The Small and the Mighty

On opposite sides of the state, and then tucked right in the middle between them are three tiny congregations.  The outlook and mission of these small congregations are similarly situated, two being on opposite ends of a sliding scale and the third somewhere in between.  Looking at various aspects of parochial concern (mission, fellowship, and facility), the three slide along the scale, in and out of each other, weaving an intricately colorful aspect of our greater diocesan tapestry. While one congregation loves their building tenderly as if it were another member of their family, another feels a sense of liberty in not being bound by bricks and mortar, so to speak. And the third lies somewhere between, finding solace and contentment in whatever shelter they find. Where one congregation finds spiritual fulfillment in being intimately involved within their community, another finds spiritual fulfillment in their immediate communion. And the third seeks a balance between both ends.  Yet, like all of the churches and congregations that make up our varied and diverse diocese, each has a specific calling and the Spirit stirs. None of these three congregations have more than ten members or so, and that stirring will necessarily manifest itself in a much simpler manner.

Vermonters have the reputation of sheer stubborn tenacity.  When they want something—and get it—they tend to hold onto it with all their might and cunning. Never has that precept been more evident than in the case of St. Paul, Windsor. The congregation of St. Paul, Windsor has been in a search process for a new priest for about two years now.  They’ve done their discernment, posted their parish profile and continue to pray.  And in the meantime, priestless, they carry on.  They try to find a priest to supply for the great feasts, sometimes successfully and other times not.  Yet, they carry on. They may not celebrate Holy Eucharist with any regularity, but they still meet every Sunday morning for Morning Prayer. The five or six, seven or eight members that attend worship each Sunday are thankful for what they have—a congregation that cares for one another and the will to persevere.  They also have their church building which to them is as vital to them as another living entity.  It is the silent, embracing member of the congregation.

St. Paul's, Windsor

The church was built nearly 200 years ago and consecrated in 1820. It stands on a hill overlooking the small downtown of Windsor, inviting with its elegant, yet warm federal style architecture. Its interior mimics the symmetrical exterior. The semicircular sanctuary softens the otherwise angular lines.  The plasterwork is original if repaired and replaced in spots. In the style of the era the church was built, the original box pews have been well-maintained and retain their doors.

St. Paul's organ

The organ was built by one of St. Paul’s founding fathers, Lemuel Hedge. Lemuel Hedge invented a particular folding rule and had several other machine patents in his day.  He was a blacksmith by trade, and forged the pipes for the organ in his family’s smithy. All of the organ’s cabinetry is original, as are the hand carved keys.  You can clearly see the individuality of each key as well as the wear of many, many fingers on some of the keys’ surfaces. The church once housed a surfeit of spiritual artwork donated by wealthy parishioners over the years.  But almost all of it is gone now, sadly without record as record-keeping was never a forte at St. Paul’s.

St. Paul's remaining artwork

There are two very special pieces left adorning the rear wall of the nave.  One is a mold for a St. Gaudens bas relief of the Madonna and child.  The other is an anonymous oil-on-wood painting from the Bellini school of art in Renaissance Venice.  Giovanni Bellini specialized in artwork to adorn the churches of St. John and St. Paul, so it seems fitting to find this St. Paul Church similarly bedecked.

The preservation of St. Paul’s and its heritage is of mission-level importance to this congregation.  Few as they are, they have undertaken the call to stewardship of their church with a fervor that could only be inspired by the Holy Spirit.  They have made massive repairs in recent years, including repairing plasterwork over the organ in the gallery, building a retaining stone wall to prevent erosion, re-gilding the bell tower dome with gold leaf.  They’ve made modern improvements over the years (like digging out a basement by hand so that they might have a fellowship/parish hall and installing an elevator for handicap access) that remain true to the original architectural style of the building.  Most of the recent restoration projects have been funded by grants from organizations such as the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (St. Paul’s is listed on the national register of historical places). It may be said that it’s not the building that makes a congregation.  But in some cases, the building and its history are formative in lifelong memories.  In some cases, God’s Spirit calls to the mission of preservation.  It is right to answer that call as the good folks in Windsor have done.

the schoolhouse on Jerusalem Road

Straight across the state, near the town of Bristol, meets “an ecclesiastical peculiarity.” Jerusalem Gathering—its musical name is a quirky as its existence, but is so called not for that quirkiness, but in all its mundaneness: the gathering meets on Jerusalem Road in Starksboro.  It was described to me as “an ecclesiastical peculiarity” because its very existence is, well peculiar.  It is not a parish.  It is not a mission.  It is not some radical breakaway faction.  It is simply a gathering of Episcopalians who worship together and partake of Holy Communion.  They have no mission; they have no purposeful ministries other than to worship Christ.  Whatever offering collection they take entirely supports the needs of the local community.  Their priest is a volunteer and unpaid. Jerusalem Gathering meets twice a month on the first and third Sundays at the schoolhouse on Jerusalem Road.  It is very simple and has change little in the twenty years of its existence in this diocese.  The congregation is made up of an assortment of college professors, a young family, and some retired folks.  The service is as familiar as any Episcopalian worship, but the sermon is more of a conversational style—a sort of Bible Study discussion based on the day’s lectionary.  They rarely have a coffee hour afterwards, but once a year on the first Sunday of December for Jerusalem Gathering’s birthday, they celebrate with a little coffee hour birthday party. As I wended my way toward their schoolhouse meeting place, I rather felt like I was on the road to Emmaus; any second I would meet the stranger who is Jesus! (Instead of the carpenter, though, I met a chainsaw artist who was carving an eagle.)  I thought about the name of the township and wondered if the “stark” in Starksboro presaged the congregation. Yet after speaking with three different members of the small community, I decided, “Nah!...Too much warmth to be stark.”

