Dear Friends,

Last week in this space I wrote about the forward momentum of Easter. Through the resurrection of Jesus, we see the promise of God’s future for all of creation, including “our selves, our souls, and bodies.” In Revelation 21 we read that death shall be no more, neither mourning, nor crying, nor pain. Thus, to be a disciple of Jesus allows us to declare (sometimes despite all appearances to the contrary) that our best days are ahead of us, not behind us. 

What lies ahead for Grace Church? Last week I promised that at the Sunday Forum I would put on my prophetic goggles and look down the road at some of the joys and challenges awaiting us. We talked a lot about the building. It is a gem like no other. It truly approximates a space between heaven and earth. At this time of year, the rising sun hits the great stained glass window above the high altar and sends such a wash of light and color down the length of the nave that it almost requires sunglasses. But the building needs restoration. It is simply no longer acceptable to leave the plaster in the south aisle of the nave in the disrepair that it is. True, it looks much worse than it is. In other words, nothing is in danger of falling. But let’s be clear: it is among the first thing that visitors see, and it looks horrible. 

Other areas of the building also need us to shine the light of resurrection on them. The west rose window, the chantry chapel, the exterior facades of the parish house and rectory all await restoration. What is more, the air-conditioning units that cool the church are well past their expected lifespan, and need to be replaced with more energy-efficient, ecologically sensitive machines. 

As you might expect, we ran out of time at the Sunday Forum on April 16^th, so this week, on April 23^rd, I will put on my prophetic goggles again in hopes of helping us envision the near future at Grace Church. We’ve heard enough for now about the building. What about the congregation? As you might imagine, the pandemic rifled the fold. In the past three years many of our households moved out of the city, and our membership is smaller than it used to be. We also hear dire warnings that organized religion in general is on the wane, with a diminishing number of people choosing to participate in it. Are we doing anything to grow the congregation of Grace Church? Yes, indeed we are. 

Join us on Sunday, 10 am in the reception room (or on Zoom) to learn about some of the initiatives we are taking to reach out into the community and bring more people through our doors. These days, the challenge can be as basic as showing them where the door is, and how to open it.

See you in church,