By Jeff Spiess, Senior Warden
In our tradition, we say that the Holy Spirit guides when we are prayerfully present together, but still, it is surprising when She speaks so clearly.
We, the congregation of Trinity Cathedral, are stewards of treasures left to us by generations past and, as faithful stewards, it is for us to maintain and enrich those treasures for the generations who will follow. Those treasures include our campus, our endowment, and our community of people. Last fall, the Dean constituted a steering committee to discern the need and scope of a possible capital campaign focused on what is needed for us to be a sacred place for all people for the next 50 to 100 years.
Much of our work has the familiar feel of most other committees: meetings, agendas, too many needs and not enough money, ideas raised, tabled, or discarded, and lots of coffee. But one morning, as we wandered through the Cathedral Hall kitchen, we found ourselves in the small room holding the ice machine, looking through the windows onto the garden, and one by one we heard the same message. We were in a space that has served for worship, social gatherings, congregational meetings, and feeding the hungry, but also a space in need of updating if it is to continue serving in these ways. What we really saw was the connection between this physical space and our mission, and that to grow the mission, we need to take care of the space.
The committee recommended and the Vestry has approved engagement with a design-build firm, Marous Brothers Construction, to develop schematic designs for what such a project might entail. We have been gratified by their understanding of what it is that we need and their sensitivity to history and architecture. The value proposition, the vision for this possible project is articulated as…
- To renew the beauty and functionality of Cathedral Hall, making it into a welcoming, accessible space that is used and loved by the congregation and community.
- To create a civic beacon of Christian compassion and service in the city.
- To respect the architecture and integrity of Cathedral Hall.
- To work together as one team toward a common vision.
- To do all this while making wise, responsible choices with respect to budget, schedule, and quality.
This Sunday morning (June 15), the Marous Brothers design team will be present in Cathedral Hall, along with Vestry and committee members, primarily to listen to what you have to ask or share. What stories or photographs do you have to share about Cathedral Hall? What would you hope to be able to do there? What do you cherish that you want to preserve?
Please join us for coffee and a snack, join in the visioning, and see if you hear the Holy Spirit whisper in your ear, too.