St. Dunstan's, Waitsfield

Similarly, there is a gregarious warmth in the small parish of St. Dunstan’s in Waitsfield. Like exuberant, outgoing gypsies, the congregation makes their church home where they are welcome.  Once in a round barn, once in a resort hotel conference room, once in a Catholic church.  Now it seems they have a more stable place with a sense of permanence in Founders’ Hall of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church.  They have a wall upon which they can hang their reredos, which in turn signifies that you have entered an Episcopal church. 

reredos at St. Dunstan's

The reredos is a beautiful appliqued kite-shaped wall hanging whose image is taken from a picture of a stained glass window.  In the cupboard that serves as the sacristy, one can find the photo from which the image was taken.  They are quite contented with their current location and have developed a comfortable relationship with the Catholic congregation who welcomes this small Episcopal church in their space.  But at the same time, if they are once again asked to find a new location, they are perfectly ready to do so.

St. Dunstan’s was founded in the late ‘60s-early ‘70s and was named for the Saint regarded for making church bells.  Curiously, no one in the current congregation seems to know why this patron Saint was chosen as their namesake.  To be sure, St. Dunstan is uncommon enough not to be duplicated in the diocese (not wanting to be amongst the proliferation of St. Paul, St. Luke, and St. James or even Trinity, the rarity of St. Dunstan held its appeal to the church founders). St. Dunstan was Archbishop of Canterbury in the latter part of the 10^th century. He was a blacksmith and silversmith as a tradesman monk and is thus the patron saint of bell makers, jewelers and other smithy crafters. There is a story of St. Dunstan shoeing the Devil’s hoof and only removing the painful horseshoe when the Devil promised never to enter a building with a horseshoe over the door.  Perhaps it was for this determined “Damn the Devil” attitude that the founders took Dunstan’s name.

The community from which members of St. Dunstan’s hail is largely comprised of artists and crafters.  Waitsfield is also a ski resort town and the visitors tend to absorb the artsy atmosphere. Some of the congregation themselves are artists and organizers of arts programs in the area.  And their creativity knows no bounds!  The coffee hour I was invited to, for instance, was no mere beverage and chitchat.  It was a feast of delicate salad and a delectable quiche of homegrown vegetables—a gustatorial work of art! And conversation entailed storytelling and an enrichment of tales of wonder and enlightenment. It is indeed evident that congregations reflect their communities and God works within those local parameters. This was never more apparent than at St. Dunstan’s.

Even with situations being equal, at least as far as congregation size is concerned, the concerns and calling of every congregation is unique.  Looking at just a few of our diocese’s smallest congregations makes this very apparent.  St. Paul’s, Windsor; Jerusalem Gathering, Bristol; and St. Dunstan’s, Waitsfield are all comparable in size, but the way the Spirit stirs each congregation couldn’t be more unique!  As I visit more and more churches in our diocese, I am touched by each particular expression of God’s Holly Spirit at work.  It makes each church, each parish, each gathering very special and a gift to the rest of us.  We are truly blessed in the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont!

A Tale of Two City Churches

St. Paul's, Vergennes                                                                          St. Stephen's, Middlebury

Vermont’s is a peculiar diocese because of the juxtaposition of rural and urban settings for its churches.  It is not unusual to find an Episcopal church tucked away in the hills, miles from the nearest settlement.  Yet, not too many miles further will be a handsome and elegant church gracing the center of town in one of Vermont’s small cities.  Two such downtown churches include St. Paul’s Church in Vergennes and St. Stephen’s Church in Middlebury.  There is a fascination to be found in observing the characters of different churches in different cities.  The buildings themselves reflect the people who love them, yet it is the dynamic of how those people interact with the rest of the community that develops the character and dynamic of the church.  A church community will necessarily be a microcosm of the greater community in which is resides.

St. Paul's Church in Vergennes, VT

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church stands in stately elegance on Main Street in Vergennes, presiding over the activities of the small city with an air of accepted presence. The brick and clapboard building stands next to the village green and overlooks travelers on Main Street. Yet for all of its potentially imposing edifice, it is not a presumptuous building.  It stands ready to welcome visitors and beloved members alike.  It stands a visible reminder that this church is an integral part of the community and alternately, that the community is an integral part of the church.  The city and the church are somewhat unusual because they draw a demographic from a large area including both nearby rural homes and the distant adjacent cities.  Yet because of this very fact, that many members travel large distances to come to church, attending worship is the extent of their involvement in parish activities.  Many of the people who make their homes in Vergennes are professionals who work in the universities and technology industries of Burlington and Middlebury.  So the congregation at St. Paul’s is reflective of that.  These young professionals bring their families to church, so St. Paul’s is blessed with quite a number of small children under the age of twelve.  One can imagine the joy on Sundays at this church!

images from St. Paul's, Vergennes

The Episcopal community in Vergennes was founded in 1811 and the church was built from a Bishop Hopkins architectural plan in 1835.  The building is of a brick body with a whitewashed clapboard steeple.  Work was done to add a handicap access, but it is not ideal and will need further rebuilding.  The interior of the church is furnished with spare Shaker-like pews and delicately carved rood arch and communion rail. The pulpit also is of delicate filigree metalwork.  These and the starkness of the white walls might imply an air of coldness to the interior.  Except that is not at all the case.  Instead, the rich color of the carpeting and pew cushions adds color and warmth to the space.  The rich brown of the wood and the golden cast of the lighting all serve to give the space a serene and reverent quality.   There is a sweet parish house attached to the church that has a warm, inviting New England charm to its appearance.  The parish house has a large, open interior and is home for the Sunday School as well as any parish events.  Very recently, the hall received a new coat of paint and some general “sprucing up” to give the interior as warm and welcoming an atmosphere as the exterior suggests.  

