Dear Friends,

Many thanks to the Rev. Bob Mitman for preaching and presiding this past Sunday. We had wonderful attendance and spiritual fellowship at both services.

Our search team continues its holy work studying the applications received for rector. They are continuing to meet multiple times each week. Please pray for both our committee members and all the candidates that the Holy Spirit will bless and direct the discernment process.

Reminder: during this time of Rector Transition at COHS there may be some questions about how things are going or how things operate behind the scenes, as well as questions about the search process. Please feel free to email me (sretlaw@comcast.net) with any questions you may have. We will do our best to provide timely answers to you both personally and in this column.

All of us thank you for your faith, prayers, encouragement, and continued support of our parish and church family.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear COHS Friends,

We were truly blessed this past Sunday to have four different people preside and preach during our two services. At the 8am service Rev. Marge Dean presided and Deacon Johnine preached. While at the 10:15 AM service, we welcomed Rev. James Shannon to preside and Rev. Joy Segal to preach (see photo below). It is so wonderful to have friends and retired clergy share their gifts with our church family.

For this week’s vestry update, the search committee continues its very important work of finding a new rector for the church. We pray for all members of the search committee during this discernment process.

As a reminder, Kirk Walters, our rector’s warden, is available to answer any questions you might have regarding our transition or the search process. Please feel free to email him at sretlaw@comcast.net.

The entire vestry thanks you for your continued support, prayers and encouragement in support of our parish and church family.

Blessings to all,

Brian Ray,
Vestry Member

While welcoming warmer weather this past Sunday, we also were blessed by the ministry of our wonderful Handbell Choir. Many thanks to them, to Rev. Dean Bickel for presiding, and to Deacon Johnine for preaching. As Chris Detweiler mentioned during the 10:15 AM service, we are extremely grateful to Deacon Johnine and all of our retired clergy who have truly been there for us during this time of transition.

Priya's update from the search team reminded us that the team is actively interviewing candidates to be our next rector. Let's keep praying for our team, for the candidates, and for our staff, who work very hard behind the scenes to keep so many things in our parish running smoothly.

One of my roles on Vestry is to work closely with Deacon Johnine on outreach. We are a parish that shows our love for our neighbors through many acts of service and through financial contributions that enable our ministry to others. If you'd like to get involved in outreach, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Kristen and I regularly reflect on how grateful we are to have found Church of the Holy Spirit - a truly special, welcoming community.

Grace and peace,

Bill Kerwin,
Vestry Member

Dear COHS Family,

We are grateful for the uplifting preaching and presiding of Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato this past Sunday, and for his reminder that we are surrounded by individuals who carry on the work of the Good Shepherd in the ways they lead, guide, and care for us. Thank you also to the children’s choir and to their parents and families for the ways they blessed our worship this week.

As we move closer to welcoming a new rector, it seems a good time to thank one of our most faithful shepherds, who has led us through nearly a year of transition. Our Rector’s Warden, Kirk Walters, has kept us moving forward with his countless hours of hard work and sincere dedication to our church community. Thank you, Kirk!

Let us all continue to pray for our search committee and rector candidates, our church staff and lay leaders, and one another.

With Faith and Love,

Emily Knorr
Vestry Member

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to the Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato for preaching and presiding this past Sunday. Though the Second Sunday of Easter is sometimes referred to as Low Sunday, there are no 'low' Sundays at Church of the Holy Spirit! We continue to be blessed during our period of rector transition.

Our search committee has received six Ministry Portfolio Documents -- applications -- for Rector for our church. Please pray for both our committee members and all the candidates that the Holy Spirit will bless and direct the discernment process.

Reminder: during this time of rector transition at COHS there may be some questions about how things are going or how things operate behind the scenes, as well as questions about the search process. Please feel free to email me (sretlaw@comcast.net) with any questions you may have. We will do our best to provide timely answers to you both personally and in this email.

All of us thank you for your faith, prayers, encouragement, and continued support of our parish and church family.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman for stepping in and presiding on Palm Sunday when Rev. Marge Dean fell ill. We hope and pray that she heals and feels better! Also, thanks to all of the volunteers and lay leaders who have been working extra hard, with multiple events and services over the past few weeks. It is noticed and appreciated.

We are now in Holy Week, the holiest time of the church year. Please plan on joining your church community during this special week where together we will meditate on the acts of love by which God redeemed us. You can find a full schedule for all our services in this email and on our website.

Rector Transition Update: March 28 is the Diocesan cutoff date for receiving applications for a new rector for Church of the Holy Spirit. We know there has been interest expressed and applications coming into the Diocese. Shortly after Easter, we expect to receive details around a set of candidates and the Search Team will begin their work of discernment. Please pray for our candidates and our Search Team as this process continues.

Reminder: during this time of Rector Transition at COHS there may be some questions about how things are going or how things operate behind the scenes, as well as questions about the search process. Please feel free to email me (sretlaw@comcast.net) with any questions you may have. We will do our best to provide timely answers to you both personally and in this column.

All of us thank you for your faith, prayers, encouragement, and continued support of our parish and church family.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Marge Dean for preaching and presiding this past Sunday. Also, thanks to all of the volunteers and lay leaders who have been working extra hard, with multiple events and services over the past few weeks. It is noticed and appreciated.

With Palm Sunday upon us, we are entering the holiest time of the church year. Please plan on joining your church community during this Holy Week, where together we will meditate on the acts of love by which God redeemed us. You can find a full schedule for all of our services in this email and on our website.

Rector Transition Update: March 28 is the Diocesan cutoff date for receiving applications for a new rector for Church of the Holy Spirit. We know there has been interest expressed and applications coming into the Diocese. Shortly after Easter, we expect to receive details around a set of candidates and the Search Team will begin their work of discernment. Please pray for our candidates and our Search Team as this process continues.

Reminder: during this time of Rector Transition at COHS there may be some questions about how things are going or how things operate behind the scenes, as well as questions about the search process. Please feel free to email me (sretlaw@comcast.net) with any questions you may have. We will do our best to provide timely answers to you both personally and in this column.

All of us thank you for your patience, faith, prayers, encouragement, and continued support of our parish and church family.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

We had many wonderful clergy help us last Sunday. At 8 AM, Deacon Johnine preached and at the last minute, Rev. Bob Mitman stepped in to preside for Holy Eucharist which was originally scheduled for Morning prayer. At 10:15 AM, we were blessed to welcome Rev. Harriet Kollin as our guest preacher and presider. She said during announcements that we were a “lively congregation.” Yes, we are, and we are grateful to all of you!

Also, on Sunday in the 9 AM hour, there was again good attendance for the second Pete Enns special Lenten education opportunity: “What Is the Bible and What Do We Do with It?” Thank you, Pete! We hope you will return and share your gifts with us another time.

This past Saturday, the Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato held a second Lenten Retreat in the new building. Both retreats were sold out and greatly appreciated. Our congregation is grateful to Rev. Christian for leading these events for us.

Rector Transition Update: March 28 is the Diocesan cutoff date for receiving applications for a new rector for Church of the Holy Spirit. We know there has been interest expressed and applications coming into the Diocese. Shortly after Easter, we expect to receive a group of candidates for the Search Team to begin their work of discernment. Please pray for our candidates and our Search Team as this process continues.

Reminder: during this time of rector transition at COHS there may be some questions about how things are going or how things operate behind the scenes as well as questions about the search process. Please feel free to email me sretlaw@comcast.net with any questions you may have. We will do our best to provide timely answers to you both personally and in this column.

