A New Chapter in our Parish Life

Let us give thanks for this new chapter in the life of St. Mary Magdalene & St. Martin. May it be a source of blessing for years to come!

by Father Lee Davis on December 18, 2024

A New Chapter: Welcoming the Order of the Daughters of the King

This past Sunday, on Gaudete Sunday—a day of rejoicing in the Advent season—we had the joy of celebrating the institution of our parish’s chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK). What a fitting occasion to welcome this new ministry into our church family! As we lit the pink candle of joy, we also celebrated the deep joy and hope that this chapter will bring to our community through prayer, service, and fellowship.

For those unfamiliar, the Order of the Daughters of the King is an international community of women in the Episcopal Church and other Christian denominations. Their motto—“For His Sake…I am but one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do. Lord, what will You have me do?”—reflects their profound dedication to Christ’s mission in the world.

An active chapter of the DOK brings countless blessings to a parish. Their ministry of prayer strengthens the spiritual foundation of the church. Members commit to a rule of life that includes praying daily for the clergy, the congregation, and the needs of the wider world. Knowing that these faithful women are intentionally holding us all in prayer is a source of immense encouragement.

Beyond prayer, the Daughters engage in acts of service that enrich our community. Whether it’s supporting outreach programs, mentoring others in faith, or offering quiet but steadfast support in times of need, their presence inspires all of us to live more fully into our call as followers of Christ.

The DOK also fosters deep connections within the parish, offering a space for women to grow spiritually, share their faith journeys, and support one another in discipleship. This sense of fellowship builds bridges across generations and deepens the bonds within our church family.

As we celebrate this new chapter, I invite all of us to pray for the Daughters of the King as they embark on this sacred ministry. May their dedication to prayer, service, and evangelism bear fruit in the life of our parish and beyond.

If you feel a tug in your heart to explore joining the DOK, I encourage you to reach out to learn more. Perhaps God is calling you to this beautiful ministry of prayer and service.

Let us give thanks for this new chapter in the life of St. Mary Magdalene & St. Martin. May it be a source of blessing for years to come!

About the Author
Father Lee Davis

After a diverse career in marketing and finance and a sudden realization of the love and power of God that he discovered aboard a Navy ship, Father Lee Davis has the distinction of being baptized, confirmed, and received for Holy Orders on the same Sunday. He studied at Bexley Hall Seminary in Columbus, Ohio where he received a Master's of Divinity degree in 2009 and then served as priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's in Hollywood, Florida as well as an assisting priest at St. Benedict's in Plantation. Father Lee also worked as a Hospice Chaplain. When he left after a little more than two years, St. Andrew's had grown in membership and under his guidance extended its outreach into the community. He was also a pivotal leader of the Jubilee Center of Hollywood, a vital outreach ministry to the homeless and hungry, and served on the Board of Directors for St. Lawrence Chapel, serving the homeless in Pompano Beach. He also served on several diocesan committees working with the youth of the diocese.


In December 2012, Father Lee was called as rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Damascus, Maryland. During his 8 year tenure there the vestry of the parish noted that "His dynamic leadership, inspired preaching, creative ideas and compassionate pastoral care combined to bring a new level of excitement, commitment, and growth among the congregation." Through his leadership, he developed partnerships with other organizations in the community, helped establish a transitional home for victim's of domestic violence, began the process of developing affordable senior housing on some of the acreages of land owned by the church, and grew stewardship achieving their first balanced budget in over a decade. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he led the congregation into the development of an online presence and with a couple of dedicated lay members started a feeding program for families in need which continues today. He served in the Diocese of Washington DC helping in the implementation of a Diaconate Formation program as well as being on the Board of Directors of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association and serving on the Diocesan Executive Council.


Amidst the COVID pandemic, Father Lee accepted the call to be our rector and began his tenure in September 2019. His leadership has already blessed our community.

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