Is The Spirit Moving?

It’s a little over a year since I returned from Belize. The story has been told. But all of a sudden we seem to be experiencing here at St. John’s, Port Hope, a small groundswell of interest in doing something. “It’s not just enough to hear the story” people seem to be saying. “We want to do something.” What I’m hearing is that people want to be involved in some ongoing support for St. Joseph’s, Punta Gorda or, at least for the Church in Belize. It hasn’t been at my urging I must confess, though it certainly has my support.

· One of the women’s groups has asked me to meet with them. Some saw my presentation last year but others haven’t. They are interested in not letting the Mission die and want to explore ways of helping.

· The Mission Support Team met to discuss how to close out the bank account. There’s not a lot of money, but the unanimous agreement was that we should look at creating a fund that would directly help in the development of the ordained ministry in Belize.

· At coffee hour today a faithful reader of this blog approached me expressing his conviction that St. John’s should develop an ongoing relationship with the Church in Belize.

None of this at my urging; I have to believe that the Spirit is moving among us.

Meanwhile, beyond the parish, I recently received a call from the Outreach Committee of a church where I have spoken. “Where”, they asked, “should we send our money so that it can help in Belize?” And then yesterday I met parishioners of another church who promised that I would yet be getting an invitation to make my presentation.

Until now I have always ended my little story on a downbeat – no one has been found to carry on full time ministry at St. Joseph’s. Perhaps from now on I will be able to add, “but with God’s help we are doing something to change that!”