All of us thank you for your patience, faith, prayers, encouragement, and continued support of our parish and church family.

Kirk Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Glenn Matis for returning to Church of the Holy Spirit to preach and preside this past Sunday. Also, on Sunday in the 9 AM hour, there was a great response to the first discussion led by Pete Enns: “What Is the Bible and What Do We Do with It?” He will be facilitating a second discussion this Sunday 3/10 at 9 AM in the Parish Hall.

At 8 AM this Sunday, Deacon Johnine will be preaching and presiding over Morning Prayer. At the 10:15 AM service, we will welcome Rev. Harriet Kollin as our guest preacher and presider. Recently retired, Rev. Kollin was Rector from 2016-2021 at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Morrisville, PA. She also has served the Diocese of Pennsylvania on several committees.

During this time of rector transition at COHS there may be some questions about how things are going or how things operate behind the scenes as well as questions about the search process. Please feel free to email me sretlaw@comcast.net with any questions you may have. We will do our best to provide timely answers to you both personally and in this newsletter update.

All of us thank you for your patience, faith, prayers, encouragement, and continued support of our parish and church family.

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

This recap was a little on the longer side so you can read the full recap here.

Once again, the care and talents of our wonderful staff and clergy demonstrated why Church of the Holy Spirit is so special -- especially in this period of transition. We are grateful to Rev. Dean Bickel for presiding and Deacon Johnine for preaching at both services. Behind the scenes, this all came together when Sue Ellen Echard and the Sacristy Team quickly adapted to the news that our guest priest would not be able to join us as originally scheduled. Many thanks for all of the hard work and flexibility that made for another inspiring Sunday.

Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting will be on Sunday 2/25 following the 10:15 AM service, where we will provide an overview of the transition. Also at this meeting, our outgoing vestry members will be recognized and we will be voting for incoming vestry candidates as well as diocesan delegates. To learn more about our vestry and diocesan candidates, click here. We expect the meeting to run for approximately 40 minutes. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life.

As always, thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

We had our final alleluias until Easter on Transfiguration Sunday with a great message, wonderful music, and spiritual celebration. Many thanks to Rev. Dean Bickel who preached and presided and all who contributed to our meaningful services.

Shrove Tuesday: In keeping with our practice of prioritizing safety and erring on the side of caution, we unfortunately had to cancel our pancake supper. Even though things were relatively clear Tuesday afternoon, many people had a lot of heavy, wet snow to clean up. We hope for better weather next year on Shrove Tuesday. There will also be some other opportunities down the road for supporting the youth and their pilgrimage.

Lenten Reflections: We are grateful to Susan Daywitt and Deacon Johnine for coordinating and Dawn Hunsdorfer, our Communications Coordinator, for assembling and posting the wonderful set of Lenten Reflections. Many thanks to all of you who contributed to this effort. We hope most of you will take some time in this season of Lent to read, reflect, and pray over these personal words of reflection. Links can be found in this newsletter and, on our website, and in an email that went out on Ash Wednesday.

Search Team: Our search team has been busy meeting every Wednesday evening since they were commissioned. Two weeks ago, they had a three-hour workshop at church facilitated by our transition consultant, Rev. Barbara Abbott. Please keep the search team and all involved with our transition in your hearts and prayers.

Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting will be on Sunday 2/25 following the 10:15 AM service, where we will provide an overview of the transition. Also at this meeting, our outgoing vestry members will be recognized and we will be voting for incoming vestry candidates as well as diocesan delegates. To learn more about our vestry and diocesan candidates, click here. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life.

As always, thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Well, I couldn’t name that hymn in two, three, or four notes! A fun, unexpected beginning to a wonderful sermon. Many thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman who preached and presided last Sunday.

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday: Our youth will once again be preparing a pancake supper this year on Shrove Tuesday, 2/13, beginning at 5 PM. Please join us then, and again on 2/14 for one of our Ash Wednesday services (12 PM or 7:30 PM) as we begin our Lenten journey together.

Lenten Retreat update: The response to the Lenten Retreat scheduled for Saturday 2/24 was so strong we scheduled a second date for Saturday 3/9. There is now a waiting list for both dates. The Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato will lead participants with the theme "Trust in God". The retreat will include brief discussions, scripture readings and times of silence for meditation and writing. Both sessions will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM and will include a light lunch.

Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting will be on Sunday 2/25 following the 10:15 AM service. We will provide an overview of the transition. Our outgoing vestry members will be recognized and we will be voting for incoming vestry candidates as well as diocesan delegates. To learn more about our vestry and diocesan candidates, click here. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life.

As always, thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

We shared another inspirational and spiritual Sunday this past weekend at Church of the Holy Spirit. Many thanks to Rev. Marge Dean for presiding and Deacon Johnine Byrer for preaching. The Adult Handbell and Youth Choirs, led by Sue Ellen Echard, provided beautiful and special music.

Lenten Retreat update: We are delighted to let you know the response to the Lenten Retreat on Saturday 2/24 has been so strong that we scheduled a second date on Saturday 3/9! On both days, Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato will lead participants through the theme "Trust in God", featuring brief discussions, scripture readings and times of silence for meditation and writing. The retreat will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM each day and will include a light lunch. We will provide more updates as we firm up details. If you've registered, please watch for emails that request responses.

Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting will be on Sunday 2/25 following the 10:15 AM service. We will provide an overview of the transition. Any outgoing vestry members will be recognized and we will be voting for incoming vestry candidates as well as diocesan delegates. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life. A listing of vestry and diocesan delegate candidates will be provided two weeks prior to the annual meeting.

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday: Our youth will once again be preparing a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday this year. Please stay tuned for more information on that event, Tuesday 2/13. And please join us on Wednesday 2/14 for one of our Ash Wednesday services (12 PM or 7:30 PM) as we begin our Lenten journey together.

As always, thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman for preaching and presiding at our 8 AM service this past Sunday, and thanks to Rev. Barbara Abbott, our transition consultant, for preaching and presiding at the 10:15 AM service. January 21, 2024, was a milestone day for Church of the Holy Spirit. Two important steps in our rector transition were realized.

First, the beautifully written and crafted Parish Profile document was published on our website and copies were made available to families in our parish. We honored and thanked the members of our profile team for the work they did. We are so grateful for graphic designer and artist Caitlin Andonian, who did a masterful job of assembling the content and photographs into the professional piece that will inform and attract interest for candidates for rector.

Second, Rev. Abbott commissioned our search team: Rick Alderfer, Wendy Toth, Phil Lachenmayer, Yvonne Caputo, Priya Eddy, Adrienne Duesberry, and Rob Young. Now that our Parish Profile is published, the position of rector for our church has been officially posted by the Diocese of Pennsylvania and the Episcopal Church. Now, the important discernment work of the search team has begun.

Lenten Retreat: We are delighted to let you know the response to the Lenten Retreat has been wonderful! On Saturday 2/24, Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato will lead participants with the theme "Trust in God". The retreat will include brief discussions, scripture readings and times of silence for meditation and writing. The retreat will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM and will include a light lunch. There is more information and a registration link in this newsletter. Please join us if you can!

Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting will be on Sunday 2/25 following the 10:15 AM service. We will provide an overview of the transition. Any outgoing vestry members will be recognized and we will vote for incoming vestry candidates as well as diocesan delegates. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life. A listing of vestry and delegate candidates will be made two weeks prior to the annual meeting.

Thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato for presiding and preaching this past Sunday. Thanks to the choir and director Sue Ellen Echard for the beautiful music. Once again after the service, Hobie and Friends provided great music to accompany the social hour prepared by our hospitality team.

Rector Transition update: I heard from Rev. Canon Jane Gober of the Diocesan Office of Transition Ministry that our parish profile was received and approved! (She also said it was “terrific!”) Many thanks to all on the Profile Team: Janet Paul, Deacon Johnine Byrer, Emily Knorr, Joanne Pascoe, Al LaTourette, Todd Greiser, Hobie Simms, and Jen Wager, for an outstanding job! Our profile will be uploaded to our website and the position of rector for our church will be officially posted by the Diocese of Pennsylvania and the national Episcopal Church.

This Sunday, 1/21: Rev. Barbara Abbott will be preaching and presiding. During the service we will be recognizing members of the profile committee and their incredible work. In addition, we will commission members of the search team whose work is underway. We will provide copies of the parish profile to each family. During coffee hour, Rev. Abbott, myself, and Janet Paul, chair of the profile team, will be available to answer any questions you may have about the creation of the profile, which will be available to any candidate for rector through the diocese.

Lenten Retreat: On Saturday, 2/24 we will hold a Lenten Retreat led by Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato entitled "Trust in God". The retreat will include brief conferences, Scripture readings and times of silence for meditation and writing. The retreat will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM and will include a light lunch. There is more information and a registration link in this newsletter. Please join us if you can!

Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting will be on Sunday, 2/25, following the 10:15 AM service. We will provide an overview of the transition. Any outgoing vestry members will be recognized and will be voting for incoming vestry as well as diocesan delegates. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life.

Thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Marge Dean for presiding and visiting deacon Rev. Ken McCaslin for preaching this past Sunday. Thanks to the choir and Seth Trumbore for the wonderful music, and to those of you who came out in the rough morning weather. We had a wonderful turnout and attendance. I believe we dodged a bullet this time, but we may have more winter this year than we have been used to lately.

Should we have threatening weather, your leadership takes multiple variables into consideration when deciding if we must cancel services. Our number one consideration is the safety of our congregation, clergy, and the lay volunteers who make each service possible. COHS sits on the south side of a ridge that often divides cold and warm, snow and rain - which can be challenging. If we need to cancel services, we will send an email and post on the website and social media late Saturday afternoon.

Our Annual Meeting will be on Sunday 2/25, following the 10:15 AM service. We will provide an overview of the transition, recognize outgoing vestry members, and vote for new vestry members as well as diocesan delegates. Please plan on staying for this important meeting in our parish life.

Another important day will be Sunday 1/21, when Rev. Barbara Abbott will be preaching and presiding. During the service we will be recognizing members of the profile committee and their incredible work. In addition, we will commission members of the search team whose work has begun. We will provide copies of the COHS 2024 Parish Profile to each family and post it on our website. During coffee hour, Rev. Abbott, myself, and the profile team will be available to answer any questions you may have about the creation of the profile, which will be available to any candidate for rector through the diocese.

A reminder: on Saturday, 2/24 we will hold a Lenten Retreat led by Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato entitled "Trust in God". The retreat will include brief conferences, Scripture readings and times of silence for meditation and writing. The retreat will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM and will include a light lunch. There will be more information and a registration link in a separate email. Please join us if you can!

Thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Dean Bickel for presiding and Deacon Johnine Byrer for preaching on New Year’s Eve. Some of our young adults and children’s choir members, and Kent, Jesse, and Jack Lloyd provided wonderful music for us.

This coming weekend, our youth and young adults will be heading to Spruce Lake for their annual retreat. Thanks to Karen Work, Wes Paul, and all the chaperones and volunteers who made this possible this year! Also, we are grateful for all the food donations made by members of the congregation.

It has been a while since we have had any measurable snow, but this upcoming weekend may break that drought. Should there be a need to change plans, we will post information on the website and send an email announcement to the congregation.

Our stewardship team led by Al Stevens and Rick Alderfer would like to complete last year’s stewardship campaign and finalize our pledge numbers for 2024. If you have not already done so, please complete your giving for fiscal year 2023 and if you are able, please send in a pledge for this coming year. As always, we are grateful for your financial support.

Lenten Retreat: Mark your calendars for Saturday 2/24 for a retreat at COHS led by Rev. Dr. Christian Brocato entitled "Trust in God". The retreat will include brief conferences, Scripture readings and times of silence for meditation and writing. The retreat will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM and will include a light lunch. Parishes in our Deanery will be invited to attend. We are thankful Christian offered this opportunity for prayer and reflection during Lent. Stay tuned for more information and registration details, and please join us if you can!

Thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support. 

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to all our clergy, staff, lay leaders, lay ministers, choirs, and volunteers that made a very special Christmas weekend of worship and fellowship. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas.

Please note, we are having one service on December 31, 2023, at 10:15 AM. Many thanks to Rev. Dean Bickel for presiding and Deacon Johnine Byrer for preaching this coming Sunday.

On behalf of your vestry and all your lay leadership and clergy, may you and your families have a happy and healthy New Year! As a church we will continue our journey of faith on our transition toward calling a new rector. Thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

My heart is full this week. What special gifts have abounded at Church of the Holy Spirit.

Many thanks to the Rev. Christian Brocato whom we welcomed last Sunday to Church of the Holy Spirit to preach and preside at both services for the Third Sunday of Advent. Thanks to Seth Trumbore and our choirs for providing beautiful Advent anthems.

I am so pleased to share that the Profile Team led by Janet Paul and guided by Rev. Barbara Abbott, have completed the Parish Profile! Last evening your Vestry unanimously approved it with praise and compliments. It is simply outstanding, is a living document, and is an accurate compilation. Thank you, Janet Paul, Deacon Johnine, Emily Knorr, Jen Wager, Joanne Pascoe, Al LaTourette, Todd Grieser, and Hobie Simms for creating the excellent content. Karen Work helped with collating photographs. Caitlin Andonian did a professional job creating beautiful graphics and design. It now goes off to the Diocese of Pennsylvania for approval and official posting. This is a huge step in our Rector Transition process. The Parish Profile will be posted on our website under the Transitions section.

I have been reading our COHS Advent Reflections: Learning Through the Season of Advent 2023. Thank you, Susan Daywitt, Deacon Johnine Byrer, and Dawn Hunsdorfer, for coordinating and assembling it and to all our wonderful parish authors who contributed their reflections. If you have not already done so, please go to our website and read through these lovely essays reflecting the history, traditions, and spirituality of the Advent season. There are some printed copies available in the narthex of our church.

Reminder: Thursday, December 21, at 7:00 PM, our choirs will lead a service of Lessons and Carols. This service, in the tradition of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, uses an established format with hymns and readings that has been used since 1918. This beautiful, adapted service is now shared throughout the world in churches and cathedrals and is such a spiritual and meaningful way to celebrate these seasons of hope, joy, and love. Please join us.

For our Advent 4 and Christmas Eve services, December 24, we are again grateful to Deacon Johnine and our retired clergy who will lead us in worship. At 8:00 AM, Deacon Johnine Byrer will lead Morning Prayer and preach for our Advent 4 service. At 10:15, Rev. Bob Mitman will preach and preside. At 4:00 PM for our family service, Rev. Dean Bickel will preach and preside. Finally, at 8:00 PM for our candlelight service, Rev. Marge Dean will preach and preside.

