TRYLA LARSON
Guest Writer
tryla@lbknews.com
The Longboat Key community members are just as wonderful as the island itself. So many residents of our piece of paradise volunteer their time to help make the community a better place to live and/or visit.
This month we would like to recognize Father Dave Marshall. Father Marshall is the Priest at the Episcopal Church, All Angels by the Sea on Longboat Key. Dave is so much more that just a Priest. He is a son, husband, father, father-in-law, friend, mentor, sounding board, a shoulder to cry on, a connector, and a pillar of the community. He always goes the extra mile for people.
A great example is how he is someone that people go to when they need a referral to a painter, roofer, doctor, attorney, HVAC person, photographer, insurance person, florist, mortgage lender, and realtor to name a few.
Dave didn’t just sit idle waiting to meet people over time. He actually joined a business networking group and sought out contractors, vendors, and other businesses, meeting as many people as he could so that when someone came to him with a need, he would know exactly who to connect them with. He tirelessly gives everything he has to his community, spending hours visiting people in hospitals, giving blessings to people and pets, volunteering his time and abilities to nonprofits helping children in need, serving time on the Safety Commission which regulated speed limits and parking rules for the 12th largest city in California, and people who are down on their luck.
I asked Fr. Dave a few questions about himself to help everyone to get to know him better.
What motivated you to be a Priest?
“When I was twelve years old, I heard the call to be ordained in ministry when I was confirmed. My 4th grade friends would say, “I want to be a police officer” or “I want to be a fire fighter” and I would say, “I want to be priest.” But life stepped in and after college I found myself running from my call. In my early 30’s, during the process of an international adoption, I heard and submitted myself to following God in this set-aside and unique way. I found that living into my calling made me comfortable in my own skin, which is to say that I know what I was created to do, and it gives me my life’s purpose.
How many locations have you been called to and where are they?
My sending (to seminary) church is in Spokane which is in the eastern part of Washington State. I served a church during seminary near Berkeley, California. After graduation, my bishop sent me to a church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. My first solo church was north of San Diego, California. My second church was in Chula Vista, just south of San Diego (or just north of Mexico as I would tell my friends). From there I was called to Longboat Key.
Can you tell me about an exciting memory you have with the church?
“My first church was near the largest US Marine base in the country. A couple, who had recently joined our congregation, found out two things on the same day: she was pregnant, he was headed to Afghanistan. One was eight months away; the other was eight days away. The church held a baby shower for her while her husband was overseas. This quickly escalated into the church throwing a baby shower for twelve more wives of Marines. In order to pay for it, we decided to use all the money collected for our Easter lilies – which funds the flower ministry for the entire year – to purchase baby shower gifts. We invited the community to bring gift cards and to receive a paper Easter lily, created by our Sunday School group, that would be “planted” on the church grounds for Easter. As it turned out, we received more than enough gift cards for all the moms, and we brought in enough funds for our flower ministry to fund it for two years. What was expected to be a sacrifice to help those who sacrifice for our safety and freedom turned out to be a giant blessing for everyone involved.”
What is something about being a Priest that most people don’t know?
“Free coffee and wi-fi.” Did I warn you about his hysterical since of humor and corny dad jokes? HaHa!
What is the hardest part of your role?
Saying goodbye to people I love in the congregation and helping others grieve their loss. Oddly enough, this is also one of the most deeply rewarding parts of ministry.
What do you love most about being a Priest?
I have been given the gift of teaching, writing and preaching. It’s also one of the greatest stresses of my life. Odd how that happens.
Tell us about Fr. David’s life before the priesthood…
“Short story: I used to be paid to play golf. I found the game to be much more enjoyable as a job than as a hobby.
Longer story: I grew up sailing our family’s sailboat on Puget Sound. One summer day, I was out with two High School friends when I heard a noise behind me that for all my years of sailing, I had never heard before. The bay was swelling upward about ten boat lengths in front of us. Thinking it was a whale, I immediately tacked and headed away from the anomaly. We were not going fast enough so I even kicked the motor on. My friend yelled, “It’s a seaplane! It’s landing on us!” We all started screaming until we saw the bulbous nose of a Trident nuclear submarine breach directly behind us in our wake. It sent eight-foot waves that nearly swamped the stern of our boat. When the sub settled in the water, an alarm went off and suddenly a voice came from a loudspeaker that said we were in violation of some law that said we had to be 1000 yards from their vessel and to vacate the area. My friend yelled back, “Give us a break, you almost sank us!” Thankfully we did not get arrested, or sank, and no whale was harmed in the incident.”
Once you meet Fr. Dave, he will leave a lasting impression because of his open heart or possibly because of his occasionally funny dad jokes. I say this to religious people and non-religious people. You should take time to meet him. He would make a wonderful addition to anyone’s life.