St. Paul's parish house in Vergennes

Altogether, St. Paul’s evokes recollections of early Victorian New England by its appearance.  But its congregation is assuredly of this age.  Their concerns are for the community’s here-and-now needs.  St. Paul’s has a community garden that helps support the area food shelf with fresh, local produce during the fruitful months. During the fallow months of winter, the hungry are not forgotten as the parish also shares in producing an ecumenical community meal as well as continuing year-round to support the food shelf.  In these modern ages, communications is a major concern of society.  To serve in that end, St. Paul’s has agreed to rent tower space to VTel for a wi-fi tower.  This is a beneficial agreement for everyone!  The community receives better communications opportunities, VTel provides better choices for its customers, and St. Paul’s gets a reliable space tenant.  The parish is also vitally aware of emerging church issues and the changing face of Christian religious practices.  Their Tuesday adult Christian education sessions periodically examine the changing face of Christianity and what it means to the people of St. Paul’s and the Diocese of Vermont.  So, even though the congregation is scattered throughout a large area, and even though changes in our modern world bring with it challenges for church life, the congregation of St. Paul’s has vitality and a deeply spiritual connection with the Holy Spirit. It is not panicked or frantic with worry for the future and how they will survive the imminent changes.  Rather, the people have a serene approach with curiosity and maybe even a touch of anticipation for things to come.  They are preparing.

St. Stephen's Church in Middlebury, VT

St. Stephen’s Church in Middlebury is also preparing.  They are preparing for major physical changes that will heavily impact their immediate future.  And they are preparing for long-term ministry that will even further solidify the church’s standing in the community.  They are preparing ways to celebrate and benefit from the disruptions and disturbances that are bound to come over the next few years!  For majors changes will be happening in Middlebury and at St. Stephen’s!  Like St. Paul’s, Vergennes, St. Stephen's is located smack in the middle of downtown, right on the village green.  Because of its location, the church has the potential for many visitors throughout the day.  Recently, a new sign was created to tell of chapel hours and weekday worship.  This new sign is attractive, and as an accessary to the front door has encouraged passersby to drop in for a visit. But while St. Paul’s has a spirit of serene curiosity, St. Stephen’s is characterized by a progressive, assertive tempo—not quite “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”, but certainly adamant.

images from inside St. Stephen's, Middlebury

One of the very special things that marks St. Stephen’s uniqueness is their annual Peasant Market.  The Peasant Market gives “church bazaar” a whole new level of meaning and glory!  This isn’t a typical bazaar or rummage sale; this is an endeavor of mythic proportions!  It is one day only of crafts sales, antique sales, food and concession sales, flea market and so much more.  In one day, the church raises funds in the area of $20-$25 thousand, all to support its outreach missions and ministry.  Long ago, it was stipulated and agreed on that no funds raised at the Peasant Market would be apportioned away from outreach to pay bills or reinforce operations, so their outreach ministry has become a defining trait of St. Stephen’s Church.  As part of their current stewardship campaign, the rector and committee drew up a graphic design to illustrate the ministries at St. Stephen’s and broke it down by involvement of people, the physical plant and money.  The illustration shows a very thick path from the church to the Peasant Market, indicating the abundance of people who participate in the fundraiser.  From the picture of the market extend more than thirty lines to outreach missions that they support.  Yet, the congregation feels their ministry may be too widespread or unfocused.  So they’ve embarked on a new kind of discernment process to determine how best to focus their outreach ministry.

the parish hall at St. Stephen's, Middlebury

They’re calling this process “Reaching Out Beyond Our Doors” and have set a few outreach goals for 2014.  They want to determine what community need is not being met and whether it is a need that St. Stephen’s can address with a new, focused outreach mission.  They want to find a way to serve families, especially by offering alternative worship options.  And they want to find ways for St. Stephen’s to be more active participants in community happenings.  Currently, they are in the researching stage.  In the past, St. Stephen’s was instrumental in establishing what today is known in Addison County as the Charter House Coalition. The coalition has grown into its own entity and now serves as social service in its own right, helping homeless families transition into permanent housing, offering community meals, etc.   Since the program has grown out of the need for St. Stephen’s outreach, the parish is now looking for a new mission.  The congregation also recognizes that there are a number of folks who just can’t make it to the Sunday worship services.  So they are researching options for other time slots for worship as well as exploring other presentations of the liturgy.  With the third goal, St. Stephen’s realized their location in the heart of downtown offers them an opportunity that they neglected.  Often, the community holds special events and occasions.  All organizations are encouraged to participate, but the parish really hasn’t taken the opportunity up until recently.  Now the discernment group is exploring ways in which the parish might take a more active and participatory role in community events.  Even though they are still in the learning stage, the energy and sense of vibrant anticipation is practically palpable at St. Stephen's!  