On behalf of your vestry and all your lay leadership and clergy, may you and your families have a blessed Christmas season. We hope to see many of you this weekend at one of our special services. Thank you for keeping Church of the Holy Spirit in your prayers, presence, and actions of support this past year.

Blessing and gratitude,
Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Well, what a surprise for the 8:00 AM parishioners when Rev. Dean Bickel sat down at the piano and played the opening and closing hymns! Once again, our retired clergy shared their talents – some hidden – and made our services special. Thank you, Rev. Bickel for presiding, playing, and preaching at both services. And another special treat at 10:15, our children’s choir with ten wonderful enthusiastic voices sang, led by Adrienne Duesbury and Seth Trumbore.

This Sunday, Advent 3, we will welcome Rev. Christian Brocato to Church of the Holy Spirit to preach and preside at both services. Most recently, Rev. Christian served as Rector of historic St. Mark's Episcopal Church in downtown Grand Rapids, MI, the largest parish in the Diocese of Western Michigan. He moved to Lansdale over the summer to be nearer to family and friends and to continue to serve God and God's people. Ordained thirty-three years ago, he has served in a variety of parishes as well as academic institutions as a professor in the Boston area. He is delighted to be with us as we celebrate Advent together.

Also, this Sunday at 7:00 PM, our choirs will lead a service of Lessons and Carols. This service, in the tradition of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, uses an established format with hymns and readings that has been used since 1918. This beautiful, adapted service is now shared throughout the world in churches and cathedrals and is such a spiritual and meaningful way to celebrate these seasons of hope, joy, and love. Please join us.

For our Advent 4 and Christmas Eve services, December 24, we are again grateful to Deacon Johnine and our retired clergy who will lead us in worship. At 8:00 AM, Deacon Johnine Byrer will lead Morning Prayer for our Advent 4 service. At 10:15, Rev. Bob Mitman will preach and preside. At 4:00 PM for our family service, Rev. Dean Bickel will preach and preside, Finally, at 8:00 PM for our candlelight service, Rev. Marge Dean will preach and preside.

Reminder, we are entering into a very busy time of year. Please refer to our website, emails, and the calendar of events to keep up to date.

Finally, we are grateful to all who continue to respond to our 2024 Stewardship Campaign and have sent in their pledge cards. If you have not yet done so, and are able to pledge, please send in your pledge card or drop it in the offering plates on Sunday. As always, we are thankful for your support which funds all our ministries at Church of the Holy Spirit.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to all who made our first Sunday in Advent so meaningful and so special. Our service of blessings and thanksgiving for 30 years as a parish presided by Rev. Anne Ritchings was just lovely. Thanks to Lynn Bingaman and others for the photo albums and memorabilia displayed throughout the building. Our Hospitality Ministry Team did a spectacular job with the Holiday Tea where we had over 100 people enjoying the food and fellowship.

To reiterate my transition announcement from this past Sunday, my main message was and is “all is well.” Several of you have asked about our search for an interim priest. At this point we are planning ahead with liturgies and supply clergy and are not expecting a full time interim priest. We are blessed with such a dedicated staff doing an excellent job each week with planning. We are equally blessed with our parish retired clergy and other clergy friends who have been so willing to serve and help us in any way they can. Our Profile Team has been working hard together with Rev. Barbara Abbott and has made great progress with the profile document. The draft is complete, photos have been selected, and now the graphics and layout are being assembled. This is a very important and exciting step in the transition process. Our Search Team is meeting and starting their work as well. As far as our projected transition timeline is concerned, we are on target. Many thanks to all who, in doing this work, are making a difference for our congregation.

A reminder: we will have three Christmas Eve services on Sunday 12/24: 10:15 AM, 4 PM (family), and an 8 PM Candlelight service. Since 12/24 will also be the fourth Sunday in Advent, we will have our canonically mandated Advent 4 service as spoken Morning Prayer presided by Deacon Johnine Byrer at 8 AM.

We are grateful to all who continue to respond to our 2024 Stewardship Campaign. The Stewardship committee is tracking numbers for the vestry who will be discussing the 2024 budget in the December meeting. If you have not yet done so, and are able to pledge, please send in your pledge card so your leadership has a good idea of our finances for planning next year. As always, we are thankful for your support which funds all of our ministries at Church of the Holy Spirit.

With Blessings and Gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters,
Rector's Warden

Dear Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Many thanks to Rev. Marge Dean for presiding and Deacon Johnine Byrer for preaching this past Sunday.

We are entering into a very busy time of year. Please refer to our website, emails, and the calendar of events to keep up-to-date.

This Sunday, 12/3, is Church of the Holy Spirit’s 30th Anniversary. Our founding vicar, Rev. Anne Ritchings, will preside and preach at a single service of blessings and thanksgivings at 10:15 AM (no 8 AM service; Sunday School will be held at 9 AM). There will be a table set up with photo albums and other reminders of our past as well as a photo montage playing throughout the building as we celebrate together.

Be sure to join us for this special service and at our Holiday Tea immediately following the service in our fellowship hall. Many thanks to Cindy O’Connell and the hospitality team who have planned and coordinated food, table decorations, and other surprises for this event. Hobie and friends will be playing for us during the tea.

On the transition front, our Profile Team has been working hard together with Rev. Barbara Abbott and has made great progress with the church profile document. The draft is complete, photos have been selected, and now the graphics and layout are being assembled. This is a very important and exciting step in the transition process. Many thanks to all who, in doing this work, are making a difference for our congregation.

Finally, we are grateful to all who have responded to our 2024 Stewardship Campaign and sent in their pledge cards. The stewardship committee is tracking numbers for the vestry who will discuss the 2024 budget in the December meeting. If you have not yet done so, and are able to pledge, please send in your pledge card so your leadership has a good idea of our finances for planning next year. As always, we are thankful for your support which funds all of our ministries at Church of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector's Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman for presiding and preaching, Janet Paul for an inspiring stewardship message, and Sue Ellen Echard for directing - and playing in - our wonderful adult handbell choir this past Sunday!

In two weeks, on 12/3, Church of the Holy Spirit is celebrating our 30th anniversary. Our founding vicar, Rev. Anne Ritchings, will preside and preach at a single service of blessings and thanksgivings at 10:15 AM (no 8 AM service; Sunday School will be held at 9 AM). There will be a table set up with photo albums and other reminders of our past as well as a photo montage playing on monitors throughout the building as we celebrate together. Be sure to join us for this special service and at our Holiday Tea immediately following the service in our fellowship hall.

On behalf of your vestry and all lay leaders and staff at COHS, blessings to you and yours on this Thanksgiving holiday. We all have so much to be thankful for. Please keep those in need in your prayers and reach out and help if you can. There is great need for donations at all of the food pantries in our area including Keystone Opportunity Center (Souderton) and Daily Bread Community Community Food Pantry (Collegeville), where our volunteers deliver your donations each week.

Finally, thanks to you, our church family, who have shown up, been involved, and given so much during our transition period. We are making progress and are on track with our projected transition timeline! Thank you for your faithful support of your staff, vestry, teachers, and all who serve.

