March 23, 2008 I am the Resurrection… What a morning it was. The sky was brilliantly blue, the air was crisp and deliciously clean. The dew still hung on the tall grass along the path up to the Garden where just two days ago Joseph and Nicodemus had gently placed Jesus’ body on the rock shelf cut out of the tomb wall. Just last night Mary and Joanna were worrying about how they would get into the tomb. Would the guards harass them? Of course they would, but they’d been through that before. All women in Palestine had. There was nothing more important than washing and preparing Jesus’ body for a proper burial. So up the path the women went. Wondering how God could allow such a beautiful morning after such a horrible weekend. They knew that last Friday had changed their lives forever. All the hopes of a new kingdom, peace, and end to all the fear of simply living out a day had been crushed with Jesus’ final words on the cross and his last breath. If they could just get to his body and finish the preparations they could go back home and try to disappear. Mary noticed it first. The Stone was rolled back. No guards. They took his body. She broke into a run, Joanna right behind her. Mary ducks and almost dives through the tomb entrance. In stark disbelief she can’t find Jesus. Only the Shroud and face cloth are left. She notes that they are folded neatly at the head of the shelf. Frantic she runs to them. She picks them up and presses them to her face, tears flowing down her cheeks. Joanna holding her. It was then that they notice the men behind them. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” the bright one says. The women drop to their knees afraid to look up. Softly he says, “He is not here. He has gone before you to Galilee. Tell the other he will meet you there.” And just like that, in the blink of their eyes he was gone. They look at each other not sure whether to laugh or cry. With a quick hug the spring to their feet and run down the path past the still dew covered grass. They don’t even pause to catch their breath until they arrive at John Mark’s house. Mary can barely get the words out as she tries to tell Peter and John the Jesus is raised, that the tomb is empty. Peter and John are out the door even as Mary is finishing her sentence. The others in the room are in a stunned silence as Mary and Joanna catch their breath, still crying with joy. Later that night Jesus comes to them, touches them, speaks to them, loves them. They had all found themselves in a tomb that weekend. When Jesus rose, when he came out, he brought them all out with him. Now the world looked different. Very different than before. The hopes and dreams they had before melted away with the dawning of a new reality. Truly, their lives would not ever be the same. The reality of a resurrection, His Resurrection, shined a whole new Light on their future and their present. A strength and conviction that was not there before was even now beginning to break forth. It was the kind of strength, the kind of conviction that is not affected by circumstances of life, because it is drawn from the source of life itself. That strength and conviction is still Jesus’ gift to his followers today. The Resurrection always lifts up those who believe. Dare to believe and know that power in your life yet again. Feel what the first disciples know, take into yourself what the apostles live in forever. Embrace Jesus the risen Son of God and live again. Alleluia! Christ is risen! Fr. Reese back to top February 24, 2008 The Diocese of West Texas just completed its 104th Annual Council. To read more about it, including Bishop Lillibridge's sermon and address, click here: Council February 23, 2008 You Heard the Annual Meeting Report: Now, the Rest of the Story... At the Feb. 10 annual meeting, we heard about Holy Spirit’s unprecedented year with the exciting growth, the offer on the property, the search for new grounds, the Camp Bullis vision, and our improved financial climate. Hidden within those announcements were months of detailed study, prayer, reflection, and discussion about our future. Your Vicar, Bishop’s Committee, church members, and diocesan staff looked hard at many options. We knew we were facing dilapidated structures and a generous offer on our property. There seemed to be no way to continue unless we gave up this place. What we learned over the past six months opened our eyes to look around us and see what is here. Now, the rest of the story: Because of the unprecedented offer on the property, we were encouraged to look at other sites of at least ten acres in size. Three of the four properties we considered were on Bandera Road, close to Scenic Loop Road, and a fourth was further west in a more undesirable location. Going northwest on Bandera before Scenic Loop, Property #1 was a 10-acre site costing about $1.7 million or $3.50 a square foot. Property #2 was on the corner of Bandera and Scenic Loop and featured 30 acres at $4.1 million. We were told there was an offer on that property, but that subdivision might be possible. Property #3, a 27-acre plat for $3.9 million, was a little further out Bandera near El Chaparral Mexican Restaurant, and again was undeveloped and offered at about $3.25 per square foot. We hoped that this property could also be subdivided for our purposes as the cost was too much and we only needed 10 acres. All three properties under consideration were brush and tree covered, making even the most basic developments, such as clearing, installing a driveway, setting up utilities, and constructing a building an expensive proposition. In fact, our research showed that we might spend as much as $300,000 to $400,000 on clearing, utilities, pavement, and basic landscaping just to make the property suitable for construction, leaving perhaps $100,000 or $200,000 to begin a church building. We discovered that we might move to a new location and have to immediately begin a capital campaign to complete even a small church building. Another factor in this decision was a calculation of our membership’s desire to move and our ability to continue our current ministries. We went back to the notes of all the meetings and forums and saw that most folks spoke about staying here. We were aware, however, of a small number of folks who felt that we should move. Most importantly, we were strengthened by the statements that most members would go wherever the decision took us. In our discussions, we estimated that we could lose a fourth to one-half of the congregation in a move, and worse, not be able to support our ministries with any space at all outside an underfunded worship center. Eventually, of course, we would grow more members in a new area. Yet, when one considers that we would have had to begin a capital campaign with a smaller number of people than we have now, the decision to move and build clearly became a poor option. We felt that the dual factors of high cost and the jeopardizing of Holy Spirit’s current ministries brought us to the realization that building here was our only viable option Finally, at Bishop Lillibridge’s request, we took another look at the Camp Bullis church plant and discussed with diocesan staff what our role would be in that project. In that discussion, we heard again about an exciting vision of bringing the unchurched through a wonderful series of house church meetings, Bible studies, and non-traditional services that would lead to a new model of an Episcopal congregation near the Texas Military Institute. The Bishop’s Committee discussed this idea and decided that the more open-ended timeline for the Camp Bullis church start did not fit as well with our current needs. However, we promised to support the new venture in any way possible, and that we would be open to the Bishop’s direction on our future involvement with that church. As I announced at the annual meeting, the Bishop’s Committee expressed confidence and excitement in our growing congregation’s ability to build on this site. We also expressed a strong desire that the Diocese should let us keep Father Reese for at least a year to accomplish a capital campaign and begin building a new structure. God has blessed us with Reese’s dynamic and effective leadership, and we are ready to help him complete his ministry here with a faithful campaign to ensure our long-term sustainability. As Bishop Reed reminded us that day, we just need to look around and see: God has provided everything we need. We are ready for the next step. May God richly bless us as we seek to become his witnesses to 78249 and beyond. Now you know the rest of the story. Wishing God's Peace, Gene Dowdy, Bishop's Warden back to top Jamuary 27, 2008 Dear Friends of Holy Spirit, Your Bishop's Committee has taken on a new level of activity and responsibility since the fall parish meeting with Bishop Lillibridge. At that meeting, we learned more about the offer to purchase our church property. And, we learned that the Camp Bullis property was conceived as a place for a new type of church, and that it might not be appropriate for our already active Holy Spirit ministries. As it was (and still is) a generous offer, Father Reese organized a series of church forums to better discuss Holy Spirit's feelings and responses to the possibility of picking up and moving. The Bishop's Committee learned through those forums that our church family felt strongly about continuing our congregation together, no matter the location. We heard compelling responses about the holiness of our current church property and that we should be good stewards of our land by staying or ensuring that it would not be completely cleared. We heard convincing responses that urged us to reap the wonderful blessing of the increased value of the property and let it become a much-needed housing space for UTSA, thus providing the church with start up funding for a building on another property. We even heard interesting suggestions of staying here and creating income-earning activities, such as UTSA satellite parking. During December 2007 and January 2008, members of the congregation, the Bishop's Committee, and diocesan staff visited several properties in the Bandera Road area, north of Loop 1604. We walked about, photographed, and studied the value of several potential church sites. We looked at realtor reports, computed certain development expenses, and sketched out several options to see what is the best stewardship of our congregation's resources. We met again with Bishop Lillibridge on January 20 to report our progress and to hear further information about the Camp Bullis property located adjacent to the Texas Military Institute (TMI). At this time, the Bishop's Committee is completing a report about our collective decision and will report to the congregation at the February 10 Annual Meeting of Holy Spirit. Please keep us in your prayers as we try to discern God's will for the community of Holy Spirit. And, we hope to see you on the 10th! Respectfully, Gene Dowdy Bishop's Warden back to top December 25, 2007 Christmas 2007 Living a Life in the Midst of Change Once again Advent is drawing to a close and Christmas is upon us. Trees are being trimmed all over San Antonio. Houses have taken on that “Holiday Look” as wreaths, lights and assorted statuary adorn front yards all over the city. This year, in my neighborhood, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger have joined the parade of lighted figures ushering in the New Year. Who would have thought. But I suppose if Santa can ride a Harley, Tigger can ride a sleigh pulled by Eeyore. The only thing missing is Christopher Robin dressed as an elf. Maybe next year… This weekend we observe the Fourth Sunday in Advent. All the Candles, save the Christ Candle, will be lit. We’ve come full circle. Our presents, for the most part are bought, cards mailed, meals for Christmas Day are planned. Families and friends will gather and eat, drink and be merry. The essential element in all of this will be the Worship we offer Christmas Eve. It will be the Spiritual glue that will bring to fulfillment all of our hopes for this Season. Our Worship will be our offering that will pave the way for how our New Year will unfold. What we do and what we experience together will unlock the Grace that God, in Christ, has been waiting to lay upon us. The music, the lessons, the Eucharist – the Bread and the Wine, the Body and Blood, will open our hearts to the movement of the Spirit that stirs our souls. The Grace given will bless us with eyes to see God, in new ways, working in our lives and in our life together. We have, laid before us, an opportunity to begin the year with a fresh start, a fresh start in our families, in our friendships, in our work, and in our Church. God’s Grace makes all this possible as we respond to it in faithfulness with determination and perseverance. We have a great year ahead of us. We are called to live out this year fully, even in the midst of change. More accurately we live out our lives fully because of the possibility of change. Mary and Joseph left Nazareth and headed to Jerusalem facing incredible uncertainty, but journeyed on, not in spite of the changes that were coming, but because of them. They faced an uncertain future with a faithful determination that defied reason. Yet, they knew in their hearts that even as they stepped out God would provide for them all that they needed. And God did just that. God always provides for his people when his people walk in faith. Abraham left Ur with roughly three hundred people and created a nation that became a light to the world. