History of a Move to a New Sacred Space
On Thursday, September 17th, 2009, the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, San Antonio, sold its buildings and land in pursuit of a 30 year summons to build a sacred space to worship, serve, fellowship, and pray. Many of the dedicated church members made this move possible.
The congregation began worshipping at Pedrotti's Northwind Ranch in Helotes, TX, on Sunday, September 20, 2009. This is the place where all functions of the church moved - from choir practice, to church offices, to the newly named "Crock-Pot-Lucks" after church on Sundays.
The Property Team, commissioned through the power of the Spirit and by the congregation on Sunday, November 15, 2009, then toured and prayed about many properties. After a time it became hat one property on Bandera Road and near 1604 was the place that God was asking us to set apart to be a Holy place for all of his children to gather.
More prayers, visits and conversations followed this decision until the Property Team put a request into the Bishop's Committee of Holy Spirit to offer a contract on this property on Bandera Road. The Bishop's Committee fully supported this request and a contract, with a 120 day feasibillity period, was offered and accepted.
After a period of continued study, prayer, and conversation, the Bishop's Committee, at the March 2010 meeting unamiously reaffirmed their initial request to the Bishop to pursue a contract and purchase this property on Bandera.
On Monday, April 12, 2010, the contract was executed and the land pruchased. We will continue to worship at Pedrotti's until the new sacred space is built.
To celebrate the beginning of a 30 year hope come to life, the congregation gathered on this new land for the first time on Sunday, April 18th, 2010, when we travelled from Pedrotti's to the new property to commission the Sacred Space Team and conclude the service.
Timeline:
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By June 27 select 5 architectual firms to send Request for Proposals.
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Receive and review Request for Proposals by September 17, 2010.
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Select Architect by mid to late October. To do this, the Sacred Space Team will submit three firms to the Bishop's Committee, recommeding one. The Bishop's Committee will then vote to accept the proposal of the Sacred Space Team and then send on the vote to the Diocese to approve and suggest hiring that architect.
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The timeline after this will be determined by the architect in coordination with the Sacred Space Team and Bishop's Committee.
Below are pictures from the April 18th celebration of new land!
