The Uncanny and Coincidental Holy Spirit

Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, VT

There is a palpable Spirit stirring at Christ Church in Montpelier. Did I say stirring? No, more accurately the Spirit is bouncing off the walls like an excitable child full of Halloween candy anticipating Christmas and a trip to the fair and fireworks all in one day! Most of the time, we recognize the stirring of the Spirit in predictable patterns. But these days at Christ Church, the way the Spirit has been moving makes the faithful grin and the faithless seriously consider conversion. As my father often states, “If I didn’t believe in coincidence so much, I’d be inclined to think it’s the divine hand of Almighty God at work here.” It is almost spooky sometimes the ways circumstances line up to create little bits of miracles for this faithful community. Let me tell you a story of one such little miracle.

images from the Reuse Fair; all the artwork is recycled/reused material

One day not too long ago, there was a young man who was full of goodness and compassion whose hope was being sorely tested. This young man had been searching for a place where he and his people at PlantingHope could hold a Reuse Fair which would celebrate and educate about sustainable communities. But, alas, no one in the city was willing to allow them the space, for they were afraid. They were sure that showcasing garbage could not possibly be artistic and would only engender derision from the townsfolk. So when the young man came to Christ Church, he was sure he’d hear “no” once again, yet he bravely pressed on and made his pitch one more time. But the young man did not hear “no!” Instead, he and Planting Hope were warmly invited to partner with Christ Church and together they put on a festive and artistic fair. One that included an exhibition of art created entirely from reused and recycled materials, a lineup of live musical entertainment, and a showcase of vendors who embrace a sustainable way of life.

members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus rehearse at
Christ Church in Montpelier

Meanwhile, several months earlier, the chorus for the state orchestra had been invited to perform in the annual Sing for Peace concert that would take place in that august city. However, the poor chorus had no place to rehearse. The chorus coordinator, like the young man from Planting Hope, called several places only to be turned away because they could not pay the rental fee. Finally, the chorus coordinator, who also happens to be an Episcopalian, called Christ Church to see if they would be willing to donate rehearsal space. Of course they said yes because the people of Christ Church want to encourage community partnerships and the use of their space. And, they are basically kind and generous people. Arrangements were made for the chorus to rehearse at Christ Church on the same day that Planting Hope would have their Reuse Fair.

Now, so far, these two events don’t appear to have much in common beyond the generosity of Christ Church. But the impish Holy Spirit smiled and played. “Wouldn’t it be fun,” surmised the Spirit, “if we were to make a connection here?” And so it came to pass that the young man’s organization, Planting Hope, was named the beneficiary of the donations raised at the Sing for Peace concert—that same concert which was held the day after the Reuse Fair and at which the chorus would perform. Still, who would ever have known such a connection existed, but for the chorus coordinator? That chorus coordinator just happens to be the writer of this story and only learned of this connection upon visiting Christ Church for her “diocese pilgrimage” blog. How serendipitous that she scheduled her visit to Christ Church only days before the Reuse Fair and the Sing for Peace concert! Even still, had she not been keenly interested in the message of the Reuse Fair because she is part of the Diocesan Earth Stewards Committee, she may never have asked the question, “What’s this Reuse Fair all about?”

images at Christ Church

This story is typical of the kind of stirrings that have been happening at Christ Church. When their Priest in Partnership, Rev. Paul Habersang, joined the ministry at Christ Church two years ago, the search team had been all set to call a rector. But at the last minute, they decided to go in the Priest in Partnership direction because they realized what they really wanted was a partnership. They wanted a partnership with a priest who believed, as the congregation did, that Christ Church was so ready for the kind of intentional creativity that arises from a relationship of equal partners with individual gifts. And the Spirit made it so. Because of this partnership, the congregation can address issues from a fresh perspective and revived faith—one that sees them becoming a more visible part of their community. For instance, it was agreed that something needed to be done about children’s Christian education, and adult education also needed attention. At the same time, Auburn Watersong, who has a gift as a youth formation leader, was ordained as a priest. The Spirit moved in the coinciding of Christ Church’s need and Rev. Watersong’s available gifts. Her talents attracted the attention of the congregation, and it wasn’t long before she too became a part of the partnership at Christ Church. Even though her employment is rather minimal, she adds another invaluable priestly presence in worship and Spiritual growth at Christ Church. With her partnership, the children’s and adult’s separate formation ministries evolved into a unified Christian Formation ministry that focuses on developing character-shaping events in which all ages may participate and benefit from one another. A bread-making session designed to provide loaves of bread for the local food shelf offers an opportunity for children and grown-ups to work together to make the bread while learning about the Spiritual metaphor of the bread of life.

renovation project at Christ Church, Montpelier

As the congregation grows in this climate of Spiritual Partnership, the condition of the space in which they worship became a paramount issue. They agreed that if they were to become more visible and more integral in the community of downtown Montpelier, that view really needed to become more appealing. The City of Montpelier made the decision to reduce its carbon footprint by converting the heat plant for the government buildings on State Street to a wood chip fuel burner (as opposed to oil). All the other businesses on State as well as Christ Church were invited to become a part of this process. At first, Christ Church had to decline because the cost was just going to be too exorbitant. But with an anonymous gift of $40,000 and additional grant funding, participation became not only possible, but a moral and Spiritual responsibility. So the Spirit moves. This new partnership energized the parish to look into other building matters, like revitalizing the courtyard, fixing the roof on the church and renovating the bell tower. These massive undertakings present huge financial burdens that collectively prove to be overwhelming. But before debilitating discouragement could set in, the Holy Spirit stirred. A business neighbor found the overhanging trees bordering the courtyard at Christ Church were become hazardous to their patrons. So they offered to cut down those trees and replace them with new healthier and safer trees. And to compensate for the loss of the shade trees, they would provide attractive pergolas. This led to a renaissance of the courtyard that at the completion of its rebirth will see the walkway leveled and the flagstone pavers re-laid. Today, even with the walkway in disrepair, the courtyard attracts people from town to sit and relax for a time under the protective wing of the lovely church. It made for an ideal venue for Planting Hope’s Reuse Fair.

Symbolic of the transformation that has been happening at Christ Church in Montpelier is the great window in the sanctuary of the church. The stained glass window had been “protected” from the elements with a plexiglass covering that over time had blackened with dirt, soot and age. It had darkened so much that no light shone through the beautiful colors of the stained glass and you could not see the image. And the church grew heavy and somber with darkness. As physical darkness overtook the church, so did Spiritual darkness overtake the people as complacency and indifference settled upon them (albeit, in spite of a general resistant to that encroaching darkness). One day, a piece of the darkened plexiglass broke way up at the top, where the image of the Holy Spirit as a dove shone through, the only light to offer a beacon of hope. It was enough light and enough hope to stir the people into action. The funds were raised to remove the plexiglass and restore the beautiful stained glass to once again give glorious light to banish the darkness. As light returned to the sanctuary, so too did the people return to the Light. And at Christ Church, the Spirit soars!