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land after four hundred and thirty years of slavery. The exiles in Babylon returned home to rebuild the temple after fifty years and had all they needed to accomplish the task. Why, because they didn’t give up. Rather, they pulled together and did what was necessary, by God’s Grace, to make it happen. They trusted what God promised and acted on that promise even though the journey was hard and long. You and I have a similar path ahead of us. We have the promise of a new life and a revitalization of our Faith Community. Jesus is calling us to make a difference in the lives of those around us. To do this we must build a new Church. Not just a building, but certainly a new building. We must build a new Holy Spirit based on who we’ve been, but particularly on who we are being called to become. Jesus is calling us as individuals and as a Community to be a stronger witness to his love and faithfulness. He is calling us to be more faithful in our Worship and more committed to our personal prayer and study lives. Jesus is calling us to be more diligent in the giving of our time, our talents, our resources, and our action. There are souls to save, lives to redeem, and people to bless. To do this will it will necessitate all of us trusting in His promise to lead us as He has led His people before us. In the midst of great change God supplies great Grace. He never sends His people out without equipping them for the tasks at hand. You are, at this very moment, being blessed with the Spirit to live and do what we have not done before on this scale. We are called to build. Just like the early Jews were called to rebuild the temple so are we, both figuratively and literally. The Church is the body of Christ. His body must have a place to gather and celebrate His Presence. This place must be a place where all of his people can gather at once to worship Him in a way that brings honor and glory to His Name. We have done well with what we have had, but the time is upon us to do a new thing. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church to recommit, renew, and engage in the life of our Church like we have never done before. Do we have all the answers to every question? No, but neither did Abraham. Do we know what we will encounter at every turn in our path? No, but neither did the Israelites when they left Egypt. Do we know where we will end up when this is all done? No, but neither did the disciples when Jesus ascended to the Father. But like Abraham, the Israelites, and the disciples we will be faithful and follow where God leads. Just like the Apostles, Jesus will continue to give us His Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct us. Everything we need to accomplish what we are called to do will be provided as we walk in faith. We will not give up or give in to our fears, but rather, we will be and do who and what God, in Christ, has called us to be and do. It is what Christians down through the centuries have done, and it is our turn. Let us walk now in faith and be the Church of the Holy Spirit. It is no accident that all of this is coming together at Christmas. We are being born again with Christ. His star and our star are rising. The angels are gathering to sing. “From where is our help to come? Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.” “May the Peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be upon us and remain with us always. Amen.” Merry Christmas and may we all have a blessed New Year! Father Reese back to top December 10, 2007 From Strength to Strength: Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage … They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5, 7 Dear Friends, December 9, 2007 We are the Church of the Holy Spirit. We have been so for 29 years. We have experienced tough times, dark times, good times and great times. Through it all, we remain the Church of the Holy Spirit. In the last five years, we have grown from 35 on a Sunday to an average attendance of 107. One hundred and seventy souls call this body “home.” We are in the final stages of preparing our budget for 2008. One thing is clear: regardless of where we are located, whether it is on our current site or a new piece of property, we continue to be and will remain the Church of the Holy Spirit. We will worship together, fellowship together, study together and pray together. We will continue to be a congregation with a priest, music ministers, secretary and sexton. We will have Christian education classes, confirmation classes, choir, services throughout the week, and two services on Sundays. We will still have buildings to maintain, and salaries and utility bills to pay. Even if we were to move to a new location, that move would not happen until late 2008 or early 2009. We have been meeting to prepare our 2008 budget and it will be posted on the website shortly. It reflects our best estimate of expenses for the coming year. We expect our income will have to increase by 14 percent over our 2007 income. If we should encounter any significant need in the maintenance area during the next year, we will share that with you when it happens. We know our buildings are aging and will need significant repairs soon, especially the church building. This fact, along with the reality that it is just too small for our congregation now, is why we must build a new sanctuary this coming year. This is a fact regardless of the site upon where we will build. If we are to grow, we must have the space to do so. We will come back to you with a plan to construct a building of appropriate size and cost when we have finished our research and have finalized our decision to stay or move. Again, we still have more work to do before that decision is to be made. For now, it is important that we remain strong, both in our attendance and participation in the life of the church as well as remain strong in our giving. Jesus calls us to go from strength to strength and trust that He will not let us down as we do our part. Therefore, we call upon you – each member of our Holy Spirit family – to renew your commitment to our Church as we ourselves are doing. The point is this: we still need you, the members of this Holy Body of Christ, to be just that – the Body of Christ. We have been called to be witnesses to the love of Christ and that is what we will continue to do. We, the Bishop’s Committee, need your continued faithfulness in the giving of your time, your talent, and your treasure. We are not going away. We are going forward. We will continue to do the work of the Lord and trust that you will walk with us as you have this past year. May God’s blessing be upon you as you consider how you are going to support the work we have been called to do. Faithfully, The Bishop’s Committee of the Church of the Holy Spirit Erlinda Baker, Gene Dowdy, Rose Hicks, Ken Olson, Linda Hadley, and Larry Thorp back to top December 9, 2007 Click here to download the 2008 budget. The budget summary is in .pdf format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Acrobat Reader is a free program and comes pre-installed on most computers. If for some reason you do not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you can download it from Adobe by clicking here. December 4, 2007 Minutes--Forum #4 Attendance: 35 congregants Fr. Reese re-capped previous meetings: What we’ve done the past few weeks is talk about what our mission is, what it will cost to stay on this site, what it will cost to move to another site, and the disadvantages and benefits of staying on this site. Today, we’ll talk about two issues: If we stay, will you stay? What are you willing to do? If we go, will you go? What are you willing to do? - Fr. Reese. We are a mission, part of the Diocese of West Texas. This year, 2007, we received $20,000 from the Diocese to offset the priest’s salary. In 2008 we will receive $10,000 and in 2009 we will receive $0. We can apply for parish status in 2009. I believe it is too late for 2008. - Fr. Reese on Camp Bullis church. I do not think we will lose any Episcopalians to Camp Bullis from this area for a couple of years; however, when the big buildings go up, we might see a slight shift in our population. And that’s OK. I do hope that our church might be able to send a couple of families over to help with the start-up. Today, we need to get the pulse of the people on whether we stay or go. What do you think about our moving or staying? - Fran & Mary C. Whatever we do, we do. Mom and I are Holy Spirit. - Jack H. I will support staying here or moving away. - Katie R. I think we can be successful either way. - Pat Mc. I’m OK with going or staying. - Julie H. Like Katie, I think we can be successful either way. - Barbara C. We are here because God wants us to be. We need to trust that He will lead us where he wants us to be. - Mark M. My decision will be based on what we can continue to have. - Jo Ann. I love this property with the trees, the outdoor altar, the benches. - Fr. Reese. These grounds are holy. The people of Holy Spirit make this ground holy. It would take time to hallow other ground. - Jackie Mc. I love Holy Spirit, the grounds, the people, however, I can’t see driving past a lovely church (Camp Bullis) to go further out west to Holy Spirit. I would continue here but probably not further to Helotes. - Peggy. I want to stay here. I am not opposed to moving, but if apartments were to be put up, I don’t know if I could bear the hurt driving past here twice a day. - Fr. Reese. It sounds that for most of you, you’d be willing to go either way. - Barbara C. Moving will affect my ability to participate to the level that I do now because I don’t drive at night. - Chris M. Has the Bishop’s Committee considered sending out a survey? - Fr. Reese. We haven’t put out a survey because I don’t think we need to spoon-feed people. We have publicized these forums in church, in the newsletter, and on our website. We’ve held these forums twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays. People have had the opportunity for input in a variety of different ways. - Chris M. I disagree with you. Now that we have had these forums, I think we need to consider a survey. - Fr. Reese. Couched in that light, doing a survey after you educate people on the issues is different. We will consider sending out a survey in our next Bishop’s Committee meeting later this month. A couple of the questions will be, “Did you attend any of the forums?” and “Did you read the information on the website?” - Peggy. I don’t care for surveys. You get a low return, generally. Is there a way for people to respond on the website? - Erlinda. We can put a link on the website. - Stacy D. When will we be doing pledges and how will that affect our decision? - Fr. Reese. We will probably be doing pledge cards next Sunday and later capital campaign cards. - Rose H. I look at the pledging as two pronged: 1) the regular budget which includes salaries, utilities, insurance, etc.-what you need to run the church. Whether you stay or go, you still need to pay the bills. 2) a maintenance budget which may include a capital campaign. - John P. If we don’t get some kind of pledges in before January, we are not going to be able to pay the bills. - Dennis Mc. I don’t know why we have to move. If you look at the top five churches in the area, you see that they all have an income stream of some kind—a parking lot with rental spaces, a columbarium, a school attached to the church. We will need 300 spaces for parking, so why not try for an income stream, and rent spaces to the University? - Fr. Reese. Send me a plan, Dennis, or get me some information that we can look at in Bishop’s Committee. - Gene D. Talked about past successful events with college kids. Evangelism is something we need to really focus on. - Steve D. Pledging can get to be like the chicken and the egg if we consider moving/not moving. - Jo Ann. We need to go ahead and pledge. - Chris M. Don’t see the point in moving. Why don’t we just stay here? Father Reese then re-capped: Regardless of what we do, Holy Spirit is the family. And regardless where we are, we will support the family. I am sensing that this is where we need to be. If our air conditioner breaks down before we get our new building up, then we need to support getting another one. That’s what family does. What are you willing to do? - Fr. Reese. “What are you willing to do?” is about serving on committees, pledging, working to bring in new families. The pledge cards represent the “family” we are pledging to not the location of the family. You are pledging for keeping staff. We are looking for a standard 10% increase in pledges. Then we will deal with the maintenance issues. We’ll budget for the norm, not for the emergency. This is the first Sunday in Advent. We need to pray like never before for us and for our future. Prayer 11, page 817 in the Book of Common Prayer is a prayer for the parish: Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. back to top November 28, 2007 Wednesday Minutes--Forum 3a Attendance: 21 congregants Fr. Reese re-capped previous meeting: November 25 we talked about what it will take to stay here. Today we will continue the discussion we began Sunday: “What will be needed to move?” - Consensus will be needed by the Bishop’s Committee to make this decision. - We will need and currently do have a buyer for the land. - The new site would be based on the mission plan and the development plan. - We would need an interim place to worship and conduct business. Comments: - Fr. Reese-The developers (buyers) would be interested in our leasing back our space for a year. - Bob C. Hopefully for a decent price [we could lease back]. - Fr. Reese, we could gradually build all the buildings we need in about 10 years. - Rose H. Does the Episcopal Church do loans longer than 5 years? - Fr. Reese. We try to keep down the pay back time to keep the interest we have to pay lower, thus the five years. - Jackie Mc. Would it be helpful to us if we took a poll of how many people would want to visit the site, and go visit it? - Fr. Reese. We could do that, but we are not sure what sites are still available for us to look at. - Dan C. Has there been any other location considered other than the Helotes area? - Fr. Reese reviewed the demographics by drawing a map of the city showing the two loops, 1604 and 410 and the major highways, I-10, I-35, I 37, H281. With the assistance of the congregants present, the location of the churches in the San Antonio area were roughly plotted on the map. San Antonio has 20 of the diocese’s 91 churches. There is no Episcopal church out Helotes toward Bandera. - Fr. Reese. We must build this year. We have 170 people on the books and worship space for only 146. - Fr. Reese reviewed the infrastructure improvements made over the past five years-newcomer program and retention, good programs, outstanding staff, great music program, great worship. We’ve done the things we were supposed to do to help us grow, and we have grown. Now we need to go to the next level. - The college ministry will not be a major thrust of our ministry. The Diocese needs to take up the college ministry. It would take a full time priest and secretary and a place to office---about $125,000. “How do we do that?” - Use proceeds from sale of land to purchase new site, and do initial site development. - Use proceeds to rent space to conduct all aspects of current ministries, with possible exceptions of Intervarsity, Mothers’ Day Out, Girl Scouts, Aragon Spanish Academy. - Secure staff per above. - Appoint