On November 6, Holy Apostles voted unanimously to purchase the St. Stephen’s church property!   I am overjoyed with this decision and look forward to co-creating a healing and sacred place for us to celebrate the Eucharist, worship together, pray, rest, find healing, laugh and simply build our faith community.

In the book of Ephesians, St. Paul says that we should be “of one mind and spirit” and I believe we are entering this new chapter and exciting time unified in the spirit.   We diligently continued in the search for our next home. We patiently waited. We prayed and fasted.  Some became disheartened when previous property sites didn’t work out but quickly moved through this discouraging time believing that good things would happen in the “Lord’s time.”

There was a constant belief that the Holy Spirit would guide us into our new home and we had faith that God’s time would prevail. We can rest assured that this opportunity and acquisition is the “Lord’s time”, truly a gift from God. 

Indeed, this is a wonderful God-given Christmas gift to Holy Apostles.  May we use it wisely making our home a Holy place where people can enter and be loved, supported and encouraged in their daily walk to know, love and serve God.

I want to thank everyone who was involved in this process, from all who have served on the building committee and parish council to all who prayed and supported us in their own way.  Pastor Eileen and her congregation were also instrumental in creating this opportunity.  In fact, I believe the unanimous vote of the St. Stephen’s community to sell their church to us was part of this miracle.

We believe in an awesome God, a miraculous God, a God who promises to be with us when two or more are gathered in His name.   I pray that we allow Christ our Lord into our hearts and through recognition of His birth and presence in this world may our lives be transformed.

May we keep our eyes focused on Jesus during this Christmas season and may we humbly invite the Holy Spirit to guide us into His glorious kingdom!    

 I encourage you to make an appointment to receive the Holy Sacrament of Confession before Christmas. 

In His service,                                   Fr. Tom