While the temperament of the Spirit stirring at both of these churches is quite different in tone—St. Paul’s being more like a steady, even hum while St. Stephen’s feels more like a forward surging crescendo, it is undeniable that God is working His purpose out in these two communities.  Keep them in your prayers and in your thoughts so that the next time you are in the vicinity, you might stop by and offer your support.  

Joyful Celebrations Made in Vermont Episcopal Style

The Book of Common Prayer is truly a remarkable book.  In our church, you can easily see the spines broken at the well-worn Holy Eucharist sections.  Yet some of the most moving services for worship are rarely accessed simply because the need is so rare.  In this issue, each of the featured churches presented a unique opportunity to share one of these special moments of worship. St. Michael’s Church in Brattleboro celebrated the consecration of their new chapel.  St. John’s in Randolph celebrated a New Season of Ministry with an unusual twist.  And St. Barnabas Church in Norwich enjoyed the distinction of hosting an ordination of a priest. While the Book of Common Prayer offers a template for any kind of worship service, it is through the Spirit within a parish that makes each special occasion unique and beautiful.

St. Michael's Church, Brattleboro

St. Michael’s Church in Brattleboro, not surprisingly, has a penchant for consecrating new additions on Michaelmas, including its first gift the baptismal font as well as this most recent addition of the new chapel—The Chapel of Mary Magdalene the First Apostle.  The church itself was built in 1857 on a site several miles south of its current location. One hundred years later, the church was picked up off its foundations and moved to the corner of Putney and Bradley. It took three days to make the move, effectively cutting off all Route 5 traffic.  This was no small inconvenience in those days before the interstate! A visitor to Brattleboro may wonder at the move considering the prime location it had in town (where Keybank now stands).  But it was precisely for that reason that the move was made. The parish in Brattleboro evolved out of the community at Christ Church in Guilford. With the advent of the railway to Brattleboro in the mid 1850’s, most of the congregation migrated to the larger town and abandoned Christ Church—the oldest Episcopal church building in Vermont. (You may recall from an earlier issue that St. James, Arlington is in fact the oldest Episcopal parish in Vermont, but their church was not built until 1829, some twelve years after Christ Church.) The Webb family wanted to buy the building to move it to Shelburne to add to their museum.  But the people of Guilford mounted an effort to preserve the building and the sale fell through.  

images at St. Michael's in Brattleboro

Today, Christ Church is owned and maintained by the Christ Church Guilford Society and is used primarily for concerts and civic events.  Since the church was never deconsecrated, it is still used on occasion for Episcopal services like weddings and civil unions. Meanwhile, back in Brattleboro, with the no-sale of Christ Church and realizing the commercial value of the property upon which St. Michael’s sat, in 1953 the congregation voted to sell the land under St. Michael’s and move the church. The proceeds from that sale paid for the move and allowed for the educational part of the building to be added in 1962.

The consecration of the Chapel of Mary Magdalene, the First Apostle

2011 began a new chapter in the life of St. Michael’s parish.  Having completed a discernment process, they called the Rev. Mary Lindquist as their rector. As often happens with transitions of this nature, the parish was infused with new energy and vivacity. The buildings needed significant renovations including making it accessible with ramps and an elevator, new restroom facilities, changes in the chancel and sanctuary, among other needs. But one of the great gifts of this renovation project was the addition of the Chapel of Mary Magdalene the First Apostle. The chapel was made possible by a special gift in order to provide St. Michael’s with a space for contemplative prayer. They offer a Contemplative Worship service on Thursday early evenings and a centering prayer practice on Saturday mornings.  The Saturday Centering Prayer program offers training for newcomers to the practice. The space in the chapel, while small in area, is bright and open and simple in its furnishings. The entire outer wall is of glass to allow for natural lighting and a connection to the world outside. There is a lovely oval shaped altar simply constructed of shimmering pale wood. Votive candles are strategically placed about the room in effort to aid in the meditative atmosphere. During the celebratory consecration service (on Michaelmas weekend), the new chapel was made Holy by the Bishop and by every member of the congregation. As the congregation processed out of the church and around to the chapel entrance, the choir maintained a chant to inspire deep reverence and contemplation.  Each congregant received a taper and was encouraged to light it and say a prayer and add that prayer to all the others.  When all the prayers and candles were lit, the chapel was aglow with the golden beauty of Spiritual grace.  The service for the consecration of a chapel in the prayer book denotes a procession to the dedicated space, but it is only in the enacting that the true Spirit breathes its blessings into the endeavor.

St. John's Church, Randolph, VT

Such is the case with the next two special services in this essay.  St. John’s in Randolph has just completed a discernment process and call for new clergy. Most of the time, these Celebration of New Ministry services are to install a new priest or celebrate a new program.  In the case of St. John’s, there is a slight twist to this. You see, the people of St. John’s have called Deacon Susan Taylor to serve the parish.  Susan is fresh and new having just graduated from the Episcopal Divinity School with a Master’s of Divinity in May.  Eight days after her graduation, she was ordained as a transitional deacon (transitioning into the priesthood). Her zest for combining her artistic talents with spirituality attracted the attention of the parish in Randolph.  They recognized that Susan’s creativity combined with her firmly grounded relationship with Christ offers the parish an inspired outlook for their future together.  With the Celebration of a New Ministry service, the congregation and the deacon have demonstrated that they will see this transition out together.  In December, Susan will be ordained a priest and St. John’s will have a new rector.