transition team to plan details of move. Comments: - Fr. Reese. The developers interested in purchasing this property are willing to lease our building back to us for a year until we get our facility built on the new site. - Fr, Reese reviewed finances: Sell the property for $2.1 million Buy another for - $1.3 million Left to build with $800,000 Of the $800,000, approximately $300,000 would go to site development which would include a rough parking lot, $300,000 would go to a building, and $200,000 would go to buying an air conditioning/heating system, plumbing, furniture, etc. If we STAY GO . † Pledging increases 20% †Pledging increases 10% †Capital campaign in Jan 2008 †No capital campaign immediately †Relative competition to new †Missionary boundaries will be Camp Bullis Church expanded out 1604 toward Bandera-lots of new growth †Location with higher visibility would be obtained - Maureen. Will the $300,000 building include the offices? - Fr. Reese. No, but the modular buildings can be configured in a number of ways. Look up modular buildings on the net to see some examples. - Rose H. Would a capital campaign immediately to build the other ancillary buildings we need be out of the question? - Fr. Reese. No, it wouldn’t. But for bare bones comparison of what it would take to move, we would not need an immediate campaign. There are alternatives. Disadvantages - Finding affordable property - Costs of site development and rental might deplete profit from sale - Finding affordable rental space - Lose proximity to UTSA Comments: - Fr. Reese. People have said that if we change locations, we run a risk of losing identity of who we are. This is holy ground, but if we move, we will make new holy ground there. - Julie H. Isn’t another reason for going that they need a church out that way? - Fr. Reese. Yes. There are six to eight churches in the Northwest /North Central area of San Antonio. Within 1604 you have 20 Episcopal churches of the 91 Episcopal churches in the 66,000 square mile area of the West Texas Diocese. There is no Episcopal church outside 1604 where we are looking. - Josh F. Could the crosses and the outside altar be moved? - Fr. Reese. The transition team would have to deal with that, but I think the Holy Spirit “identifiers” could certainly go. - Fr. Reese. If we sell the property, the diocese has no land to develop a proper college ministry for UTSA. - Linda C. Do college students pledge? - Fr. Reese. No, but they are our future, and we need to nurture them now so that when they do take their places in the world as adults, they will continue their church attendance and full participation. I think it is a strategic mistake to sell this land. - Bob C. When do you think the Bishop’s Committee can make a decision? - Fr. Reese. When we have enough information. - Pat Mc. You say that what the congregation is willing to support financially will be a factor in whether we stay or go, correct? - Fr. Reese. Yes, that, and there are two more factors: *Whether I stay here and *Whether there is a piece of property available for us to move to. There is no advantage in selling if we don’t have a piece of property to move to that meets our requirements. Benefits - Building now without a capital campaign. - Being able to acquire more acreage in a better location - Not being in competition for people with the Camp Bullis new church start - Extending our missionary reach into and beyond Helotes back to top November 25, 2007 Minutes--Forum #3 Attendance: 30 members Fr. Reese re-capped previous meeting: November 18 we talked about what it will take to stay here. - Current buildings are in very bad condition. - If we stay, a 25% increase in each family’s pledge will be needed to cover building maintenance and expenses of running the church. - We need a worship building that will hold 200 to 250 people. - We will need to hold a capital campaign beginning January 2008. - To build a new modular worship space, we will need 60 families to pledge $4000 (approx $67/month) to $5000 (approx $84/month) to be paid back over a five-year period. This will be in addition to a 25% increase in the family pledge. - When we pay off this debt and increase to 120 families, another capital campaign for a new permanent church will be launched. - The time to make a decision is here. We have until December 1 to answer the developers on whether or not we want to sell our property. Today we will talk about: “What will be needed to move?” - Consensus will be needed by the Bishop’s Committee to make this decision. The forums are a way of gathering information from the congregation to help the Bishop’s Committee make an informed decision. - We have a buyer for the land, but time is short to make our decision. December 1 the letter of intent deadline is up. - The new site would be based on the mission plan and the development plan. - We would need an interim place to worship and conduct business. Comments: - Stacy D. stated that none of the other offers received by the Bishop’s office are as serious as the current offer on the table. The other offers are also significantly lower. - John P. We will need to build ancillary spaces at the same time as the church or we would have to operate out of two separate spaces. - Steve D. Maybe we need to build the ancillary buildings first since we only need a large worship center once a week. - Barbara C. What are the chances of buying a property that’s already developed with water, sewerage, and utilities? Fr. Reese answered that site development would take a large amount of money, probably one-third of what we would have to work with if we sold the property and bought one for approximately $1.3 million. - Fr. Reese-We would have about $800,000 to start with in the new site, and a capital campaign will not be necessary immediately, but we will need to increase individual pledges by 10%-15%. “How do we do that?” - Use proceeds from sale of land to purchase new site, and do initial site development. - Use proceeds to rent space to conduct all aspects of current ministries, with possible exceptions of Intervarsity, Mothers’ Day Out, Girl Scouts, Aragon Spanish Academy. - Security for staff per above. - Appoint transition team to plan details of move. Comments: - Fr. Reese. The developers interested in purchasing this property might be willing to lease our building back to us for a year until we get our facility built on the new site. - Fr. Reese. UTSA is not our primary mission. We are a small church and can’t afford to launch a proper college ministry. This should be a diocesan project. There are 25,000 souls across the street that are not being addressed. - John L. Are we looking only in the Helotes area? Fr. Reese—yes. - Karen D. Can we talk with the Bishop and revisit our being the founding congregation at Camp Bullis? Fr. Reese—No, because what the Bishop is proposing now would totally disband Holy Spirit as we now know it. Staff would be let go, programs would be dismantled and replaced by new ones. It would not be Holy Spirit moving to a new location. - JoAnn P??. Why can’t we stay here and build, then have the diocese buy our land later, then move? - Steve D. Out Highway 16 there is a lot of growth also. Why doesn’t Bishop consider building out there?(instead of Camp Bullis) - John P. There is no reason to think if we move out west we are going to attract new people. - Layman H. I’m not convinced we are being good stewards if we sell this property. The people that buy it will just strip it. - Gene D. We keep talking about the property. It is a blessing that this place is worth so much. We have been good stewards in taking care of it. - Jack H. I also love the property, but if we stay here, there are some things that are getting worse that we can’t change—traffic for one, in both directions. - Josh F. We could get cops to manage the traffic. - _________. Suggest that if we lease back from the developers that it be for a minimal sum, say $1.00 a month or $1.00 a year. - Fran C. Is there a current Helotes church that is ready to move on, and we can lease or buy their church? Fr. Reese: Not that I’m aware of. - Linda H. There was a church in the area that seemed to be ready to move on. Disadvantages of Moving - Finding affordable property - Costs of site development and rental might deplete profit from sale - Finding affordable rental space - Lose proximity to UTSA Comments: - Linda H. Location, location, location is important. - Fr. Reese . If we traded land for land, we would have to do a capital campaign. If we stay here on a lease, we’d still probably be responsible for the maintenance of the buildings. We might be able to rent from Pedrotti’s North Wind Resort. - Paula. We need to be sure we can move in a year if we stay here on a lease. - Linda H. We have some identity here. - John P. Because of disruption (if we move), we may lose some people. Benefits of Moving - Building now without a capital campaign. - Being able to acquire more acreage in a better location - Not being in competition for people with the Camp Bullis new church start - Extending our missionary reach into and beyond Helotes Comments: - _______. We really don’t know whether we will or won’t be able to have to have a capital campaign. We don’t have enough information at this point to determine this. Fr. Reese: we will need to determine the congregation’s willingness to back whatever decision is made. Closing Remarks by Fr. Reese Next week we will likely have our last regular forum. The Bishop’s Committee needs everyone’s input and support. If people do not respond and support what needs to be done, regardless of which choice is made, then the real issue is, “Are we really willing to be Holy Spirit?” If so, where we are, the location, doesn’t matter. What matters is being the Congregation we are called to be. Wednesday the 28th of Nov we will hold the same forum as today. Next Sunday we will discuss the willingness of the congregation to support the future of Holy Spirit. back to top November 18, 2007 Minutes from Forum 11-18-07 Opened with Prayer from BCP Fr Reese reviewed briefly the discussion of Mission from last week; the ground rules for discussion; the criterion for decision Stated goals for this forum: - What will it take to stay here - What will it take to relocate What will it take to stay here? - Consensus - Can everyone support it? - Implement Development Plan with modifications: - Build worship space to seat 200-250 (later to become the Parish Hall) - Repair/replace existing structures (Dev Comm Plan) - Increase Parking - add up front for visibility, too - Convert current church to Parish Hall, Parish Hall to classrooms - Landscaping entrance for visibility - Can't afford to build Church as planned (1.5 - 2Million cost) Instead would build a Modular bldg to accommodate 250 for worship now. As membership grows, we'll begin the Building Campaign to raise the funds for the Church construction Gene Dowdy, Junior Warden and Property Manager, provided a litany of property issues with the currently deteriorating buildings: 1. Rotting Wood, roof structures in sanctuary, leak in roof 2. All on Pier & Beam, not all enclosed, allow critters underneath bldgs 3. Electrical problems, current surges 4. Broken kneelers not repairable 5. AC in Sanctuary on last leg, estimated replacement cost $15-25,000 6. Other AC/Heat units wearing out, replacing one every 6 months. 7. Bees, Wasps nest in rotting eaves in various buildings, dangerous & costly to remove 8. Office and practice space in Music office inadequate 9. Landscaping - none up front at entry 10. Floors are rotting, spongy in several spots in Sanctuary 11. Low ceiling in Sanctuary, not good for music 12. No water fountain, not easily installed 13. Parish hall too small and out of date, broken dishwasher 14. No access to cable or DSL Fr Reese: - First need is to start to build new worship space asap, try to stay within development plan so we don't have to redo later on - Increase parking again - across front per development plans - Clear space, asphalt or gravel or pave new spaces - Church building could be redone to be the new parish hall temporarily - Parish Hall could be redone to become 2-3 classrooms - Where do we build the modular bldg? Up front for visibility or where it's supposed to be per the development plan. Could be built on Pier and Beam and then could move it later to the planned site (or new location if we relocate) Comments from attendees: Peggy M. - Her point of view, No matter where we are, we still have to build. Selling and Moving is no magic bullet. We shouldn't throw away what we have. Rhonda C. - If we stay here we can continue using these buildings while we build gradually Bob C. - It sounds like to repair the Church would cost more than to replace it Fr Reese reminded us of the Development Committee Plans. When we get to 200 - 250 in attendance, we could start the capital campaign to build the permanent church. We'd have a Transition team to look into building in phases. We wouldn't put in permanent seating in worship space so that it could be reconfigured when needed for parish hall or classroom needs. Fermin G. -What would cost be to move the modular building? Answer: not known at this time, but not cheap. Fran C. - Maybe we could build the office building first and use it for worship space - up front on development plan John P. - Land not going anywhere, will only increase in value. Land can be used as collateral for loan to build church Gene D. - He'd like to see landscaping at entrance and front so driving by you can tell something is going on here. Also pointed out that Evangelism is required to build the Church. We'll be asked to give a lot of ourselves and our money. Larry T. - Could the current sanctuary be safely used for a parish hall? Seems floor and roof and electrical are problematic. Josh F. - What would it take to repair flooring in sanctuary? John responded that we'd take up the carpet, repair from the top, not crawl underneath. We don't know the scope of repair until we take off the carpet. Fr Reese gave us some information on modular buildings and he's still looking at information on other companies. Can be made very attractive, lots of variations and possibilities. A 60x60 space would be about the same size as we have now in sanctuary (about double size of parish hall) but could be expanded to seat 250. If to be moved we'd put it on a Pier & Beam foundation, if permanent it would be on a slab. How to do that? Begin capital campaign immediately: $300,000 based on modular bldg design. Need commitments from 60 families to give a sum of $4000 each over