A Message Regarding The Future of St. Stephen's
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Our beloved 100 year old building recently underwent a structural engineering evaluation on behalf of our insurance company, Church Insurance of Vermont. Some condition issues with the building's foundation were found during this inspection. As a result, we were notified on July 10th that our insurance policy would be cancelled effective September 1st, 2024. Fortunately, St. Stephen's vestry and representatives from our building partners were able to successfully lobby the Church Insurance of Vermont to continue our insurance coverage through our current policy expiration date of February 1st, 2025. The insurance company has also agreed to renew St. Stephen's insurance coverage if the identified building condition issues are rectified prior to February 1st, 2025.
Unless a funding source for repairing the building's foundation can be identified and a qualified contractor is able to complete the work prior to the deadline, St' Stephen's Episcopal Parish will have to vacate the building by the insurance coverage expiration date. This obviously will have an enormous impact on our congregation as well our long standing building partners Operation Night Watch and Journey Koinonia Catholic Community. The St. Stephen's Vestry and many other concerned community members are currently exploring every available option to enable St. Stephen's to continue our important mission work. With never ending love and appreciation for St. Stephen's and all of you, Christy Emlaw McMurtry, Senior Warden Melissa Arnold, Junior Warden Kevin Gardner Linda Jackson Below is a recent sermon from our Deacon, The Rev. Maureen Hagen. She shares the history of St. Stephen's, the impact the parish has made over the last century, and a message for our future. Good morning, Beloved Community! It is so good to be with you again. In preparing for today, I reread my last sermon and so many things stood out:
We had once been the cathedral, then we became an ordinary parish, no longer the center of the diocese, but at the center of this corner of southwest Portland. We had been teeming with people, but with no parking, people leaving downtown, and finally Covid, the numbers diminished. Yet a faithful remnant has always remained - a community who knew how to love one another. We once had an abundance of material wealth. For a quarter-century we’ve been told we would only be solvent for 3 years, yet somehow we remain.
12-step program that met in our building every night, even Christmas Eve. When AIDS began its devastation, people with HIV were embraced. A decade ago when Operation Nightwatch needed a home to support its mission of radical hospitality to people who were unhoused, we welcomed them. After hearing their accounts of their time in Southwest Portland, I imagine Jesus smiling at the people of St. Stephen’s, knowing his apostles had understood that they had been called to live out their faith among the people they encountered. Upon hearing the apostles’ reports, Jesus recognized that the kingdom of God had come near in this corner of Southwest Portland. And he invited everyone to return to the desert, to rest and to reflect. Most of you know that I was St. Stephen’s Children’s Minister here two decades ago. I loved the community I found here. People were totally engaged. We had that marvelous breakfast between services where there was no separation between those who attended church and those who lived in the neighborhood. The children were loved and valued. We knew that it was increasingly difficult to serve the families. When I left the families joined other congregations. St. Stephen’s went on. For the next 13 years I heard St. Stephen’s had gone from offering two to four meals a week and a food pantry once a month. Clay Street Table grew and grew until 150,000 meals were served a year. When Covid hit, they had to relocate, but they continue to serve our neighbors. And St. Stephen’s went on. Seven years ago, Brendan Barnicle asked me to leave my affluent suburban parish and come to St. Stephen’s. We all know how persuasive he can be! At Brendan’s ordination at the cathedral, several of you were there. I remember speaking to Tom Bartlett. As we were talking I had a strong sense of call. I knew I would be with St. Stephen’s for the long term and that it would not always be easy. And it has been wonderful and it has been challenging. Through it all St. Stephen’s has gone on. Love abides. I feel committed to this community, to this beloved community. We have been through so much together. Each of us has experienced loss – our priests, our choir, our 8:00 service, those who have moved away, those who have died: Mary, Sam, Sean, Molly, George, Kevin, Ricky, Charles, Palmer. And yet our community remains. I believe that through all the changes – including Covid – it has remained faithful. For St. Stephen’s is not just a building where a faithful remnant gather weekly to worship together. We are a true parish that sees itself as linked to our neighbors as well. Operation Nightwatch is an integral part of our community. And so is Journey Catholic who has worshipped here for decades. One measure of a vital faith community is whether others would miss it if it disappeared tomorrow. Clearly the answer is yes. Our imprint is deep and lasting. By living out the Gospel faithfully, we have seen some amazing things happen. By God’s grace we have done what others can only imagine. And now Jesus looks at us with compassion, knowing it is time to reflect and reimagine. As we know, compassion does not mean pity. Compassion means suffering with. Jesus fully understands that being faithful does not always protect us from worldly challenges. These last few days we all learned about the letter canceling our insurance in six weeks. There is so much uncertainty. We are unsure what options are open to us. Yet, even amid this uncertainty what I have heard is concern that our neighbors’ needs are met, that we need to find ways to support Operation Nightwatch which is serving close to 500 people every week. We go forward confident that we have faithfully followed Jesus’ teachings as we care for our community both within and outside our walls. We go forward confident that we are not alone, that God has promised to be with us until the end of the age. In closing, I invite you to pray with me today’s collect once again: Let us pray together: Beloved Shepherd, our christic souls are the pasture of your presence: even if we feel surrounded by the shadows of death; even if we feel lost and without direction; even if we feel tired with coming and going; you are our life – the rod of your holy truth – our strength; the staff of your holy faith – our courage. May we be shepherds of your justice, restoring holy hope for days without end. Amen. |
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St. Stephen's, an Episcopal Adventure of Embodied Love, affirms the divine beauty of each person and creature. We welcome you! wherever you are on your journey. We hold as sacred the questioning mind, the searching heart, the thirsting soul. We have always been, and continue to be, a champion for marginalized communities. With our partnerships we have been a beacon of hope and care in downtown Portland, Oregon, since 1873. Located near Portland State University, we gather for worship at 10:30 am each Sunday. |
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