Blessings and gratitude,
Kirk P. Walters
Rector's Warden

Dear Friends,

Well, I don’t know if I am wise or foolish, but I know I am grateful for Rev. Dean Bickel’s wonderful homily and segue to Al Stevens’ witty and spot on stewardship message. And on Sunday, the youth choir and their music were inspiring. Thanks to all who made Stewardship Sunday so special at Church of the Holy Spirit.

Three weeks from now, Sunday, 12/3, is Church of the Holy Spirit’s 30th anniversary. We are planning to have one service of blessings and thanksgivings for that day at 10:15 AM, which is also Advent I. Rev. Anne Ritchings, our founding vicar, will be here to preside and preach. There will be a table set up with photo albums and other reminders of our past as well as a photo montage playing on monitors throughout the building. Directly following the service we will be holding our Holiday Tea in the fellowship hall - please plan on attending both! Note: although there is no 8 AM service that day, Sunday School will be at the normal time (9 AM).

Our staff has been busy planning services throughout Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons. We will soon have Advent reflections to help you ponder the meaning of this season of hope and anticipation. Many thanks to Susan Daywitt (coordinator) and our many volunteer writers who are assembling this resource for us. As always, we are grateful to our retired clergy who have graciously volunteered to preside and preach during this special time of the church year.

Finally, thanks to you, our church family, who have shown up, been involved, and given so much during our transition period. Thank you for your faith and the support of your staff, vestry, teachers, and all who serve.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector's Warden

We had another very busy Holy Spirit Sunday this past weekend. Many thanks to Rev. Glenn Matis for visiting us, presiding, and preaching. Also, thank you to vestry member Kent Lloyd, who provided a very poignant stewardship reflection. Our All Saints' Sunday service was both meaningful and beautiful accompanied by moving anthems sung by our adult choir. Speaking of which, the choir sang an equally moving Evensong service in the afternoon followed by a wonderful potluck supper; both were very well attended.

This coming Sunday 11/12 is the last day to get your picture taken by volunteer photographer Katie Waldenberger. Many thanks to Kathy Clipp, Janet Paul, and all of the volunteers making this new in-house produced directory happen.

Reminder: Sunday 12/3 is Church of the Holy Spirit's 30th Anniversary. Rev. Anne Ritchings, our founding Vicar, will preside and preach at one service of blessings and thanksgiving at 10:15 AM. That Sunday is also Advent I, and our single service will allow us to celebrate together and have some community fellowship afterwards at a Holiday Tea in the parish hall; more details will be forthcoming.

Finally, this Sunday is Stewardship Sunday. As we have done in the past, parishioners will be invited to take their completed pledge cards to the altar. Many of you have already submitted their pledges for next year; you are welcome to go up as well as an acknowledgment and reverence. Thank you all for your continued financial support. We are very blessed at COHS to have such an engaged congregation that consistently shares their time, talents, and treasure which allows our ministries to grow and thrive.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector's Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to the Rev. Marge Dean who presided and Deacon Johnine who preached on Sunday. And also gratitude to our Adult Handbell Ringers who played beautifully!

Also on Sunday, Ben Gorton shared a personal stewardship reflection at both services as part of our stewardship season. The stewardship theme this year is Growing and Expanding in Love. Please plan on joining us on 11/12 for Stewardship Sunday.

This is the last Sunday to get your photograph taken by volunteer photographer Katie Waldenberger. We are working on an in-house produced photo directory (the last one was 2017). Many thanks to Kathy Clipp, Janet Paul, and all of the volunteers making this new directory happen.

Reminder: Sunday 12/3 is Church of the Holy Spirit's 30th Anniversary. Rev. Anne Richings, our founding Vicar, will preside and preach at one service. That Sunday is also Advent I, and our single service will allow us to celebrate together and have some community fellowship afterwards.

On Sunday 11/5 we will celebrate All Saints' Day. Please join us as we welcome a friend of the parish, Rev. Glenn Matis. Rev. Matis has been helpful and supportive of COHS in so many ways since our founding as a mission church. Later on that day, at 5:00 PM, we will be celebrating an Evensong service sung by our Adult Choir immediately followed by a parish potluck supper.

In this season of stewardship, your leadership is extremely grateful for your continued financial support. Many of you have already submitted your pledges for next year – thank you! We are very blessed at COHS to have such an engaged congregation that consistently shares their time, talent, and treasure which allows our ministries to grow and thrive.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector's Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to the Rev. Dean Bickel who presided and preached on Sunday. And thanks to Seth Trumbore who played with and directed the older youth choir who did an outstanding job! Thanks also to Hobie and Friends for playing music during our coffee hour. Finally, Sue Ellen Echard and members of our adult choir traveled to St. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre to sing Evensong with Mark Laubach and his choir.

Also on Sunday, Rick Alderfer, Stewardship co-chair, launched our stewardship season outlining this year's program, the theme of which is 'Growing and Expanding in Love'. On 11/12 – Stewardship Sunday – Rev. Dean Bickel will preside and coordinate the sermon with Al Stevens, Stewardship co-chair.

Currently, Janet Paul and Kathy Clipp and volunteer photographer Katie Waldenberger are working on an in-house produced photo directory (the last one was 2017). They are providing photo shoots on 10/29 and 11/5 in the rector's office.

Mark your calendars! Sunday 12/3 is Church of the Holy Spirit's 30th Anniversary. Rev. Anne Richings will preside and preach at one service. That Sunday is also Advent I, and our single service will allow us to celebrate together and have some community fellowship afterwards.

We continue to work with the Transition Ministry of the Diocese of Pennsylvania to find an interim rector and supply clergy for the winter months to help us with Sunday services, pastoral duties, and day-to-day administration needs. We are so very grateful to our retired clergy members who have continued to help us with presiding and preaching.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector's Warden

Dear Friends,

This past Sunday we welcomed Rev. Canon Jane Gober to our church. She is the Canon for Transitional Ministries for the diocese and is helping us find candidates to be our interim rector and eventual full-time rector. It was a delight to have her with us and get to know each other. We are grateful for the work this diocesan ministry does for our parish.

As a reminder coordinators Janet Paul and Kathy Clipp and volunteer photographer Katie Waldenberger are working on an in-house produced photo directory (the last one was in 2017). They are planning on taking pictures in the rector's office on 10/22, 10/29 and 11/5.

Please mark your calendars for a very special Sunday: 12/3 is Church of the Holy Spirit’s 30th anniversary! We are planning to have one service for that day at 10:15 AM, which is also Advent I. Sue Ellen Echard is coordinating the service with Rev. Anne Richings, our founding vicar, who will preside and preach. With one service, we will have everyone together to celebrate afterwards for some fellowship. Stay tuned for more details.

As always, thank you for your continued support of your church in sharing your time, treasure, and talents.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk P. Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman and Sue Ellen Echard for the wonderful service Sunday and remembrances of the Exeter Pilgrimage this past August. For many of us, watching the video brought some tears of fond memories and experiences that we shared together.

The vestry and I want to express our gratitude to all of you. In the past four months you have worshipped, prayed, responded, and given time, talent, and treasure. You have continued your connection and commitment to your church family at Church of the Holy Spirit.

I cannot say enough about our incredible staff: Karen, Sue Ellen, Seth, Dawn, Patrick, and Steve. Thanks to Deacon Johnine and our retired clergy who have led us in worship and helped with pastoral care. Thanks to our vestry members and the transition leadership teams who, with help from Rev. Barbara Abbott, have taken on holy work.