and above their pledges for the next 5 years. This would be $800 a year extra. We also need pledgers to increase pledges by 25% to keep up with the maintenance issues, secure staff positions Benefits of staying: - Known location, established in neighborhood - Land use preserved - Current membership won't have to driver further to get to church - Retain access to UTSA for ministry Disadvantages of staying - Costs high - Visibility - Aging facilities - Remain in competition for people with Camp Bullis new church start - Been here 28 years, little success, what's going to change? There was discussion on use of property as Canterbury House for UTSA. Stacey D. advised that Diocese doesn't have funds for that project or to buy our property for that purpose. There are No plans for Diocesan college ministry at this time. What does Bishop want us to do? Fr. Reese said he'd prefer we move in order to reach people in Helotes and beyond. Needs a church there. But, Diocese doesn't have finances to buy property there or build us a church there, that's up to us. Will Bishop support our decision if we stay here? Yes, he's said he'll support our decision either way. No forum this Wed nite. Next Sunday, we'll look at option to relocate. back to top November 18, 2007 Agenda for Forum #2 Nov 18, 2007 Minutes of this meeting will be posted when available Prayer Review of Previous Forum -Mission discussion - Ground Rules -Criterion for Decision: mission, finances, willingness of congregation to do what is needed Goals for Current Forum -what will it take to stay put -what will it take to relocate “What will be needed to stay at 6676 UTSA Blvd” -Consensus -Implement Dev Com with modifications: -Build worship space to seat 200-250 (New parish hall as worship space first…) -Repair/replace existing structures (dev com plan) -Increase parking -Convert current church to parish hall, parish hall to class rooms - - How to do that -Capital campaign immediately: $300,000 based on modular bldg design – 60 families giving $4,000 each over and above pledges for the next 5 years -20% increase in current pledges for 2008 budget year -secure staff: retroactive raises for 2007, COL and merit for 2008, insurance -increase visibility thru strategic bldg placement, signage - - Benefits of staying -known location -land use preserved -current membership won’t have to drive farther to get to church -retain access to UTSA for ministry - - Disadvantages of staying -costs high -visibility -aging facilities -remain in competition for people with Camp Bullis new church start back to top November 14, 2007 Minutes from forum, Wed., 11-14-07 Fr Reese opened with Prayer Reviewed agenda, rules Fr Reese asked for reflections on Bishop's meeting: - TMI situation not going to work for us - Disappointing, upsetting, confusing - Energized the congregation to heightened level of interest in growth - Relief, never thought the TMI project was a good idea What is our Mission as a congregation, for the Diocese, or National church? Who are we and Whose are we? - Discussed we are no longer mission to the University, that's better done by big church or Diocese Timeline: Decision to accept offer on the table is Dec 1, letter of intent expires then. Doesn't mean they won't still be interested, just that we can both move on. We can look for other offers. Discussed need to move ahead: - Stewardship time, need a clear picture of where we are going - Buildings falling apart - Budgeting for next year, expenses for repairs/maintenance more in next week's forum on finances - Possible better price if we wait - Explore other options - use land as retreat center, sell to UTSA, sell as park back to top November 11, 2007 Agenda for Forum Number One: Nov 11, 07 @ 845am & Nov 14, 07 @ 730pm Opening prayer: BCP page 818 Ground Rules for the Meeting Recap of meeting with Bp. Lillibridge on the 29th of Oct Scope of the Discussion Criterion for Decision 1. Mission: why do we exist as a church? Locally, on a diocesan level, nationally, and beyond 2. Finances: what will it cost to stay put, what will it cost to move? 3. Willingness: what are you, the people of Church of the Holy Spirit, willing to do to make this work? 4. Father Reese’s participation in the process. Life beyond July 08 Time Frames 1. Post Agenda on Web site 2. Father Reese’s mtg with Bp. L. Nov 13th. 3. Mission Statement: gather info Nov 11 and 14, Review on the 18th 4. To Move or not to move: how do the mission statement and the finance influence or decision making process? What are the facts as we know them? Listen to feedback: Nov 18 and 21 5. Developer Issues: If not this one which one if any and when? Nov 25 and 28 Ground Rules: Respectful, there are no bad ideas, no wrong ideas. Scope: Want your ideas on Mission of Holy Spirit Stressed the importance of your willingness and commitment - Talk to others who are not here and get them interested in coming Wed or next Sun - Follow up/repeat meetings on Wed for those who cannot make it on Sun Recap of Meeting with Bishop: We are the Church of the Holy Spirit and want to remain that body. Some may choose to join TMI project and that is fine, a mission effort from our church, but we will not as a congregation dissolve and become part of the TMI church. One good result of all the TMI talk was to bring us to this point of interest and decision making. We’ll need all of us here today times 3 to make this new vision for Holy Spirit work. Fr Reese’s desire is to stay with us through the Building process and afterwards long enough to enjoy it. He doesn’t feel that changing leadership at this critical time would be good. In fact, he feels that a change in leadership would lead to a crash. He’ll be talking to the Bishop about this when they meet this week. He thinks we’ll be ready to request Parish status in 2009 and at that time we’ll elect a rector. In 2009 our Diocese financing goes away and we’ll need to be self supporting. Financing Issues will be looked at next week. There will be a cost to stay and a cost to go. There will be pros and cons to both scenarios for us to consider. Bishop’s Committee is pulling numbers together now to discuss next Sun. Mission: We’re not going to try to write a new mission statement at this time. We’re just looking for your ideas on Why are we here? - To Serve the needs of the UTSA community - To serve needs of the surrounding residential communities - To serve our needs for spiritual growth and worship - We are called to be here - To serve our community by providing space for outreach - To provide worship service - To be a church family and provide fellowship, stability, support and growth - Demonstrate sustainability in a long-term operation - Spread the News to others, bring lost to Christ, Make new Christians, Bring others into relationship with Christ - Be right size to continue as a family – not too big or too small - Be Big or Give Big - Sustainable size – Financial requirements to meet staff salaries and provide programs. We’re bigger than most Episc parishes in this Diocese. We have 60 pledging units now. If all tithed we’d have plenty of money. - We are small enough that all must work, can’t be anonymous and just show up on Sun for worship here. - Creative limitless God – use the “what if” concept and look into what Holy Spirit can be Is Who we are, what we do, how we do it the best it can be or can we get better? What can we do better? - Outreach - Tithe – need model, improve on the amount of money we give in the community (Model is 10% before taxes and expenses – that is base line tithe, and we all should be growing into that – Fr Reese) When people take tithing seriously, growth and participation increase Budget growth: We got $20,000 from Diocese for Reese’s salary this year (started at $40,000, decreasing each year.) Next year will be $10,000. This is part of the $250,000 support that the Bishop said we’d gotten from the Diocese. In 2002 our budget was $99,000. Salaries are the largest expense item for this size church. Pledges were about $165,000 this year, based on 60 family units. We have a $255,000 Budget for 2007. There’s a fear of growing too large, of loosing intimacy and family feeling. We’ll grow to where we need to be. Our Welcoming is great. We’ve got good programs in place and it’s very intentional. It can be replicated. It can be improved upon. We will need to be intentional in our welcoming and continue to grow. We have more love to give, we can love more people. Parking lot signs warning student off is a negative. There was discussion of parking issue and how to better handle it. We still have the plans that our Development Committee worked so hard on. We still can use those plans whether here or somewhere else. First, we must be clear on who we are and what we are about. The decision is not just financial. That would be the wrong focus. We must meet our mission needs. What we want is unity, no divisiveness. We want everyone to be able and willing to support whatever decision is made. We want a consensus. There will not be a vote but we want to hear everyone’s ideas. We need to know the congregation’s desire to go or to stay. That decision should not be based just on emotion or just on finances. Where can we be the best considering all else that’s going on around us? Meeting broke at 9:50. back to top November 8, 2007 Subject: Bishop Lillibridge Meeting Date: October 29, 2007 6:42 PM – 8:30 PM Guests: Kirk Mason, Canon for Administration John Rayles, Canon for Congregational Development History: About two years ago, Fr. Reese Friedman, Vicar of Holy Spirit, and others of the congregation went to see the Bishop about the serious decline of the Holy Spirit buildings. About a year ago, Fr. Reese started getting inquiries about the property on which the church sits. That began the questions--are we willing to sell? If we do, what happens to Holy Spirit? Where do we go? This past summer, one of the inquirers got serious and presented us (the diocese) with a letter of intent. The Bishop, John and Kirk met in August with the HS Bishop’s Committee to discuss the offer of the letter of intent. Current Status: The current status is that the 120-day original look-see provided for in the letter of intent expires around the end of November. The developers are definitely interested and have offered $2.1 million for the property, about three times its appraised value. This offer has been negotiated upward by the diocesan legal staff and the Bishop from the original offer, and it is considered to be a final offer. The Bishop needs to let the developers know our decision “soon”. “Soon” was later refined to probably the end of November when the 120-day letter of intent expires. If we say “yes”, we need to vacate the HS grounds by July 2008 as it takes the builder approximately 20 to 24 months to put up his buildings. The developer interested is the one who developed the apartments next door. Options presented by the Bishop: 1. Sell the property and decide to go to Camp Bullis as a start-up church. 2. Sell the property and move somewhere else. 3. Do not sell the property, stay here, but the decay of the current buildings at Holy Spirit needs to be seriously addressed Information given for each of the options: 1. Sell the property and decide to go to Camp Bullis as a start-up church • The Camp Bullis property has 24 acres and is located 5.6 miles from Holy Spirit. • The church at Camp Bullis will begin construction in Summer 2008 • A “planter’ priest has been identified and will begin his/her term July 2008. • Camp Bullis is going to be a church start-up, not a relocation of Holy Spirit to Camp Bullis. The whole concept of “church” needs to be re-thought from Sunday services being held on Sunday to ministries. Things may not be the same. • Church start-up info—Bishop: “Once you get a critical mass of people that will make up the church community, they need to study what that church will look like. We are talking about a mindset rather than an event.” Rayles, “Initially we may not have Sunday ‘morning’ church, but it is more than that. We need to look at the speaker, the music, everything. Just look at the parking lots at Target and Wal-Mart on Sunday morning. They are full. And those are the people we need to connect with. We need to look at the changing culture to reach the folks in the parking lot. Here’s the challenge: The government has outlawed Sunday. How are you going to influence your community for the cause of Christ? Bishop: There may be a serious web presence in this church. How do we get the gospel message to “these” people? How do we permeate the culture?” • St. Thomas, St. Helena in Boerne and Christ Church will probably send some people over to be part of the start-up church. • “Holy Spirit” will not be the name of the Camp Bullis Church • The land at Camp Bullis has a $900,000 debt that will need to be paid off. • A capital campaign will need to be launched for the church at Camp Bullis. • The TMI chapel would be available on Sunday but not during the week. • There is no space at TMI currently for administrative offices for the church nor is there space for the current ministries to meet. 2. Sell the property and move somewhere else • If the land is sold, Holy Spirit would receive the money to relocate elsewhere; it would not go to develop the Camp Bullis site. • Land in this area is very expensive. For example, there was a piece of land out 1604 toward Helotes that was 10 acres. Asking price for that land was $1.3 million. That would leave $800,000 to start building a church. • A capital campaign would be needed to build a church. • A temporary place to meet, to have a place for our ministries, and to run the business of the church would be necessary. • We do not have to move to Camp Bullis; this is an invitation only. • If you do move to Camp Bullis, you may decide that you don’t want to do this after all, then you have other issues to address as individuals. 