate.
When the NAGA board decided to honor Helen Loring by naming an award for her, everyone agreed that the recipient of this award must be a person that exemplifies what service in this organization is about and who continues to contribute the time and talent to enrich this ministry. And as such, the award would not be given every year but only when an extraordinary person appears.
Barbara Gent is that extraordinary person. Barbara’s many contributions include the planning and implementing of programs, locally, provincially, and nationally; serving in an official capacity on the executive committee, once as second vice-president and twice as first vice-president/program chair. She has twice served as nominating chairperson and was the first managing editor of Epistle in its present form, twice receiving the Polly Bond Award for small church publications. She coauthored with Betty Sturges that definitive work The Altar Guild Book, published in 1982, and reissued in 1996 as The New Altar Guild Book. Her latest book traces the history of the National Altar Guild in its first Seventy-Three Years: 1927-2000.
Her greatest gift, however, has been the mentoring of many women, some of whom had no interest at all in the altar guild until Barbara spent time with them: Pat Crane, for instance. Pat remarked on Barbara’s teaching ability, her wisdom, her skill to sum up the abilities of others, and she has incorporated these gifts in the work of the altar guild locally and nationally.
As a young woman, attending mid-week service and Eucharist and Bible study, Barbara took with her the bread dough so she could tend to it during the activities of the morning. She has never wavered in her intentions to grow, to learn and to serve. And nothing has stopped her service to the altar guild.
How many call Barbara "guru?" Some of us who do were on hand for this special night to celebrate our mentor, our guru. Taken quite by surprise, Barbara was given the award by Mary Lu Jarvis, the NAGA president, along with a special cartoon created by Eleanor Smith, showing the heavenly altar guild, with Barbara directing the show. May Sherrod, former president, presented Barbara with a specially designed cross to honor her years with the National Altar Guild. Polly Marshall delivered a tribute to Barbara, along with testimony time given by members of the Board. Hobey Hinchman, who has known her longest, spoke of their years together making this organization known. Barbara was showered with love and praise, and laughter and song.
But it was left to Katrina Packard, our blonde Texas lawyer parliamentarian, to get it right about our feelings for this generous lady: Katrina wrapped Barbara in a red feather boa and placed a large Texas hat on her white curls. Then she presented Barbara an oversized coffee cup blazoned with the words Big Boss.
I like to think Helen Loring would have been as pleased about this award in her honor as Barbara was to receive it. Helen was a special lady who at age 100 continued to follow the work of NAGA through every issue of Epistle.
Congratulations, Barbara! †
