Grace Episcopal Church is a “Work well begun”. —That is the name of a movie which Brian Capener produced on the occasion of the expansion and renovation of the Church and the creation of Bourne Hall. There are those of us who were present and made possible the events captured in the movie. Some of you even appeared in it. And there are those of us, like me, who have arrived at Grace since 2008, and take for granted the sanctuary and its campus. We are all, however, the “work well begun”. We are all participants in the unfolding history that is Grace Episcopal Church; and more importantly we are all participants in that place in history that is witnessed in the Bible and is created by the Spirit of God which theologians call “salvation history”.
At the end of this month, on Saturday May 31, from 11am to 4pm, we will gather to tell our side of the Grace story. As part of the 150th celebration year, we want to hear from you; we want you to tell us how you came here, to place your mark on the Church’s timeline, and to enjoy a viewing of Brian Capener’s film. “A work well begun” beautifully and movingly captures the inspiration, courage, hard work, faith and resourcefulness that brought the present campus into being. We expect also to hear from those for whom this was a hands on work of love.
Salvation history on its part recognizes that in the events of our times God is at work reconciling the world to God’s own self, to God’s purpose of a beloved community, and to a place where there is war no more, nor tears and sighing, but only complete joy. We are all a work well begun.
Last Saturday I went on John Livingstone’s geological pilgrimage around the Valley. An early stop was outside the Rombaurer vineyards and winery on Silverado Trail. John had us notice the obsidian volcanic rock lying all around on an otherwise non-descriptive layby. We then went carefully up to the side of the road to see the rock cut away presumably for the road, but also naturally. He showed us the signs of the enormous heat of the volcanic explosion in its residue of red rock, and the expansive amount of hardened ash that covered everything. “Where would the center of this eruption have been?” someone asked. “Looking at the evidence here”, said John, “about half a mile away”. I at least thought he would have said several miles away. Once you have seen the literal lay of the land, as John describes it, you can’t unsee it.
I found myself contrasting our experience of touching the rock walls of Silverado Trail, fearing for our lives at the occasional zip-zip driver who was clearly out to impress, and the luxury people movers heading up to Rombaurer’s for a wine-tasting experience. Obviously there is a time for every season under heaven, as the writer of Ecclesiastes has told us. And most of us have been at the wine-tasting, and maybe not so much enjoying rocks, but in some way we are all marveling at the history we are folded into.
Rocks play a great part in the renovation and expanding of Grace Church and campus. And for that story, I refer to you the movie. I hope you will be able to find the time to write your life prints down as we gather to bring Grace’s story up to the present and for the future. It is an exercise we want the youngest of us to share in too, and arrangements will be made to make that possible.
This Sunday I will be speaking about the Good Shepherd. A main element of His character, as all our Atrium children know, is that He knows us by name, and we know His voice. I would submit that it is this calling by name that brought us here, and that now marks us personally as God’s work well begun. And as a work well to be marked and celebrated.
— Bishop Alan
Grace Past: Tracing our Footsteps
Saturday, May 31, 11AM-4PM
10:45-11 — Welcome! Come early for coffee and snacks.
11-1130 — Lin Weber, Grace member, author and historian who is working on a book for Grace’s 150th, will share about the early history of Grace Church.
11:30-12:15 — Our Place in History Exercise, Part I: Gather in small groups with folks who joined Grace the same decade you did to share your “Grace story” and reflect together on the character of the church and world events that shapes that time.
12:15-12:45 — Lunch
12:45-2 — Sharing from decade groups and reflecting together on the story of Grace
2-4 — Screening of A Work Well Begun by Brian Capener, with a panel discussion afterwards with those involved in the re-building of the church campus
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