3. Do not sell the property and stay here. • The buildings and support systems are about to cave in on us. The building issue would need to be seriously addressed. • Bishop: We need to think as individuals what kind of involvement we are going to be willing to put forth for the church [if we stay here]. • We would probably have to build a new church and support buildings. The diocese does not have any money to help us build. • A possibility of using part of our land for other uses—a parking lot for the university was suggested as a revenue producing opportunity. • The opportunity to preserve the land and the nature it supports was brought forth. The land we sit on is “sacred” and should not be destroyed was a thought brought forth. • The land will increase in value. There is no rush to sell right now. • The college ministry needs to be addressed seriously. We have been here 26 years and have not been all that successful in this area, yet it is touted as a major reason we are located where we are. This was countered by James Garcia and his telling of how he and Tawni are working with the UTSA. • The issue of retaining our priest, Reese, is still a big issue. Congregants feel we are just now growing, and to take him away during a critical time would not be in the best interest of Holy Spirit. Fr. Reese informed the congregants present that there would be an opportunity to further discuss Holy Spirit’s future. He urged them to attend the forums that would take place in the Parish Hall at 8:45 AM every Sunday in November beginning November 11. Speakers were: Steve Dodwell, John McCray Layman Hendrex, Lise Mitchell John Perkins, Peggy McCray Linda Constancio, James Garcia Jackie McCarthy, Linda Hadley Dennis McCarthy, Susan Douglas Karen Dodwell, Sandi Wall Earl “Pappy” Posey, Fr. Reese Friedman back to top August 24, 2007 Ps 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. In April of 2006 I visited New Orleans with a man who has become a close friend. We stood in front of what used to be his daughter's house in the Lower 9th Ward. This was one of several areas where the levy breach was sudden and deadly. The devastation is unimaginable. Even pictures don’t do it justice. To stand in the presence of such destruction was crushing. The smell of mold in the air was so strong, even after eight months, that we couldn’t stay in the area very long. My friend's daughter and three grandchildren had gotten out before their house was wiped off its foundation and the contents swept away. They were alive and well in San Antonio. With tears in our eyes and hands on each other’s shoulders we simply blessed God for the lives of his family and cried. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. The house had been gutted. Moldy, water logged furniture, clothing and personal effects had been taken to the curb and hauled away. All that remained was the shell of a house and the memories. So many hurdles were set up to get assistance that many folks in his neighborhood simply chose to leave and not look back. But Alvin wasn’t about to give up. A man of God, he prayed for strength and the means to rebuild. By June of 2007, with the help of three churches and over fourteen people he rebuilt his home and replaced the basic contents. Even as his home was coming together he reestablished the Trinity Education Enrichment Program which blesses the poorer children of New Orleans. The a month after he moved back into his home summer classes began for TEEP. Almost a dozen schools and fifty children came daily to Trinity Church, New Orleans to be blessed abundantly with love, personal attention, excellent educational enrichment activities and more. Smiling faces have a way of showing, with crystal clarity, the abundance of God's love. Alvin is an instrument of that Love. November 11, 2007 back to top August 23, 2007 Frances and Leo are together again. Yesterday we celebrated Frances' life and offered thanks for her ultimate healing. She stands in the fullness of the Kingdom, strong, beautiful, and filled with God's Grace. Blessings on you, Frances. Rest in our Lord Jesus' love. back to top May 6, 2007 The Breath of God Genesis 1:2 …and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. May 27th is Pentecost Sunday. Each year we read how God’s Holy Spirit descended on the disciples with the rush of a mighty wind. The Spirit alighted upon the “Apostles” and changed them in ways that astounded the people who had gathered around the building where they were. That mighty Wind, that Spirit, or breath of God, was doing in the Apostles what God began in creation. God came upon what was to be his new creation and took chaos and gave it order. In the beginning He created light, water, land, plants and animals and ultimately us. God took what was dark, unordered, chaotic, dangerous and scary and brought to it everything necessary to promote the fullness of life. Light to see the beauty that was coming, water to give a context for life to exist and grow, land for a place for life to manifest itself, plants and animals to provide for His ultimate creation and finally us, the sacramental reflection of His very nature. At Pentecost God looked upon his new creation, the Church, and did what was necessary for it to grow into the image intended at Creation. God breathed upon the Apostles and with his light gave them a new vision and purpose. With the water of Baptism he provided a new context for that life to grow. The very body of the Church is the land in which this new life would be lived out. It was His newest creation. The individual people of God, were, and continue to be, filled with His very nature and empowered to live in Love and Compassion to draw those who were part of the old order into the New Community. Jesus, upon whom the Spirit of God rests, is the gate through which this Breath blows fulfilling the promise He made at His ascension ten days before the New Pentecost. As the Apostles received the Breath, they now could see with new eyes and act with new courage. The world that was chaotic, dangerous and scary now became the ground in which they would replant His Word. As the days and weeks unfolded they began to exercise the Gifts they were given, see 1 Corinthians 12, to continue that work Jesus began. God had not abandoned His creation, it had abandoned Him and He was going to reclaim it, one person at a time. You and I are the inheritors of those Gifts and that mission. The world is still in need of being replanted. Harvests of souls are still to be had. It is our turn to work the fields, clear the brush and remove the rocks that bruise the souls of His people. By virtue of our Baptism you and I have received that same Spirit and our work is the same work. We are already equipped. Now it is time, once again, to pray for the will to do it. Fr. Reese back to top April 1, 2007 Moment by Moment There are some moments so profound that they stand above the others. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are just such moments. Together they form the definitive portal by which God and humanity embrace, at once, the fullness of death and life. In so doing we find our lives transfigured into the Risen Christ’s likeness. By faith we feel, as we enter the mystery of the Great Moments, the defeat, the power, the expectation, and the victory of the Risen Christ. His death calls us to face our own death and brokenness. But his resurrection forces us to accept and take seriously our own commission to rise up and go forth to reclaim all creation for God. Nowhere in our daily life is there such a confluence of possibilities than in the Liturgies of Holy Week, Easter Vigil and Easter. The express purpose of Liturgy is to create a space where God and humanity can touch. And in so touching we, at last, are imbued with everything necessary to reenter creation as The Children of God. Christ’s resurrection is our resurrection. His exit from the tomb is our calling to reenter the world. His life becomes, once again, our very breath. The moment that great, round rock rolled back from the tomb entrance was the moment the power of Christ broke forth and changed forever what our response needs to be. “Behold, I am doing a new thing. Can you not perceive it?” Do not be willing to settle for another mediocre Easter, where secular symbols shallowly define the season. Rather, through each Liturgy receive the true gifts Christ has for you. Know the power of his new life personally. Embrace the new gifts of faith and hope he brings with him out of the tomb. Take hold of the new found love you will discover in the words and music of the Liturgies. Then boldly leave the comfort of your own tomb, whatever form you have made it. Rise. Rise and do the very will of your savior knowing he walks with you along the road, teaching you as you go. Moment by moment. Fr. Reese back to top December 23, 2006 The "It's Almost Christmas" Letter 2006 Just moments from now all our preparation will stop. If the lights aren't up by now, oh, well. You still might be able to get a leftover tree at one of the tent tree marts; or maybe even at one of our local self-help stores. Last year, Josh and I scrounged a $10.00 tree at just such a place the day before Christmas. (We left it up the entire twelve days of Christmas so we could get our money's worth, so to speak.) But all kidding aside, time is up. Advent is closing and the Day is upon us. What we've attempted to do in the last three plus weeks is something that is impossible to do without God's Grace. What we've wanted is to have a "good" Christmas. Obviously, that means different things to different people, but to Christians, it has a very specific hope attached to it. We can certainly enjoy the gift giving and receiving. I surely do. But it is the significance behind the activities that has our attention. We feel it when we gather Christmas Eve and sing the carols. Each song deepens the sense of anticipation and expectation. Our hearts get full. An awareness of God's closeness settles in and tears fill our eyes as we hold the candles and sing "Silent Night." Jesus' presence is palpable. The baby born in the manger is beginning to be reborn in our hearts. The last chord is strummed on the guitar, the last note sung still echoes in our minds as the Silence begins to fill the crowded church. We take a breath, savor the moment, look around one last time at all the candles and each other. We smile, blow out our candles and wish each other "Merry Christmas" and start to leave the church, trying to hold onto the feeling. Some of us go home and open presents; some take a drive around the neighborhoods to look at the lights. Now it is upon us. It is tempting to think Christmas is over -- it's done. But don't give in. It's not over. God is just gearing up His giving. There are those Twelve Days ahead. What we've worked to hard to have can't be gone in one hour or one day. We need the next almost two weeks to savor what is unfolding in us. Jesus' giving is just starting. He wants to deepen the mystery of the Holy Night in us. He wants to "flesh out" his presence in us. The Hope that we hoped we'd have is taking shape in us and we dare not cut it off before it's established or we will feel a very shallow, hollow emptiness. If you've ever gotten to the day after Christmas and been glad it's over you know what I'm talking about. So how do we hang onto that little flame, that small spark of Peace and Holiness? Nurture it. Protect it. Build on it. There is no short cut to Blessedness. As in any relationship, and Christmas is all about relationships, spending time together is the only way to grow together. If we truly want that "feeling" of connectedness with Jesus to stay more than the echo "Silent Night's" last note, we need to do whatever it takes to be in His company. God's people have been doing the same thing from the beginning of Creation because it works. Let your day begin and end in prayer; spend time reading and meditating on the Scriptures; be faithful in your worship, not giving yourself excuses not to come to church; give yourself more and more to God's work like you mean it. Those who live these disciplines know what I'm talking about. Those who don't, quite frankly, won't get it until they do it. Our Faith, our Religion, is not an avocation, a hobby, something to take or leave. It is our life, our health, our present, past and Future. Christmas is the first time in our new year to experience, hold onto and develop a powerful, life-giving relationship with our Lord. It is His gift to us, and He invites us to enter into it whole-heartedly. When we do, the depth and breadth of this Holy Day will not desert us as the new calendar year unfolds. Rather as we work out our Salvation day by day, the experience of our faith deepens, taking on new meaning and significance. So, to wrap it all up: Prep time's over, the fun joy, etc. begin. Savor and nurture it. Trust it, share it and live as the year unfolds. Jesus is faithful and will not let you down. If we keep up our end of the relationship, blessing upon blessing await us. Merry Christmas and a Happy Almost New Year, Fr. Reese back to top December 12, 2006 Those who avoid facing death cannot live fully in the present, nor can they truly hope for Heaven. December 1, 2006 Christmas Letter: The Reason for the Season I came home last night and the large inflated skiing Santa and skating Snowman were up and running. Lights all over the neighborhood were going up with a fevered pitch. It’s “that” time of year again. For several weeks, in fact, right after Halloween, the home improvement stores began putting out their holiday decorations. So much is being done everywhere you look in the retail market to prepare for the “holiday.” Thank God, my grocery store hasn’t started the canned seasonal music yet. (Notice I haven’t used the “Word” yet.) Unfortunately, one of my radio stations has gone totally over the edge and plays nothing but seasonal songs. I’m un-programming my radio button for that station. I noticed my first religious counterculture bumper sticker a couple of days ago. “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” So the battle has been joined. Advertising versus Spirituality. The secular message is that somehow we all deserve as many gifts as we can fit in our cars. The irony is that we have already received the One Gift that matters. Yet, somehow we seem to have this hole in our spirits. We feel we need to fill ourselves with stuff — look who’s writing — and dare to use this Holy Time of Preparation as an excuse to do it. Not one of us deserves this level of opulence, yet every one of us has been deemed worthy to die for. Go figure. What does Jesus see in us that we seem so determined to ignore? Why would the One who was there at the creation of the Earth, Sky and Stars find us so interesting, so fetching, so lovable? Maybe because when He looks into our eyes, our hearts, our souls, past all our doubts, confusion, materialism, and self-absorption, He sees that Divine Spark of Himself glowing in the middle of our being. Perhaps Jesus can see who we are and who we will become in a way that we are just not able to do, from this side of Eternal Life. Maybe it’s the fact that He loves us that makes it possible for us to look past the