Thank you to our Christian formation teachers and administrators, the Stewardship team, EfM, and members of our Music ministries. A shout out to our Sacristy, Hospitality, and Buildings and Grounds ministries for adjusting to new spaces and keeping everything running behind the scenes. We are grateful for those serving in all of our other active ministries. It may still be Ordinary Time on the liturgical calendar, but there is nothing ordinary here, just extraordinary.

Our congregation’s continual faith, patience, support, and trust in God has been and is essential as we move forward together.

Blessings and gratitude,
Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Marge Dean for presiding, preaching, and blessing the animals at Church of the Holy Spirit this past Sunday on St. Francis Day.

The month of September was a very busy month at our church. And your vestry was also very active working on transition items.

Both transition teams were named and formed. Both the Profile team and the Search team have begun their respective important work.

We had our first visioning Sunday on September 17 facilitated by Rev. Barbara Abbott. Great dialogue and visioning ideas were shared.

Finally, during September, vestry vetted three potential good candidates for our interim rector. We interviewed two and made the call for one. Late this week I contacted our candidate, who lived in another state, and was told another call from a local congregation had been accepted. Although disappointing, we need to remember we are not in a vacuum and many other congregations are looking for interims at this time. We will forge ahead and trust in God we will find a interim soon.

Many thanks for your continued support and prayers for your vestry, and all of our leadership teams.

Blessings and gratitude,
Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

It was an exciting day on Sunday for Church of the Holy Spirit. Many thanks to Rev. Barbara Abbott who presided and facilitated our first Visioning Sunday in the transition. Also, thanks to all those who helped make it happen. Plus Sue Ellen and the choir were back! (I missed singing Ubi Caritas with you).

A brief update from the Vestry: search and profile team members helped lead their tables during the parish workshop. Each team is now scheduling meetings separately to start their respective tasks. Your vestry is continuing to work on selecting an interim priest to help guide us through our rector transition period. Please continue to pray for our discernment and that of our candidates.

Thanks for continued wonderful attendance and financial support of your church. Your prayers and love are bearing fruit every day in the life of this congregation.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Anne Ritchings and Deacon Johnine Byrer for presiding and preaching and to Emily Knorr and Seth Trumbore for providing worship music on Sunday.

Our transition is continuing to move forward. If you haven’t done so already, please visit the Transition pages on our website and familiarize yourself with the important information that is posted there.

Here is you update for this week:

— First, heartfelt gratitude to all our many talented and committed parishioners who expressed interest in being on the profile and search teams. Everyone was qualified on so many levels, and it was very difficult to choose and assemble the two groups. We are very fortunate to have so many who care so deeply about this congregation and its future.

— Vestry has approved the following members of our congregation to be on the rector transition teams:

Profile: Emily Knorr, Jen Wager, Janet Paul, Joanne Pascoe, Al LaTourette, Todd Greiser, Hobie Simms, and Deacon Johnine Byrer.

Search: Rick Alderfer, Adrienne Duesberry, Wendy Toth, Yvonne Caputo, Priya Eddy, Rob Young, and Phil Lachenmayer.

Please keep these people in your constant thoughts and prayers as they embark on this very holy work for our church. And let’s thank them.

— Rev. Abbott and the teams will be meeting together for the first time this Wednesday to discuss the rector transition and the next steps for the teams.

— The Profile and the Search Teams will work with Rev. Barbara Abbott facilitating on our parish visioning day. Remember there is only one service on September 17th at 9:30 AM with the visioning workshop immediately following it.

— Finally, Vestry has received applications and is vetting candidates to be our interim rector during our transition. Please keep your vestry and all potential candidates in your prayers as this discernment process moves forward.

Thank you for your continued support. Vestry has been so gratified and pleased by the weekly attendance at services and by our fellow parishioners stepping forward and volunteering to do God’s work in this place.

Blessings and gratitude,
Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Dean Bickel and Deacon Ken McCaslin for leading us in worship this past weekend.

Our transition is continuing to move forward. If you haven’t done so already, please visit the Transition content on our website and familiarize yourself with the important information that is posted there.

Here is your update for this week:

Please plan to join us on a very important Sunday, September 17, when the Rev. Barbara Abbott, our diocesan transition consultant, will be preaching and presiding over our 9:30 AM service. She will lead us through a one hour Visioning Workshop immediately following the service. We will gather promptly in the Parish Hall when the workshop starts at approximately 10:40 AM. This will be her chance and ours to get to know one another.

Over the next week vestry will be contacting those people who expressed interest in serving on rector transition committees. We will announce the formation of the profile and search committees in the first week of September.

Thank you for your continued support. Vestry has been so gratified and pleased by the weekly attendance at services and by our fellow parishioners stepping forward and volunteering to do God’s work in this place. Please keep all the parish leadership in your prayers as we continue on our parish’s rector transition.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Most of the Exeter pilgrims have made it back to home soil safe and sound with gratitude and full hearts. Thank you to all who provided a warm welcome back last Sunday and kept things running smoothly at Church of the Holy Spirit the past few weeks.

It is time for many of us to get back to our normal everyday routines and daily life. Your vestry met last night. The vestry committee for selecting the profile and search committees for the transition work also met. We are grateful for the many wonderful folks who have expressed interest in serving. We hope to announce the formation of both within the next two weeks. In other news:

We are working closely with Rev. Barbara Abbott planning for our Visioning Workshop on Sunday, September 17, 2023, after the worship service. Please note we have extended our summer schedule through that Sunday and will have only one service at 9:30 AM

Our Visioning Workshop will take place, Sunday, September 17 immediately following the 9:30 AM service at approximately 10:40 AM in the new Parish Hall. We will all need to gather promptly. Rev. Barbara expects the visioning work to last one hour.

Finally, we are working with Rev. Jane Gober, Canon for Transition Ministry at our diocese, getting names of potential candidates to be our Interim Rector during the transition. Please pray for our discerning team and the potential candidates for our parish.

Thank you for your continued support. Vestry has been so gratified and pleased by the weekly attendance at services and by our fellow parishioners stepping forward and volunteering to do God’s work in this place. Please keep all the parish leadership in your prayers as we continue on our parish’s rector transition.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Reflections on Exeter:

As we return home (eighteen of us; the rest are dispersing across the UK and Europe), it is time for some reflection.

Last week I mentioned a sermon describing transfiguration as a process of going “through and beyond”. Well, let’s add being transfixed and transported. Most of us have experienced a vital part of English cathedral life this week. Our week was centered around sung Evensong six times and sung Holy Eucharist once in a space where people have been doing this for nearly a thousand years. The remains and effigies of those who built, changed, and sustained Exeter Cathedral were all around us where we worshiped and under our feet where we processed. The sounds of Anglican Chant have echoed there for centuries; the organ has reverberated in that space for hundreds of years. The connection is/was palpable for all of us.

When you are intentioned and immersed in a pilgrimage like this, you can be open for special synchronistic occurrences that remind us we are one with each other and one with God. One of the things we did was circulate a little blank journal book to write and share our “God moments”. One of the first ones for me happened on the first Sunday at Holy Eucharist. Once a month, a volunteer signs the service for the Exeter deaf community. Seeing her sign “gloria in excelsis deo” while the visiting choir sang a Shubert Mass was incredible and so moving. Our little book has been passed around for all of us to contribute the significant spiritual moments which were experienced and there were many all week.