images at St. John's, Randolph

The community at St. John’s has strong connections with the greater Randolph community.  For the past two years, the Diocese of Vermont has held its Ministry Expo in the spring at St. John’s in Randolph because of the good relationship they have with their neighbors.  Certainly, there is not enough room at St. John’s itself for all the workshops and number of participants.  But because they have solid community ties, they are able to add venues from both Bethany Church and Dubois and King.  St. John’s also participates in the Randolph Ecumenical Emergency Council on Housing.  REECH was the special recipient of the offering taken during the New Season of Ministry service in September. As the name suggests, REECH addresses emergency shelter issues in the area, but the organization is also connected with the Randolph Area Food Shelf.  As part of an ecumenical relief effort, REECH and RAFS are both outreach endeavors to which St. John’s has ties.

St. Barnabas Church, Norwich, VT

St. Barnabas Church in Norwich recently hosted another kind of special celebratory worship service when Todd McKee was ordained as a priest. One typically thinks of a cathedral or large church as the venue for such a service.  

the reception of Rev. Todd McKee's ordination

But a small church like St. Barnabas brings a rich flavor to the service that can only come through an intimate relationship with the candidate.  St. Barnabas received Todd’s service during his time as a transitional deacon and both parties benefited from the relationship, which is evidence by the choice of St. Barnabas as the venue for the ordination. The ordination of a priest is one of the more spiritually all-inclusive services in the Book of Common Prayer. It is the gathered people that wills the individual to be ordained, and the gathered people who accept the responsibility of upholding the ordinand in his ministry. It’s a powerful moment.  Equally powerful is the moment when the ordinand accepts the roles and responsibilities of a priest.  In a small, local church, this is particularly poignant because these are the people, these hardworking ordinary folk who struggle with day-to-day reconciliation with God, with whom the new priest will minister.

images at St. Barnabas, Norwich

And St. Barnabas is that kind of small, local church that struggles to survive, yet hungers for a deeper relationship with Christ.  Yet this small congregation presses on regardless of its struggles—whatever they might be.  The mindset is not unexpected—that they shall not be defeated by challenges and difficulties.  As long as there is a congregation, they will continue in God’s work for them.  It’s very admirable.  And the results are apparent.  They have a small solar array in their backyard that has not only cut their energy costs, but expresses their understanding that good stewardship and care of God’s creation means using resources appropriately as with renewable energy sources. They have a community garden planted beneath that solar garden that provides locally grown produce for the church and the community food shelf.  They reach out to others in the way that they can, and the struggles of life do not impede their progress.  Spirituality and its myriad expressions are also important in their work as God’s children. In exploring other ways of meditating and being in relationship with God, the congregation at St. Barnabas discovered the significance of the labyrinth. So they built one in the side yard of the church. Anyone can visit at any time to walk the labyrinth and benefit from its meditative and restorative powers.

A book like our church’s prayer book is a wonder of structured worship.  But the true marvel comes in the style of implementing each service. Each congregation offers its own interpretation and gives its own color and flavor to the event.  And in the Diocese of Vermont, these special kinds of services have a wealth of spiritual truth!

When Tension Fulfills Abundance

St. Paul's Church, White River Junction

A mere fifteen miles separate St. Paul’s Church in White River Junction and St. James’ Church in Woodstock.  Yet two churches in the same diocese could scarcely appear more different.  St. James’ Church is old and was designed to engender a sense of timeless tradition while St. Paul’s has a modernity that belies its fifty years.  

St. James' Church, Woodstock

St. James enjoys an affluent community while St. Paul’s situation is decidedly more working class. But appearances, as we all know, can be deceiving.  For these two parishes have a lot more in common than appears at first glance. Both are embarking upon a period of significant change and transition that both exemplifies the stirring of the Holy Spirit and requires a deep faith and trust in that same Holy Spirit.

St. Paul’s Church was built in the mid-20^th century and is characterized by utilitarian architecture and sleek, spacious style.  It’s not the prettiest church in the diocese, but it certainly has its charm.  The sanctuary is almost “in the round” with pews on three sides of the altar.  This has the pleasing effect of making even the furthest away pews feel intimately involved in the worship. While there is a direct outside entrance to the sanctuary, most people will enter from the parking lot which brings them first through the parish hall. As you may imagine, meeting and greeting one’s fellow parishioners before worship must also contribute to an intimacy amongst the congregation. This degree of feeling comfortable with one another implies an informality in worship. Until recently, worship at St. Paul’s, while maintaining due reverence, was indeed informal.  This is a congregation willing to try new styles of liturgy and music.  Worship was enriched and accompanied by a rock band comprised of youths from the congregation (called “the Pinks of St. Paul’s”). However, the kids grew up and many have gone away to college forcing them to disband.  That combined with the discernment process they are working through in search of a new priest has directed the congregation towards a return to the prayer book and introducing meditative silence into their worship.

images at St. Paul's, WRJ

As a testament to the diversity of its worship style, the congregation at St. Paul’s opens itself to a variety of faith traditions. While remaining assuredly Episcopalian, they are willing and able to witness the value of other belief practices.  Part of the St. Paul’s campus includes the parish house which shares its space with the Mindfulness Practice Center. The center was created through the nearby monastery attributed to Thich Naht Hahn for the development of mindful prayer, or centering prayer.  A mindful prayer group meets each Tuesday at the center. Over the fireplace in the parlor is a quotation attributed to Thich Naht Hahn: “There is no way to happiness; happiness IS the way.” 