lights, the yard decorations, and the canned music in the stores and malls, and hope that perhaps this year Christmas — the “Word” — will bring us something that all of our restless searching has still failed to give us. Maybe this Christmas we will wake up and find the Son of God born again, but not in a manger — rather, in our hearts. I think it’s time to begin our Preparation for Christmas. Perhaps it’s time to clean house, sweep the floors of our hearts, bring out our best decorations — Faith, Hope, Love — and live like we really expect the Savior of the World to come. He keeps his promises. He is always faithful. It’s His nature, so to speak. Let’s prepare for Christmas like we mean it. When we put up lights, let’s remember what they signify. When we decorate our trees, let’s place each ornament with a prayer of thanks for what we have already received and what we know we are to inherit. And then, let’s look around at the people next to us and the people we worship with. These are they with whom we will spend eternity. We, too, are the Reason for the Season. Jesus came for us. Peace, Fr. Reese back to top October 16, 2006 A friend wrote me an email the other night. I have permission to share it with you as well as my response. Friend: God is with us when bad things happen, and God brings people in our lives to help us deal with bad things. So far, so good, however... My old and very unoriginal question is this: Why doesn't our all-powerful, all-knowing Creator God just stop the bad things from happening in the first place? (Free will? I think it's overrated, personally.) This wasn't in your sermon, but it also came to mind: Some people say that when we cry in our sorrow, that God is in that hole weeping with us. I'm not sure I'd want God weeping with me. I'd rather believe in a Savior than a fellow weeper. My response: Great questions. Suffering is considered a mystery in the church. Jesus made it clear that suffering and persecution were always going to be a part of the picture in this life. But so is blessing, peace, joy, etc, in spite of suffering and even because of it. Apparently, God recognizes some hidden blessing in suffering that only people of faith seem to be able to apprehend. All the more reason for us to get out the good news so more people can become people of faith. Regarding the rather woosy picture of God weeping with us…. I don’t particularly subscribe to that kind of sentimental theology. I like the Savior image much better. Jesus died to lead us thru our suffering to a better, stronger place. While the suffering might continue, what changes is how we view and process what we experience. God’s presence in our suffering is more than mere comfort, it is transformative. We move from victims to victors as our faith converts our hurt to healing, our injury to strength and our experience into gift. It moves from pain to gift when we then stand with another going through what we’ve been through and help them through their ordeal, converting hurt to healing, etc. back to top October 11, 2006 I just returned from a weekend in New Orleans with Alvin. We were able to begin the painting of the inside of the house. We prepped the rooms, filled cracks, covered electrical sockets and switches then painted the two bedrooms, closets, hallway, dining room and living room. Pictures will be posted soon. Last week we were able to sell the travel trailer to generate additional funds to use for the ongoing work. Thanks to all of you who have continued to support our outreach. back to top October 1, 2006 Heb. 10:35 - 36 (NRSV) Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews was writing to a church experiencing tough times. In their day, they were facing persecution, isolation, and worse. They were being called back to remember why they were Christians in the first place. They were being encouraged to remember what the prize was at the end. Confidence, endurance, and action were the watchwords for the early Christians. In the face of such opposition, nothing less than total commitment would suffice. The church was in chaos, leadership was being run ragged, and people were losing heart. They had begun to lose sight of why they were saved in the first place. Just like the Israelites who had just left Egypt and cried out against Moses, saying, “Did you take us from Egypt just to starve us to death in the desert?” So, too, the early church had begun to lose its vision and purpose under the onslaught of political oppression. In a brilliant piece of wisdom, the author begins by helping his flock to remember why they were a community and under whose sign they gathered. Next, the writer prepared them for what lay ahead. Endurance was not an option. It was a requirement of the committed Christian. The road was going to be both long and hard and it would require the best they have to offer of themselves and their resources as they set out to do what God had called them to do. Action was the only remedy to indecisiveness. Fear was disabling the infant church. Fear of persecution, fear of death, fear of failure. The people of the early church were being called back to their root and their root was Jesus. Jesus was their Confidence. Jesus was the source of their Endurance. Jesus was the point of their action and the ultimate hope and the final destination of their faith. We, the people of the Church of the Holy Spirit, find ourselves in a somewhat different cultural and political environment than our first century brothers and sisters. And yet as I look back over the last several months there are some similarities. Before this past summer, we were moving toward implementing the plan our Development Committee and Bishop’s Committee had put together. We had gotten to the preliminary design of our new church facility plan and an initial strategy to make it happen. At that point, things came to a halt due to a rather sudden interest in our property by developers. Bishop Lillibridge asked us to hold up on implementing our plan until he and some of his staff could assess the level of interest and viability of any offer that might come out of discussions with the developers. In his discussion with the developers, the Bishop felt it best to not enter into an agreement with them to sell our property at this time, given what we were offered. We would not have been able to realize enough of an income from the sale of our property to acquire another site, let alone build a new church. The Bishop’s Committee concurred with his decision. The Bishop has asked us to remain open, also, to the possibility that the future might present us other opportunities. What this means to us in the immediate future is critical for at least two reasons. First, we are here to bring the unchurched people around us into a relationship with our Lord Jesus. That is why the church exists. That is why we exist. We began the development program with that in mind by specifically designing facilities that would support a larger number of people with more worship space seating, additional parking, better and more classrooms, larger and more updated nursery, more functional office space and expanded community outreach through use of our facilities for groups in and around our local community. Secondly, we, the Bishop’s Committee, the Development Committee and I all realize that we can’t wait until we have new buildings or property to do something. Our current facilities need repair, more parking, better visibility to the street, improved exterior lighting, and expanded capabilities to accommodate our own programs and the growing number of community groups that are discovering us. Though we had hoped to be building late this year or early next, we realize now that there are just not the funds available either in our congregation as it is at the moment or in the Diocese at large to help us. We must reach a weekly attendance level of at least 200 people per Sunday to begin a viable capital campaign. Hence, to reach that level we must act now to improve our appearance, visibility, accessibility, and capabilities. With that in mind, the Bishop has given us the green light to reactivate our Development Committee to put together an interim plan to improve what we have with the purpose of making our continued growth possible given our current circumstances. We held a preliminary meeting this past Monday, Sept. 25 for just this purpose. During the first three weeks of October, we will be putting together a phased presentation of what we hope to accomplish by the end of this year with the above goals specifically in mind. Let me bring this all together now. Just like the early church, we too are called to remember that Confidence of ours. It is Jesus and his call to us, the good people of Holy Spirit, to be a vital and viable witness to his Love. Likewise, it necessarily calls us to a new level of Endurance. The word endure means “acting in strength,” literally. It is not simply a passive word akin to “putting up with,” but rather it is a brave word that calls forth the best in us. That is what we are called to. To live out of our best faith, our deepest commitment, our strongest hope, and our most fervent generosity of time, talent and resources. And like the early church, we are called to act with all the conviction of our heart as a congregation to make an impact where we have been planted until God shows us differently. And so, like the author of Hebrews I invite, I call all of us to personally revisit our relationship with our Church. How can we better engage, how can we better support and serve, how can we better live out what Christ himself has called us to do? These are questions that must, at the very least, be answered in the heart of each member of this Church as well as answered in one voice as we act to make happen what must happen to secure the future of this wonderful Church. May our Lord Jesus who gives us the will to follow him, give us the grace to accomplish it. Amen. Fr. Reese back to top August 30, 2006 It has taken some time to process all that we did in New Orleans this Summer. We focused on two houses, Alvin Edinburg's and Mary Packer's. Mary was one of our evacuee families that worshiped with us from just after Katrina until October of last year. We had set out to work on Alvin's house by clearing his property of dead trees, shrubs and weeds, power wash the house, sidewalks, porch and patio, and driveway, as well as do the mold remediation inside. Everything we set out to do we accomplished in about half the time he had set aside in large part to the wonderful help from the team from Christ Episcopal Church, San Antonio, led by The Rev. John Barrett. They sent twelve people to us the first week of our three-week expedition. As a result of their help we were able to branch out to assist Mary with the clean up at her home. We had roughly $4000 in donations and spent all but $900 of it. We are planning to return to paint the inside of Alvin's house in October after his floors are refinished and the dry wall installed in the kitchen. Please continue to watch for updates throughout the year. The work is far from over. back to top April 19, 2006 Most of us as Christians know that someday we will go to Heaven and spend all Eternity with Jesus. We believe this to be a big part of what the Resurrection accomplished. When Jesus rose from the dead it meant that we would as well, someday. There is, however, so much more to the Resurrection than a far off promise of Eternal Life after death, as wonderful and as important as that is. How, though, does the Resurrection have any relevance for us now, except perhaps when we are facing the end of our lives? If, in fact, the Resurrection is to have any power at all then it must have an impact on us now, as well as for all Eternity. When something is eternal it is so across all time, not simply from this point forward into the future; so. So it is with Jesus' Resurrection. What happened that Easter Sunday two thousand plus years ago sent ripples through and across time, spreading out in all directions like a stone thrown into the middle of a pond. The effects of those ripples spread out redeeming what was unredeemable, healing what was too ill to recover, and bringing life into circumstances and people too tired or destroyed to go on. The result of those ripples is the ever present fulfillment of Jesus' promise to be with us always. The implications of this are immense. It means that in any and every situation, new life and possibility are abundantly present. It just might be true that the more dire the moment the more imminent the Resurrection. Every time we find ourselves in a tomb of our own making or one custom made for us by circumstances beyond our control we can be sure that we are not far from the One who opens all tombs and breathes new life into desperate people. The question we might want to ask ourselves is this, “Are we ready to stand in the brilliant light that is about to blaze into our tombs?” The power of the Resurrection makes it not only possible but necessary to begin living our eternal life right now as mature followers trusting that in each and every moment our Lord will equip us with every grace and gift necessary to be a truly Resurrected people. Ultimately, how you and I live our lives is the best witness to what we believe to be true about what happened to Jesus that first Easter morning. back to top April 12, 2006 Every time we see someone suffering in silence and we choose to act on their behalf we are standing up for Jesus at his interrogation before Pilate. back to top April 11, 2006 As we approach the Holy Moment, the Remembrance of the Crucifixion, we grow more aware of the cost of our disobedience even as we become more alert to the deeping Awe of God's abiding Love for us. back to top April 10, 2006 Entering Holy Week is like entering the Temple. It is a solemn procession toward the Altar of God where the Supreme Sacrifice was made, the Sacrifice which set in motion the final Redemption of God's Creation. back to top April 9, 2006 Palm Sunday is not about a king coming simply to conquer today's injustices. Palm Sunday is about the One, the Messiah, the Saving One, whose life, death and ultimate Resurrection established a Kingdom where sin no longer has a place, injustice is replaced with mercy and death is swollowed up in Life. back to top April 8, 2006 What we believe to be true for our future gives us the strength to live today. back to top March 18, 2006 All of us are works in progress. Some of us more than others it would seem. I count myself among those in this group. back to