Many thanks to Sue Ellen Echard and Karen Work for organizing and leading our journey. Sue Ellen’s conducting with enthusiasm and reverence along with our outstanding accompanists, Mark Laubach and Kevin O’Malia, and our staff singers made for a spiritual and musical experience like no other. And our wonderful family and friends who supported and shared all the services and excursions.

We all made new friends and built on existing relationships. It was a joy to collaborate with our brothers and sisters from All Saints, Princeton. We were ministers and messengers from the Episcopal Church in the United States. Exeter became our community, part of our mission, and our purpose. Thanks be to God.

Blessings and gratitude,
Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

There will not be a transition vestry update this week, but more of a transformational update from Exeter, Devon, UK. Most of us will be transformed by this wonderful experience together.

Your choir and “roadies” are journeying together on our pilgrimage to Exeter Cathedral. I am sharing today photos of our combined choir with All Saints', Princeton. These are from our first Evensong service on Monday. I thought you might like to see us behind the scenes as well as a group.

We first met with the verger, James, who instructed us as to protocols and traditions. In general, we tour in the morning, rehearse mid afternoon, and then sing the Evensong service. On Sunday, we will sing Holy Eucharist and Evensong. (Scroll below to find a link to watch us live at the cathedral on Sunday.)

I cannot adequately express the mix of emotions that can emerge from being here. I admit to being somewhat of an emotional guy and cannot deny multiple times where tears of awe and wonder were blurring my vision. The scale and beauty of the cathedral, the sound and resonance of the space, and the knowledge that choirs have been doing what we’re doing for a thousand years. When we are vested and processing to our places, we are transported and changed. On Sunday in her sermon here, Canon Cate speaking of the transfiguration, talked about going “through and beyond”. This describes our journey well.

We are so grateful for your prayers and support. I send you greetings from your friends here and we hope all is well at home. I will send another Exeter update for next week as well.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

What a busy day at Church of the Holy Spirit – and on the road – on Sunday! Many thanks to Rev. Dean Bickel who graced our pulpit and altar, and to Pat Fogal, who sang a lovely anthem. Later that day our Exeter Choir joined together at All Saints Princeton for rehearsals and a service of Evensong. We are gelling together as a group and vocally getting more precise and tighter musically. A week from Friday we will be on our way to England!

This week’s updates:

—Reminder and slight schedule change: We will be having one service on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 9:30 AM. We made the decision to maintain our summer schedule one more week through September 17. Rev. Barbara Abbott, our diocesan transition consultant, will be presiding and preaching. Afterwards, she will facilitate a parish visioning workshop. This will be your chance to participate and share your visions for the future of Church of the Holy Spirit. Please mark your calendars now and join us for this important day in the rector transition process.

— Please check out our Transition page on our website. There you will find lots of information including a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page, a transition timeline, and all the vestry updates that have appeared in this newsletter, plus more items. Many thanks to Eric Hunt and Dawn Hunsdorfer, our Communications Coordinator, for putting this together and updating it.

Thank you all for continuing to support COHS ministries through your weekly offerings. Your support is extremely vital to the financial health of our church. And in the summertime when folks are away, it is essential for our financial team to keep up with our obligations. If you have any questions about pledging and giving to your church, please contact Al Stevens or Rick Alderfer, our awesome stewardship co-chairs. You are always welcome to ask me or any member of vestry any other questions you may have including the transition process.

Blessings and gratitude,Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Thank you to the combined choirs of COHS and All Saints Princeton, directed by Sue Ellen Echard and accompanied by Seth Trumbore, who offered a sung holy eucharist service at Church of the Holy Spirit Sunday. Thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman who presided and preached with props of corn seeds and a full corn stalk! Finally, our hospitality team outdid themselves (again) by providing a lovely brunch for our Exeter choir and roadies. Another Holy Spirit day!

This week’s updates:

— Reminder: We will be having one service on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 10:15 AM. Rev. Barbara Abbott, our diocesan transition consultant, will be presiding and preaching. Afterwards, she will facilitate a parish visioning workshop. This will be your chance to participate and share your visions for the future of Church of the Holy Spirit. Please mark your calendars now and join us for this important day in the rector transition process.

— We are continuing to offer information on the next two committees that will be formed to do the important work of transition here at Church of the Holy Spirit. Parish Profile and Search committees are chosen to represent major constituencies within a parish community. If you feel you have a skillset and the commitment to do this holy and important work, please click on the link below to indicate your interest and fill out the questionnaire. Please note that vestry will be forming these committees considering complementary and compatible skills, and demographic mix of time in the parish, ministry engagement, and age and gender mix.

— Vestry will begin the process of forming the two committees starting with profile and then search after the Exeter Cathedral residency pilgrims return in mid-August.

Thank you all for continuing to support COHS ministries through your weekly offerings. Your support is extremely vital to the financial health of our church. And in the summertime when folks are away, it is essential for our financial team to keep up with our obligations. If you have any questions about pledging and giving to your church, please contact Al Stevens or Rick Alderfer, our awesome stewardship co-chairs. You are always welcome to ask me or any member of vestry any other questions you may have including the transition process.

Blessings and gratitude,
Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rev. Bob Mitman for presiding and Deacon Johnine Byrer for preaching this past Sunday. And more thanks to Dawn, Adrienne, Maggie, Juliana, and Jamie for wonderful singing accompanied by Sue Ellen Echard – what a special treat with an encore for the postlude!

This week’s updates:

Our vestry met with Rev. Barbara Abbott Tuesday, July 11, and discussed protocols for committee members and timelines for the work ahead. In addition, we set a date for Rev. Barbara to preside and preach at COHS as well as lead a parish visioning workshop. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 17, 2023, and plan to participate in this important work. The feedback from our visioning together that Sunday will be incorporated in the parish profile document.

We are continuing to offer information on the next two committees that will be formed to do the important work of transition here at Church of the Holy Spirit. Parish Profile and Search committees are chosen to represent major constituencies within a parish community. If you feel you have a skillset and the commitment to do this holy and important work, please click on the link below to indicate your interest and fill out the questionnaire. Please note that vestry will be forming these committees considering complementary and compatible skills, and demographic mix of time in the parish, ministry engagement, and age and gender mix.

Please join us at 9:30 AM this Sunday, July 16, when the combined choirs of COHS and All Saints Princeton will be offering a sung Holy Eucharist service similar to what we will be singing in Exeter in just a few weeks. It’s getting close to our cathedral residency and very exciting! Thank you all for your encouragement and support!

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Click here to read about our next steps regarding our parish profile and search committee.

Read about our next steps here.

Dear Friends,

What a wonderful celebration of Rev. Kathy’s ministry June 11. Blessings and best wishes to Rev. Kathy and Marc as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives. Many thanks to all who made Sunday possible, especially our hospitality team who hosted and fed the multitude of parishioners, friends, and guests.

In this week’s update we have information on the next two committees that will be formed to do the important work of transition here at Church of the Holy Spirit. Parish Profile and Search committees are chosen to represent major constituencies within a parish community. They usually work with a trained diocesan consultant, who assists them with some of the technical aspects of the search process.

Here are our next steps:

Search/Discernment Consultant - Vestry has approved hiring the Rev. Barbara Abbott, a Search/Discernment Consultant that will facilitate the search for a new rector with us. She will serve as a trainer/facilitator for the parish profile and search committees as well as guide vestry and other parish leaders in the transition process.