St. Paul’s also hosts other groups and organizations, including a fellow who teaches drumming, a local theater group and more.  St. Paul’s is committed to community outreach. Because of this commitment, St. Paul’s along with clergy from St. James’ in Woodstock purchased the old farmhouse next to St. Paul’s and converted it into what is today The Haven, a community center that offers shelter, food, clothing, case management, academic support, educational support and learning opportunities for adults.  From its earliest days, The Haven has been an ecumenical outreach involving congregations from the Methodist, Congregational and Catholic churches as well as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Besides its involvement with the Haven, St. Paul’s tries to keep actively involved with other upper valley interfaith outreach projects and programs.  They take keen interest in “aging with dignity” issues, transportations issues, and “title loans” regulation. The congregation at St. Paul’s takes very seriously their baptismal covenant vow “to respect the dignity of every human being.” Part of that is manifested in the hospice choir that is part of their pastoral care ministry and in their quick response to emergencies.  The latter was so vividly witnessed in their reaction to the effects of Tropical Storm Irene two years ago when they set up a supply line for those in need.  This response to Irene has evolved and led to renovating the Hartford Church with hopes of converting it into a possible hostel. While many of St. Paul’s activities and ministries are well-honed and self-reliant, it is easy to see that in spite of this interim period (or maybe because of it) this church has a vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit.

images at St. James, Woodstock

And so does St. James’ Church in Woodstock. But as suggested earlier, the Spirit at St. James feel’s quite a bit different than that in White River Junction. There is a certain kind of tension felt in both Woodstock and St. James that arises from the dichotomy between absentee landowners and those who are permanent residents; between those who own multiple properties and those who own one or no property. This tension increases when trying to build a community that includes a demographic of people who don’t have a strong affiliation or vested interest in that community juxtaposed with a cross-section of people who yearn for a sense of belonging to that same community yet feel excluded. Thus, the energy at St. James has historically always had a searching or seeking quality about it.  Because of the assumed affluence of the congregation, there lies a danger of succumbing to “preciousness” derived from individual gifts, restricted or otherwise. That is, material things, ways and methods, and traditions risk becoming too precious and priceless because of their origins as a gift from an individual to allow for change or even elimination of said precious device. But St. James is taking steps to avoid that particular trap.  For the first time in ninety years, St. James is embarking on a capital campaign to raise funds for major building and renovation projects. The anonymity in giving along with the universality in a capital campaign offers an added benefit of providing a vehicle for community—everyone is in this together and no gift is more important than another. The funds raised in the campaign will pay for improving the drainage around the church, building and accessibility ramp, restoring the sanctuary window, and modernizing the heating system with hopes of converting to a biomass fuel burner.  In fact, if all goes to plan, the new biomass heating system may be an instrument toward greater community connection as St. James hopes to partner with the town to use locally grown wood. There is a model in the parish hall that shows the external changes that are planned for the property, including the new ramp, the sheds for the new heating system and woodsheds and the leveled courtyard between the church and the rectory that may in time contain a community garden complete with composting.

model of future St. James

Since the arrival of St. James new rector, Rev. Norman MacLeod, the congregation has revved up its zeal for environmental care and earth stewardship. The new heating system will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the parish as well as create a partnership with renewable energy groups. Having a community garden will also contribute to that goal but providing more local food rather than relying solely upon imported foods. St. James is developing a rapport with the Roosevelt-Billings National Park and is hoping to work with the park for future earth stewardship projects. In June of 2014, St. James will be hosting a four-day weekend Earth Centered Liturgy Festival. There will be a number of worship opportunities celebrating God’s gift of creation and our responsibilities and stewards appointed by God to care for this gift.  Workshops will guide and instruct participants not only in what stewardship of creation means, but in how to be good stewards. Because this festival will coincide with the work being done by the capital campaign, many of the events will necessarily take place in partnering locations including potentially the national park and sites in New Hampshire. For instance, plans are in the making for a kayaking evensong on the Connecticut River. The festival is still in the ideas and planning stage, but will soon be moving forward to implementing the event.  Keep tuned to both St. James and the Diocesan websites as things develop.  And mark your calendars now for the 26-29^th of June so that you won’t miss this innovative festival!

Clearly, God is an integral part of both St. Paul’s, White River Junction and St. James, Woodstock.  Yet God’s spirit and energy in each parish takes on an entirely different hue and cast. These two parishes contribute to the overall color of the tapestry that is the Diocese of Vermont. It is not only that which we perceive as “good and light” that speaks of our relationship with the Holy Spirit, but the tension, strife and conflicts which complete our abundance.  The response St. Paul’s takes to emergency and outreach issues and the way St James searches for a more deeply connected relationship with one another, their community and God both color our diocesan tapestry with all the richness of jewel tones.

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!

note the dove at the very top

A Time for Breaking Down and a Time for Building Up

Ecclesiastes 3, in one of its most familiar passages teaches us that there is a time for every action, and everything that happens comes in its own time. The passage illustrates the cycle of life, to which no part of our lives is immune.  The life of a church also lives according to this cycle of ups and downs, of activity and rest.  It’s interesting to witness the juxtaposition of two churches in what appears to be opposite ends of the swing.  St. Mary’s in Northfield is experiencing a trending period of rest, a time marked by a contemplative period that might lead to either renewal of life and purpose or to a timely and well-earned death.  While just over the ridge in Barre, the Church of the Good Shepherd by all indications has embarked upon an upward trend of socially conscious activity.