top March 17, 2006 Perfection is not primarily about being faultless, but rather, about being brought to completion. This is the Classical understanding of perfection. It is the Work of Christ in us that brings us to completion. This work never stops. back to top March 16, 2006 Most of us by this point in Lent have struggled with our choices for Lent. Even if we have been able to "keep" them perfectly the struggle then becomes one of taking too much pride in our accomplishment. Remembering the purpose of the Disciplines is helpful at this point. Simply, they are taken on, not to perfect us - that is God's work. They are taken on to open us up to God's working in us - His perfecting of us. back to top March 15, 2006 How are you doing with your Lenten Disciplines? back to top March 14, 2006 It's been said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. God is more patient than that. He will not clamor for our attention. Rather God seems to wait until we get tired or frustrated enough with the barrage of life's pace to finally stop and say, "Enough!" Then were are ready to listen. back to top March 13, 2006 Stillness does not come easily. Our lives are filled with activity. Chores to do, jobs to go to, people to attend to, live to live. Yet, none of these can be done well without the time apart to listen. back to top March 12, 2006 How is it that we can begin to discern God's will? By living the basic Disciplines of our Faith. They open our hearts to hear God's still small voice in the words, the songs, the liturgy, the acts of self denial and fasting. Little by little God's voice speaks to our hearts in the silence of our faith. The Disciplines draw us to a stillness of spirit that makes the entrance of God's Spirit possible. back to top March 11, 2006 On our own we can do little to change our lot. By Grace there is nothing we cannot accomplish, if it is God's will. back to top March 10, 2006 In moments like those it is like snatching defeat right out of the jaws of victory. The result can be a kind of despair that can suck the life right out of us. But we are called nonetheless to keep trying. Thanks be to God that Grace abounds. back to top March 9, 2006 Laying a burden down is a tricky thing. We start to put it down, but sometimes, just at the last moment we find it is uncannily hard to let go of. We get so used to shouldering them that when we feel the weight about to slip off our backs it is not uncommon to spiritually panic and hoist it right back where it was. back to top March 8, 2006 All of us carry burdens that would try to separate us from the Love of God in Christ. But we have a greater promise that Paul in Romans 8 writes about. "Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ." Everytime we feel that distance, remember the promise. Lay the burden at Jesus' feet, look up and walk on. back to top March 7, 2006 Lent is not an easy time. It is hard work. Opening our hearts to the movement of God's Spirit seems as if it should be relatively simple. Being human, we have a tendency to want to hide when God draws near, not unlike Adam and Eve in the Garden. back to top March 6, 2006 Compassion is not a feeling we get for someone when we witness their struggle. That is sympathy, or maybe on a good day, empathy. Rather, compassion is an action we take for someone that helps change their condition. back to top March 5, 2006 When we were children and visited the shore, my mother found an old shell on the beach. She held it up to her ear, then to mine and said, "Listen, you can hear the ocean." When we incline our ear to the Bible we can hear the very Word of God. back to top March 4, 2006 The day is coming to a close. It has been busy. More active than I would have liked. But at least now I am chosing to take a moment to slow down and think. Breathe, listen. Thank you, Lord, for this day. It has taught me to value my time with you a little more. back to top March 3, 2006 Until I become silent, Lord, I can not hear your still small voice. I need your help to do that, Lord. Silence is not my natural state. back to top March 2, 2006 In his Lenten Daily Devotional, "Day Breaks", Ron Rolheiser say that the desert is the place where God battles the demons. Our job is to show up. Our Lenten Disciplines is how we show up. It is in the midst of wrestling with these disciplines that God's Spirit does the work of transformation in us. Making choices a day at at time, to be still and open the Bible and read a chapter or pray the office of Compline at the close of the day forces us to say no to something else battling for our attention. With each successful decision Grace touches and changes us. back to top March 1, 2006 Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Have you given some thought about what you want to do during Lent to fine tune your spiritual disciplines? Prayer, fasting, self-denial, study and meditation are the classic areas. What you invest in your spiritual life blesses not only you, but those God brings you to. Most importantly, the purpose of the disciplines is not to become more aware of our short comings. Rather to become more open to God's Grace and Mercy. back to top February 7, 2006 What has God shown you about his love today? Have you shared that with anyone yet? back to top Christmas Letter Who knows what Mary was doing that day when the Angel showed up unannounced? When an angel shows up in your home you know the rest of your day is shot. Even before Gabriel looked down at Mary and spoke his first word to her he knew she would be completely overwhelmed. He might have smiled to himself as he thought about her reaction. He’d made these visits so many times before. It was always the same. He shows up, people forget how to speak, their mouths drop open, their eyes go wide, they have trouble breathing. They ask stupid questions like, “how can it be…?” “For Goodness’ sake”, he would think, “I’m the Angel of the Lord. How do you think it can be?!” “What was it that God was thinking when He made these creatures? They can’t fly, they can’t walk on water, they can’t even make a simple response to an offer from the Almighty. All you have to do is say, ‘Yes, be it unto me according to your word,’ and get on with it,” Gabriel ponders. It was always the same. But now, Gabriel was standing in front of this young girl. He could see in her eyes something different. Even in the midst of her fear there was a trust, a hope he hadn’t seen in a long time. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” he almost whispers gently. “You are very special to the Almighty. He sees your faith and your innocence and has chosen you.” He continues, “As amazing as this might sound you will conceive and bear a son. Jesus will be His name because He will be the promised One to save His people.” Mary’s hands fold gently across her stomach as she imagines carrying her child. And then she realizes, “How can this be? I’m not married yet…” Gabriel smiles as he hears her question and says softly, “Mary, your child will be Holy. God’s own Spirit will descend upon you and the presence of God himself will envelope you. All will be well.” She knows in her heart of hearts that this visitor speaks only the truth. She can feel it and she smiles up at Gabriel. “Yes, be it unto me according to your word. I am my Lord’s handmaid,” she whispers back, as tears of the deepest joy she has ever known fill her eyes. For the first time in a long time Gabriel’s eyes fill up, too. “This daughter of Eve is special,” he muses to himself – and he is gone. And so it was, nine months later Jesus was born and the Lord of creation became part of the very thing He created. Now the work could begin. Merry Christmas. The Lord has come. Can you see Him? Can you feel His presence? Be still. Listen. You can almost hear the angels sing. Merry Christmas and Blessings, Father Reese Friedman back to top December 18, 2005 Advent is about waiting. It is not about passivity. Passivity is doing nothing, but waiting is about preparation. It is about getting ready for encountering the Living God in the world around us as much, if not more so, than looking for the the Second Coming. That being said, what we do in way of preparation for the present prepares us, ultimately, for eternity. back to top December 17, 2005 We are all meant to be mothers of God, For God is always needing to be born." Meister Eckhart back to top December 16, 2005 It is not our sins that are important to God. It is our repentance. back to top November 30, 2005 What we experience at Christmas depends, in part, on the kind and amount of preparation we put in. The rest is all Grace. back to top November 15, 2005 People sometimes say that God never gives us more than we can handle as if to imply God sometimes gives us "bad things" to test us or make us better. I don't buy that for a second. There are enough bad things that happen just "because." When I find myself with more than I can handle it is often because I took it on myself. In those instances when life just gets overwhelming through no fault of my own all I can do is throw up my hands, drop to my knees and pray for strength to get through it. But my God doesn't have to go dredging up problems to teach us lessons. Rather, God takes our broken moments, those Good Fridays, and by Love and Grace and our faith, turns them into Easter Sundays. back to top November 14, 2005 What God gives us he gives us to bless us, that in being blessed we might in turn bless others. back to top October 23, 2005 How can I claim to Love God if I hate my neighbor? (cf: Matthew22:37-ff.) back to top October 17, 2005 At the end of the first century, the beginning of the second a man was martyred. He had been the second bishop of Antioch in Syria, had known the apostles, and believed strongly in the unity of the Church. His names is Ignatius. It was incredibly difficult being a Christian, let alone a bishop at that time. Persecution was growing to the point that he had to travel with a body guard. Persecution wasn't the only enemy of the Church. False teaching and false doctrine was springing up everywhere. It would take another two hundred and fifty years of persecution by the Romans and others to force the Church to finally settle on the Creeds we still recite today. In the end, Ignatius understood several important points about the Church. For him the liturgy was central to unity and Jesus was central to it. The Church was "God's holy order in the world" and schism was the work of the devil and to give into was to give into Satan. And finally, anywhere Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church; that is the Church Universal. Ignatius was martyred about 115 AD, but what he preached and what he stood and died for have become a foundation for the Faith. back to top October 1, 2005 The past several days I spent in Dallas at the Provincial Synod for Province VII . The Diocese of West Louisiana was represented at the meeting. The Bishop shared with us his appreciation for those who have donated to the ER-D and other organizations who have helped his people in the days after Katrina and Rita. He shared with us that this is going to take a very long time to get back to some sense of normalcy. Several hundreds of thousands of people have lost everything. He said the problem is so large that no one agency can handle the recovery. It will take many agencies a very long time. The depth of suffering, grief, and loss is huge. He asked for our continued prayers and support. Families are still looking for places to live now that the shelters are beginning to close. What we will be doing here at Holy Spirit will help, one family at a time. Every family helped makes a difference. There was a recognition that now that the initial response is slowing down the long term assistance will need to ramp up, which is exactly what our plan calls for. Continue to check out our Katrina page for updates on receiving our first family. Thank you for your interest and support. back to top September 28, 2005 The danger of losing momentum. Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast just over a month ago. Yet even now there are families, many families, who have not been able to return home. It is likely, due to the water damage and mold that many families, thousands actually, will never be able to go back. These people are still in shelters around the country. The government has set a deadline in October for them to be out of shelters. Efforts like the one at Holy Spirit will become increasingly important as that deadline approaches. Since it has been a month since the initial disaster it is tempting to begin to move on to other more pressing things. In reality there is little that is as pressing as helping to find housing for the continuing victims of Katrina. In fact, it becomes more pressing with each day. The danger of losing the momentum of compassion grows accordingly. But this is the time when we need to renew our effort and raise the level of our commitment. It will be months before the men, women, and children of the Coast will get back to some sense of normalcy, if ever. What we do now and in the next several months will make a difference for these folk for the rest of their lives. I encourage you to keep your compassion, generosity and pariticipation in a continuing state of holy renewal. It is not an exaggeration to say we have only just begun to help. +September 9, 2005 Update: We are still waiting for a response from the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund's Office of Migration and Resettlement as to receiving families to take into our homes. Several local agencies are now doing that including Catholic Charities. The Diocese of West Texas now has a link on their website to local ways to help including how to contact Catholic Charities. If we don't get a response from ER-D by the end of today I will make contact with Catholic Charities and begin to coordinate with them. In the mean time any donations may be sent to Holy Spirit and marked "Katrine HS - Local." Those funds will be used to help families that we work directly with here in San Antonio. We will meet briefly this Sunday morning around 10am to update and discuss direction. Thank you for your responses so far. They have been great. The travel trailer arrived and is being set up. Several friends of the trailer's donars from Colorado gave toys, clothing, bedding and toiletry items along with monetary donations. back to top September 6, 2005 The New Testament reading from this past Sunday speaks right to the heart of what defines Christian community. We care for those who