MUTUAL MINISTRY REVIEW REFLECTION - Final Touches

This month we continue our monthly reflection from the Mutual Ministry Review (MMR) we conducted this spring. One piece of feedback from our MMR was a concern about the finishing touches on the Undercroft and what would be happening to decorative items that had been removed or relocated during the painting portion of the project.

One area of concern had been the removal of portraits of clergy who have served our parish over the years. We took the portraits down, uncertain of what our plan would be. Some people thought they should not go back up at all, others were upset to hear they might not return, and others were ambivalent. What was clear through the MMR was that one of our previous clergy leaders was and continues to this day to be a source of great grief and angst. Some of our Vestry leaders were surprised by this fact, assuming that chapter in our history was closed. But old wounds take time to heal. When we learned of this lingering pain, some wondered what having a portrait of that clergy person hanging in the church would mean for those who are still hurting. We wondered how we could honor the goodness of the past without stirring up the painful parts of our past. Many ideas were floated, and the Rector decided to gather a small group to work through the realities of the situation. 

Mother Jennifer, Loretta Sawicki, and Ronelle Hills came together, and using their pastoral, historical, and aesthetic talents came up with a solution. We decided that what we would do is create two spaces – an area to honor the goodness of the past (the Office Area) and an area to honor the goodness of the present (the Undercroft). In the Office Area (which we began to affectionately call “History Hall”), we will be putting together collages of photographs from each clergy leader’s tenure at St. Margaret’s. One of the photos will be of a clergy leader, but the other photos in the collage will honor the parishioners and activities of the time – representing the fullness of the church, not just one part of the church. In this way, we felt as though we could honor those who wanted our leaders remembered, but also encourage those who are struggling with the past to remember all the goodness that happened in spite of the things that were challenging. Though this portion of our work will take a bit more time (as we are locating photographs from the last 50 years), once the collages are complete, you will see the way we are trying to strike a balance for all our needs.

The other space will be the Undercroft. Several things will be happening there. First, we have collected vibrant photographs of the energetic life of the current parish. We hope that these photographs will help us all remember and celebrate the goodness that is among us. We will also be replacing the brass cross that had been in the Undercroft with a cross by artisans in Haiti. This new cross not only supports ministry in impoverished Haiti, a ministry partner of ours over the years, but also it enlivens the space and complements the new aesthetic of the Undercroft. The brass cross will be relocated to the Office area. We will also be introducing other artwork to bring life into the space, as well as looking at other decorative items like tablecloths and valances, to create a cohesive, fresh look. Some of this work will be phased in, so please have patience with us as we introduce the new look.

Finally, we are still looking at the Narthex area. Our intention had been to freshen up the paint in the Narthex, but we hit a roadblock when we realized how very challenging that work would be given the permanent fixture of the Tree of Remembrance. We are exploring some options for that, so we will keep you posted. We also anticipate replacing the banners in that space, relocating the current banners to another location.

We cannot promise how quickly this work will be completed, but know that it is underway. We hope that you will rejoice with us as you see the fruits of our labor, and please thank Loretta and Ronelle for being so helpful in this work. They have really brought a thoughtful, artistic eye to our building.

~ The Vestry