St. Mary Church, Northfield, VT

inside St. Mary Church

The building where the congregation of St. Mary worships is actually older than the congregation itself, having been built as a Unitarian meeting house in 1843.  The Episcopal congregation was founded in 1851 and they purchased and moved the church to its current location just a year later. Even though Norwich University did not move to Northfield until 1866, the congregation has connections intricately entwined with the school.  Many of the university’s leaders and professors have been members of St. Mary’s Church. Over the years, much of the congregation’s activities and community outreach have been motivated by Norwich University as the school is such a visible and integral part of the community. The two organizations have always enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship.  Off and on throughout the years, St. Mary has offered a “Rooks Breakfast” for the incoming freshmen at the University.  And in return, veterans of the school became actively involved with the operations of the church. Norwich University has always prided itself on being a vanguard in American education.  Taking inspiration from that legacy, in the early 1980s, St. Mary’s opened a preschool that had served the community for thirty years. But as all things change, the preschool was closed in 2008.  That, combined with the change of priestly presence and the typical declining trend of members, has served to send the congregation into a period of rest and prayerful introspection.

St. Mary's parish hall

These days, the congregation of St. Mary Church is comprised of mostly older professionals.  They are small in number of a Sunday, but consider themselves a close-knit family. During this quiet time of rest and reflection, they continue to live the baptismal covenant through their various outreach endeavors. Northfield’s Community Emergency Relief Volunteers (CERV) benefits from the congregation’s generosity of both time and materials.  Once a month, members take their turn volunteering at the food shelf, and regularly a collection of food and clothing is taken to the community shelter. Periodically, St. Mary participates in community “progressive dinner” fundraisers in support of other outreach projects like CROP Walk for Hunger. (A “progressive dinner” is one where several organizations participate by hosting one course of a meal.  During their course, they share whatever information they deem important to the diners.  The diners then move on to the next organization and course.  At the end, everyone meets in one location for networking, fellowship and entertainment.)  Yet, while the mission of outreach is still important to the parish, this is one of those periods of time they must take to consider what their new mission will be.  Right now, the greatest mission is to serve Christ in worship and prayer.

Church of the Good Shepherd, Barre, VT

As one church family experiences a slowing pace, another’s tempo is on the rise.  Just up the road, a mere twelve miles away is the Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre. As St. Mary reflects the academic and professional demographic of the community in Northfield, Good Shepherd is reflective of the granite and labor industry in Barre.  The building is constructed of sturdy Vermont granite quarried right there in the Barre area.  Even the baptismal font and the altar top are made from finely carved and polished local granite. One can see similarities in the characters of the people in the Barre community and the stone they quarry: strong, sure and solid, gritty and resolute. But people are not stone, and there is also compassion and determination to do what is right and good in the sight of God and their neighbors.

images at Church of the Good Shepherd

About a year ago, the Church of the Good Shepherd celebrated a new season of ministry with their new rector.  But the new season of ministry for this parish was about so much more than the happy arrival of the Rev. Earl Koopercamp and his family.  The congregation at Good Shepherd’s “new season of ministry” is also about their own dynamic upswing.  They celebrate young people who bring energy and direction to the parish mission. They celebrate renewed activity and awareness of their place in the community.  They celebrate the gifts they have to offer in the areas of social justice and local outreach.  They celebrate the diversity of their own community and those communities to which they belong.  Would that we all could learn from this congregation’s example!

where the mission begins at Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd has become more intimately involved with a number of social justice issues in their local area, including organized labor (especially with the quarry workers) and their focus on increased worker safety measures. There is also an active concern about the consequences of the changes in our healthcare system and the effects of Vermont’s upcoming universal healthcare program and its implications for healthcare accessibility by the real masses of middle class. Good Shepherd is already involved with the community planning group that seeks to address potential problems before they become social issues. Coping with issues such as local poverty, homelessness, hunger, criminal justice, employment opportunities can easily become wrapped up in administrative bureaucracy, so it is vital for faith communities to participate so that God’s work can be done—that those in need still warrant the respect of their dignity, and that the faithful baptized serve according to their baptismal covenant.  This is the driving motivation for Good Shepherd’s community involvement.  One of the growing hopes of endeavor for the parish includes developing a prison/criminal justice ministry. Ideas are kicking around for ways to safely and compassionately reach out those incarcerated and returning to the community.  As part of their community involvement, the Church of the Good Shepherd has a strong ecumenical connection with other area churches and faiths.  The often participates in activities with the Unitarian church (which shares a parking area with Good Shepherd), the congregational church, the evangelical church and the Presbyterian Church, to name a few.  There is a sense at Good Shepherd, that when you become an active part of your community, reaching out takes on a whole new meaning.  That is, when you have a relationship with your neighbor, you don’t have to extend very far to reach out to them; so when you do extend in your outreach, you connect with a wider and broader world. The people of Good Shepherd, led by their enthusiastic and capable rector, are encouraged to speak out and reach as diverse a population as possible.

As vast as the realm of God may be, in our little corner of it as the Diocese of Vermont, we are blessed with the fullness of the glory of the Spirit.  It is seen as simply as in the contrasting circumstances of neighboring parishes.  Yet both situations—either of seeming diminishment or apparent enrichment—demonstrate the fullness of God’s grace.  “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).”