are in need and we treat each other with love and hospitality. It is, at our best, the hallmark of who we are. The reading from the twelth chapter of Romans, verses 9-21, particularly verse 13: NRSV, "Contribute to the needs of the saints,; extend hospitality to strangers" or as it is written in The Contempory English Version: "Welcome the stranger into your house" speaks directly to the day. These are more than timely words. They are a call to us to open our very selves to the needs of those suffering from the truly catestrophic events of the last week. While not everyone will discern a call to open our homes to refugees, some of us will. Others of us will respond with financial aid, transportation, and donations of clothing and food. Right now at Holy Spirit we are receiving canned goods, dry goods, diapers, toiletries, and the like. We are holding off on clothing for the moment until families arrive. We should have a better idea by the end of the week as to timing. We have formed a Refugee Resettlement Committee and met Sunday for the first time. The team consists of doctors, nurses, social workers, teachers, financial and insurance advisors, as well as legal and counseling personnel. We are still in need of a dentist to join the team. We will be collecting funds to be used locally through our work at Holy Spirit. Donations, in addition to those earmarked for the ER-D, may still be made payable to "Church of the Holy Spirit" and in the memo section put "Katrina-HS local." If you are interested in knowing the details of our plan please email me directly at reesethepriest@earthlink.net. UPDATE:http://www.er-d.org/newsroom_64836_ENG_HTM.htm IS THE DIRECT LINK TO THE ERD NEWS WEBSITE. TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S UP. back to top September 3, 2005 The National Church has sent out information to local Dioceses about sponsoring families displaced by Katrina. We are in the process of preparing to receive families at Holy Spirit. I've already had people volunteer their homes. We are putting together a plan to receive names and match them with our families. I've already had offers of food, clothing, and other donations. It is my hope that we can assemble a team to include medical screening, as well as, legal, educational, and financial assistance for the displaced families. We will be able to make the parish hall, nursery, restrooms and library available durning the day for families that will be staying with members of our congregation. If you are interested in participating in this effort please email me at reesethepriest@earthlink.net. In the subject line write, "Refugee Assistance." Donations of time, talent, and resources will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your generosity. Faithfully, Father Reese Friedman back to top August 30, 2005 It is difficult to imagine the devastation and loss that the people along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Western Florida are experiencing. We've all seen the footage on the news showing the roof tops, piles of debris, people waste deep in water, and so much more. I've already had calls about what the Church is doing to help. At this moment the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund is assessing how and where to send aid. Donations may be sent directly to Holy Spirit marked in the memo "ERD-Katrina." Or you may mail donations directly to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, 815 Second Ave, NY, NY 10017. Or you can go to the website and donate online: www.er-d.org. Bless you for anything that you can give or anything you can do. But above all else - pray. back to top August 9, 2005 God sings through our voices. God heals humanity through our touch. God feeds the poor through our giving. What is the good news? It is you and I doing the work of God. back to top June 15, 2005 In the second chapter of the Book of the Acts the apostles are gathered in a room praying. That day has come to be known as Pentecost Sunday. Whether it was actually Sunday or not isn’t important. What is important is this: Jesus told them not to leave the city until they had received power from on high. They were to stay together and wait, not passively, but actively in prayer. Their faithfulness led them to be gathered together in one place that day. Their hopefulness led them to be praying expectantly for something to happen, something they had never experienced before. Something for which they were both totally unprepared for and yet imminently ready to receive. They had come to know that when Jesus told them something it was true. They also knew that even though they might not understand what he said they’d better pay attention. Such was the case that day. The result of their faithfulness was blessing. They became something they could never have become alone. And the world has never been the same since. What was true for them is no less true for us. The question for us is will we be faithful to the call to gather and wait? Jesus’ command to them, while the context is different, is no less for us than for the first disciples. It is a call to all disciples in every time and place to come together to worship, pray, and then receive. We receive what we need to carry out the rest of Jesus’ directive to go out and be what the world needs – bearers of the Good News. This is not some vague sentimental religious statement. It is a truth inherent in being a disciple of the Risen Lord. It is a feet on the ground hard fact that Christians of all walks of life are called to. We are blessed, equipped, and sent to change the world. It starts with those around us as it did for the apostles. Our faithfulness determines where it goes from there. As was true for the apostles it is true for us. Our faithfullness now will shape a world that will never be the same again. Who knows what the future will look like as a result of how we respond now. back to top May 23, 2005 When Jesus left he said two things: “I will come again,” and “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” It gets tedious waiting for centuries for something to happen that just doesn’t. Yet that is exactly what Christians have been doing year after year, decade after decade, millennium after millennium. We even celebrate waiting like it’s a good thing…. And it is. But it is not enough. The waiting would simply become discouraging if there weren’t something more…and there is. Jesus’ second promise, “I am with you…” I take that promise seriously. In fact I count on it. Every time I go into a hospital to visit someone; every time I meet with someone for counseling or spiritual direction; every time I do a funeral, baptism, wedding, or even, and especially a Communion service. Without Jesus’ being there not only would it be meaningless it would be pointless. What are the moments in your day when you count on Jesus being there? He didn’t promise to only be there for worship or crises. He said, “I will be with you always….” He is present in the everyday living, not only in the religious or spiritual moments. Rather, he is present in all moments. Believing he is there, then living and acting like here is there…well now that’s the challenge. But do it anyway. Believe it and live it anyway. It is the experience of Jesus now in the everyday that gives us the courage, strength, and hope to believe he is coming again, that there is a future with him, that there is, in fact, an eternal life worth waiting for. back to top May 2, 2005 Faith isn’t knowing something is true or even feeling something is true. Faith is acting, living and hoping something is true. back to top April 28, 2005 Forgiving is hard work. It is a major effort of not simply letting go, but actively seeking to restore. It is not about what we want to do, but what we choose to do. I most likely will not want to forgive someone who has hurt or offended me. I would rather exact payment or payback. That’s human. It’s also wrong. What’s right is to act on choice and not what I want. It is acting on what Jesus expects that is important. The church is, and this is so over used, a family, with all its blessing and dysfunction. As Eugene Peterson points out in his daily reflections, “there are no perfect families in the Bible.” That’s a good thing to remember. But what is more important to remember is that there is love and forgiveness. And that is what defines the family. back to top April 25, 2005 It is so hard to forgive sometimes. Someone wrongs us and we think, “Who do they think they are? How dare they do that?! I’ll fix them.” And off we go thinking of some way to either get even or make them pay or worse, get ahead. We act almost as if we had never done anything wrong to anyone else. The sting of the wound creates some kind of spiritual amnesia and we forget the times we have wounded others. And what’s worse – we begin to resent the one who wounded us. We might even pray condescendingly for their sudden enlightenment. Yet, when they actually do come to us and apologize our resentment doesn’t go away. Oh, we might say the words, “I forgive you,” but our heart is still bitter. We even justify holding on the resentment by thinking they really don’t mean their, “I’m sorry.” Meanwhile our own hearts are being poisoned. I hate it when I find myself in that place. That’s when I have some serious praying to do. That’s also when Jesus reminds me that forgiving someone doesn’t depend on the other person who “wronged” me. It depends on me. He calls me to remember how often he has forgiven me before I even realized I was in need of it. Then he reminds me of the very familiar and very subtle words in His prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses/debts/sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” Then in a quiet moment of spiritual panic I ask Jesus to forgive me and give me the grace to forgive the person who hurt me. That’s when I realize how much I needed that. It’s like a big boulder has been lifted off my shoulders. In that moment I begin to see the one who wounded me in a new light. The wounded may still be there, but it is no longer mortal. It’s just a wound and I remember that sometimes people we work with, love or are friends with do that to us. And so do we. Now I am ready for the relationship to continue. back to top April 20, 2005 Have you noticed how life gets so complicated and impersonal. Everything around us seems to move us from relationships to things, from simplicity to complexity. That’s not good. When we lose ourselves and each other in the rush of daily life we lose one of the most concrete ways God has of showing his love – us. back to top April 19, 2005 Luke 6:12-26 “Blessed are you…” Luke’s account of the beatitudes doesn’t stop with the blessings. He includes the warnings as well. When the first disciples heard these blessings and woes it must have struck them as odd that to be poor was a blessing and to be rich was dangerous spiritually. Poverty was thought to be a sign of God’s disfavor and wealth was a sign of God’s blessing. But in a few short phrases Jesus turned it all upside down and the Church has been trying to justify it ever since. It makes us uncomfortable to proclaim woes. Yet what Jesus is putting forth is neither blessing nor curse. He is stating the reality of condition. He is saying, “when you find yourselves in this condition of spiritual or physical poverty you are open to the power of God because your best efforts have failed. When you find yourself in this condition of abundance you think you have no need of a savior and so you are lost.” No judgment but self judgment is present. Jesus is simply calling us to let go of whatever stands between himself and us. He is calling us to use whatever we have, our poverty or abundance, in service to him. back to top April 10, 2005 Luke 24:13-35 It’s not what happened on the road to Emmaus that matters as much as what happened at the table in Emmaus. Jesus took everything that had happened to them and placed it in the context of the table when he took the bread then blessed and broke it. That simple, familiar act he’d repeated so many times with them in the previous three years now, in light of the resurrection, took on a new significance and power. Now nothing could stand between their Teacher/Lord/Messiah and them; not their pains, their failures, disappointments or broken expectations. In the blink of an eye they saw it all differently. back to top April 6, 2005 Being thankful is not rooted in how we feel about life at the moment. Being thankful is rooted in our growing awareness of God’s presence, often in spite of what we feel or experience. Thankfulness, a decision, leads us from despair to hope and from hope to confidence. back to top April 5, 2005 This Friday John Paul II is to be laid to rest within the Vatican. He has been a man bigger than life. I saw him once just after he came to office. I was a new priest serving in Philadelphia. He came there to visit and celebrate mass. The streets were lined with thousands of people. Many of us had waited hours before he finally passed by in his motorcade. He stood in the limo and waved to all of us. As he passed by we cheered him. Now thousands of people walk by his body in silence. It has only been twenty five years and much has happened in all of our lives. Today I will attend a graveside service of another faithful Catholic who stands now in the presence of our Lord. John Paul and Tillie didn’t know each other. But they believed in the same Lord and now share that common presence. Tillie’s son James, my friend who I go to support today at the service, will mourn his mother’s passing. But he, too, is a faithful man of God. He is counting on that faith today to see him through. He and his beloved have a new daughter that is an outward and visible sign of that faith. Her new life witnesses to Tillie’s new life. Tillie’s faith was nurtured because of John Paul’s witness and ministry. And on it goes. One life touches another. One faith touches another. One day we will all touch one another. back to top April 4, 2005 Sometimes after a major holiday/Holy Day or season we experience a let down, a kind of numbness spiritually. It’s been a week plus since Easter day. What are you feeling or thinking spiritually. Is your prayer life feeling rejuvenated or kind of flat and forced? Do you look forward to getting up to pray or do you make excuses for not doing it? Maybe Lent was hard this year, unsatisfying or maybe just inconsequential. If so, what are you looking for out of the Easter Season, if anything? Perhaps rather than let things slip quietly into a stat