Letter from Rev. Frances A. Hills, Rector
February 26, 2010

Dear St. James Parishioners,
Last night our Vestry carefully and prayerfully considered the information in the excellent reports that so many of you worked hard to create in a short amount of time. We also considered our experience of the meeting Sunday and the responses you wrote on the cards. We kept coming back to these questions: What is God saying to us in all this? Can we discern a path forward? In this process, God revealed a congregation of people who care deeply about the St. James community. In addition, much love for the building at Main and Taconic was expressed, as was much concern about being financially practical in any choice we make.  Concern to put our resources in ministry and not buildings was expressed. To the statement on the cards “In my heart, I believe that God is calling St. James to…” there were cards that expressed a desire to restore the building and others that indicated God is calling us to another resolution, but there was no clear “other” direction.  The Vestry had hoped to be able to discern a clear path that God is leading us into, but we felt it was not there in the three options as they were presented. Many people felt passionately about very different things. We were not finding a way forward.
It was at that point that a new option was presented. The option came to us through Tim Geller of the Community Development Corporation (CDC), who is helping to facilitate the proposal of this option. An anonymous non-profit had approached Tim this week. The non-profit is familiar with the work of the Partners for Sacred Places, and has proposed to purchase St. James at fair market value. The non-profit would restore the entire facility. St. James Episcopal Church could then enter into a lease with the non-profit for use of the Sanctuary, exclusively as a worship space for St. James, for as long as we choose. The lease would also define for St. James what other spaces we would be able to use. The non-profit would create space for cultural, educational and community-based programs in the Parish House. The following motion was passed by the Vestry at its meeting February 25, 2010:
MOTION:  TO INVESTIGATE THE ANONYMOUS PROPOSAL FROM CDC TO SELL THE PROPERTY TO A NON-PROFIT AND LEASE THE CHURCH FROM SAID ENTITY AND PRESENT A REQUEST TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A 6 MONTH EXTENSION BEGINNING APRIL 1.
The CDC points out:
Benefits for St. James:                                         

Benefits for the Town:

This proposal would free-up St. James to move forward spiritually. We could really concentrate on our work with the Partnership for Missional Church and also have time to continue to be in conversation with other South Berkshire Episcopal churches as we discern the future.
The Executive Committee will be meeting with Tim Geller next week to get more information. Please continue to keep St. James’ Vestry in your prayers as we explore this option.
Thanks to each of you for your diligent and faithful work as we have come to this place in our discernment process. . . no doubt the “Updates” will continue!


Blessings and peace,                                                                                                              

Francie


P. S. Last night the Vestry dwelled in the following passage as they began their meeting.  May it nourish you as well.
2 Corinthians 4:1-12
                                      

NRSV The Message

1 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.

1 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times.

2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

2 We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

3 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention.

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

4 All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.

5 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you.

6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

6 It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

7 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

8 As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do,

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

9 but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.

10 What they did to Jesus, they do to us - trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us - he lives!

11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

11 Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us.

12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

12 While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!