Our rector is the Rev. Belle Mickelson. She “grew up” at St George’s where she’s been a member for more than 40 years. She says that when she was installed as rector in 2004, she felt like she was “riding a tidal wave of love” because all her old friends who had raised their families at St. George’s—and her new friends, too—were so happy because it felt like their installation, too!
Prior to going to seminary, Belle was involved with the Alaska Sea Grant Program heading up a statewide school program called “Sea/River Week.” She then worked for the Cordova Schools first with a Commercial Fisheries Apprenticeship Program and later running an Alternative High School. With the help of parents and community members, she started the Cordova 4H Music Camp. It’s a summer highlight each July, although it’s had to be cancelled during COVID-19. Thousands of kids over the years now enjoy singing and playing music wherever they go!
We also have a village music program called Dancing with the Spirit. For the past almost 15 years, we have traveled to 55 remote Alaskan villages–most of them many times. Over the last two and a half years (pre-pandemic) we spent 92 weeks teaching music in village schools. Now we are producing virtual music curriculum. There is a new FREE Dancing with the Spirit music curriculum with 27 year around song videos plus fiddle and tuning videos—plus song words with colored chords and colored fiddle tab! SING and PLAY with us! We need students to try out our program! https://www.dancingwiththespirit.org
The photos below are from visits to various villages.
St. George's Episcopal Church 