The Islander Church

The Borders Regional Ministry
top left: St. Thomas, Noyan; top right: St. George, Clarenceville
bottom: St. Luke, Alburgh

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Alburgh, VT boasts one of the most uniquely quirky characters of all the parishes in our diocese. It is part of The Borders Regional Ministry in cooperation with St. Thomas’ Anglican Church in Noyan, and St. George’s Church in Clarenceville, both in the Province of Quebec.  It is also part of the islands community of Lake Champlain, which offers its own inimitable sense of identity. Being interwoven in the fabric of these two dynamic cultures provides St. Luke’s Church with charm and allure that is a special gift to this diocese.

part of the Chazy Reef on Isle La Motte

In the middle of Lake Champlain lies an emerald green archipelago that until fairly recently in its history could only be reached by boat. These are geologically ancient islands. The Chazy Reef on Isle La Motte, part of rock formation stretching from Newfoundland to Tennessee, is recognized as the world’s oldest reef, exposing underwater fossils some 480 million years old. The sense of timelessness in the Champlain Islands is substantiated by its human history of the last three or four hundred years. Prior to Samuel de Champlain’s introduction of the first Europeans in 1609, the islands provided for the summer villages of Abenaki, Huron and other local tribes.  The lake allowed for year-round living, but archaeological evidence indicates that it was rare for a village to stay year-round on the islands—probably due to the lack of hunting game which was so much more prevalent on either shore of the lake. Once the French arrived with the Champlain exploration, very little time passed before Europeans built fortifications and permanent residences on the islands. Some of the founding families still make up the core of the community. 

Lake Champlain

The islands played key roles during both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, serving as both battleground and hospital. Yet, during both these wars, the islanders themselves tended to keep their distance and watch from afar.  Like gems embedded in the hilt of a silver dagger, several large islands make up the Champlain Island Community: Isle La Motte, North Hero, South Hero, Grand Isle, Crab and Valcour Islands, and the Alburgh Peninsula.  While the peninsula is not an island, it extends into the heart of the island community and maintains that “islander” characteristic. The particular “islander” characteristic in question is defined by its people’s tenacious independence predicated upon their relative isolation. In spite of the bridges and causeways that now connect the islands with a scenic drive, the ideal of being accessible only by water prevails.  This makes for a community of people who become either determinedly resourceful or resigned to doing without. This you can see reflected in the congregations of the Borders Regional Ministry as it exists today.

The current manifestation of the Borders Regional Ministry has its roots in earlier versions. In spite of what we learned about border ministries from St. Paul’s, Canaan several weeks ago, the concept of a share ministry between two countries is not immediately perceived as a logical one!  However, the history of this one includes a somewhat historically fluid border, and in the past, Alburgh was actually a part of Canada. Around the end of the 18^th century, the Richelieu Valley region and the upper part of Lake Champlain became a settling ground for British Loyalists, and the need for English language worship services grew. The communities were mostly farming and thus were widespread.  In 1815, congregations in Noyan and in Clarenceville combined their resources to pay for a minister with the stipulation that worship services alternate between the two communities.  To this day, worship is held on the first and third Sundays in Clarenceville and second and fourth Sundays in Noyan—thus the first bonds of mutual ministry were established. 

images from St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Alburgh, VT

Meanwhile, the congregation in Alburgh, just down the road a few miles, flickered in and out of existence several times before becoming an established presence in the early part of the 20^th century.  Bishop Hall consecrated St. Luke’s Church in 1907.  The church was sustained by itinerant clergy from Burlington who traveled by rail to provide services at St. Luke’s.  Even though Alburgh is accessible overland, its border with Canada cut the land off from the rest of Vermont so that it essentially became like the other Champlain Isles—accessible only by boat or train.  When the road was opened in 1933, St. Luke’s was then serviced by ministers from Swanton. Because of its proximity to St. George and St. Thomas, many of the St. Luke’s congregation already interacted and worship with those congregations, so the ties between the three congregations was already solidly established.  In the early years of the 21^st century, a group of lay leaders from the three congregations along with other congregations in Bedford began to work on developing a Borders Regional Ministry that would serve six congregations in both Quebec and Vermont. A celebration Eucharist was celebrated in 2006 with both Vermont’s bishop and the Bishop of Montreal presiding.  But the formation of the ministry was never stabilized and the congregation of Bedford and two others left the Borders Regional Ministry leaving the original three to maintain its ministry.  Today, the congregations support one another and have become settled into a routine of their mutual ministry.

Because of its history both as a church and as part of its community, it is virtually impossible to talk about St. Luke’s without mention of the islands or the other churches in the Borders Regional Ministry.  Those two elements make the deep, rich color of the character of St. Luke’s.  The Sunday I visited the church, the congregation consisted of long-time members of St. Luke’s plus others from both Clarenceville and Noyan.  The conversation during fellowship focused on pastoral care issues particular to the islands (a piece of property on Isle La Motte is being offered to St. Luke’s and ideas for how best to use it were shared; members of the congregation struggle with issues that make it hard to attend worship services; that kind of thing). And often at St. Luke’s fellowship takes the form of lunch at a nearby restaurant or at the Alburgh Golf Club. When you cross the bridge into Grand Isle County, and when you visit St. Luke’s Church in Alburgh, you become immediately immersed in the island character. It is special and uniquely Spiritual.