Parish Profile Committee - The Parish profile committee is the committee that will be given the initial task of defining who the parish is and what kind of leadership they need. This is done by prayerfully gathering and harvesting information from the keep stakeholders – parishioners. They work with the vestry in respect to using some of the vision type work the vestry would have been doing over the years to ensure that is incorporated. They look at where we have been (history), where we are now (liturgically, financially, spiritually etc.) and where God might be calling us next (future, vision, growth). This information forms and creates the Parish Profile that will be published. Click here to view three recent parish profile examples.

Search Committee - A group charged with identifying candidates for the position of rector. It is often the responsibility of the search committee to review applications, supporting documents, and references; to interview applicants; and to recommend one "finalist" to the vestry charged with final responsibility for the selection or appointment.

Click here if you are interested in either committee.

If you feel you have a skillset and the commitment to do this holy and important work, please click the button above to indicate your interest and fill out the questionnaire. Please note that vestry will be forming these committees considering complementary and compatible skills, and demographic mix of time in the parish, ministry engagement, and age and gender mix.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

What is this coming Sunday? It is Pentecost and the feast day of Church of the Holy Spirit! Don’t forget to wear red to church on Sunday and we hope to see you there.

Here are some updates for you:

— Last week, your Vestry met with Rev. Barbara Abbott. She is a former interim pastor with the Diocese of Pennsylvania and consultant for parish transitions. She reviewed all aspects of the process with us including sharing some scenarios that other churches in our diocese have experienced. We discussed many various pathways and timelines for our congregation.

— A reminder of two important Sundays coming up in June. We will be celebrating Rev. Kathy’s ministry as a congregation on Sunday, June 11, after the 10:15 AM service including a brief ceremony, food, and fellowship. We will also be having an informal parish picnic on Rev. Kathy’s last Sunday with us on June 18 after the 10:15 AM service.

— And don’t forget our open house at 3:00 PM for the new building followed by a Service of Evensong at 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 4.

Finally, the Diocese of Pennsylvania announced this week that Rev. Jane Gober will be the new Canon for Transitions Ministry. Jane currently serves as the rector of Christ Church in Ridley Park; served on The Board of Trustees of the diocese since 2020, and served as a deputy to General Convention. We are so pleased someone from the diocese with a deep local understanding and knowledge will be helping us with the transition.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

As we head into the end of the month of May, there will be many scheduled special events. Please keep up to date by reading the COHS Weekly email and any other special announcements. Here are some vestry updates for you this week:

— This Tuesday evening, May 16, during its monthly meeting, our vestry met with the Rev. Barbara Abbott in a preliminary meeting to understand how she might help us with the transition process. She is a former interim pastor serving the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Her current ministry is consulting and guiding episcopal parish leaders and congregations through transitions.

— Thanks to Rev. Kathy who has setup our summer Sunday schedule with supply clergy including many of our own retired clergy and clergy friends of our parish. We are so fortunate here at COHS.

— You are invited to our Open House on June 4th, at 3:00 PM. Please come and celebrate our new building and enjoy light refreshments, music, and the opportunity to see our wonderful new space completed after years of planning and after 18 months of construction! Following at 5 PM, we will gather to offer prayers, readings and music in thanksgiving and dedication of our new building, led by Rev. Kathy and our choir. This will be offered within the service of Evensong.

— Finally, in the next few weeks, we will be sending out an announcement with information and an application to be on our Profile committee. The profile committee will be charged by the vestry to write a document detailing our history, ministries, who we are as a parish, and our hopes and vision for the future.

— And to quote from Deacon Johnine’s wonderful transition prayer: “We are overwhelmingly grateful for Rev. Kathy’s compassionate and wise leadership over the last 19 years. We are thankful Rev. Kathy and Marc will soon be able to experience with joy their next life adventures.” On Sunday, June 11, our community will be celebrating Rev. Kathy’s ministry with Church of the Holy Spirit following the 10:15 AM service.

Many thanks to our hospitality team who is working hard on upcoming events and all of our volunteer ministry leaders working with Rev. Kathy preparing for the transition documenting policies and procedures.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters, Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

It has been 19 years since Church of the Holy Spirit had a rector transition. Many of us were not around for the process and for those that were, COHS was a different place and a different congregation. We will have a lot of work to do to prepare for this. But above all, according to Rector Transitions, the book your vestry is studying:

“In the Episcopal tradition, rector transitions emphasize spiritual calls. The congregation listens for God’s call regarding their future and seeks God’s guidance before calling a rector. Candidates listen to God’s call regarding whether they stay in their current roles or accept the possibility of a call from a transitioning church.”

Here are some updates for you:

— Vestry had a meeting Monday, May 1st to discuss our time on April 20 with Arlette Benoit Joseph, Canon for Transition Ministry for the Diocese of PA. In addition, we have contacted a transition consultant, a former interim priest in the diocese, to come and speak with vestry in the very near future.

— The second transition committee to be formed is a Profile Committee. This committee will be creating a document over the summer and early fall using a template from our diocese. It will describe our congregation, who we are, our ministries, our finances, and our hopes and our visions for the future. This will be submitted to the diocese for approval and shared with prospective candidates.

— Many thanks to Rev. Kathy and many of our lay leaders who have been meeting, discussing, and documenting procedures and best practices involved in carrying out the various ministries. This work will be foundational for our profile committee and extremely helpful for any interim we have and for our future rector.

The Transition Prayer Ministry under the guidance of Deacon Johnine will be meeting on Sunday, May 7 in the nursery, next to the deacon's office, right after the 10:15am service. Finally, many thanks to our wonderful hospitality team and others who have been busy finalizing the schedule and the many events planned for the next several months.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

As we head toward our church’s rector transition, keep in mind this is a spiritual journey where listening to God’s will is the central work for both the congregation and any future candidate. There will be a lot of discussion about discernment and prayer. Prayer is foundational to our work, and this is why the first task we started was to set up prayer committee or Transition Prayer Ministry.

Each vestry member is currently reading and studying the book Rector Transitions by Van Sheets. This is a handbook for Episcopal lay leaders recommended by and used by the Diocese of Pennsylvania. In addition, here are some additional updates for you this week:

Our vestry met with Arlette Benoit Joseph last Thursday, April 20. Arlette is the Canon for Transition Ministry for the Diocese of Pennsylvania. She reviewed the many protocols, procedures, and planning necessary for a successful and healthy transition. There is a lot of information to digest and implement. Your lay leaders appreciate your continued support and prayers.

The formation of our Transition Prayer Ministry is well under way. We are grateful to have Deacon Johnine Byrer to help us with this effort. Please consider being a part of this very important group and foundational work. The intention is to pray for Rev. Kathy and Marc, our congregation, our lay leadership, the transition process, and the new priest who will be joining us in the future. You may contact Deacon Johnine or Eric Frankhouser if you are interested.

Finally, we will be having a celebration of Rev. Kathy’s 19-year ministry with Church of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, June 11. We are so grateful for the spiritual leadership she has provided and also grateful to Marc for all he has contributed to our parish life. Please mark the date on your calendar. There will be more information forthcoming.

As always and especially now, please keep your vestry and all of our lay leaders in your thoughts and prayers.

Blessing and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden

Dear Friends,

What a wonderful spiritual journey we experienced together last week ending in the celebration of Easter! Many thanks to all our volunteers in so many different ministries, to Deacon Johnine, and to Rev. Kathy. We are so very blessed as a congregation.

This is the first of many updates from your vestry on our upcoming transition together. Many thanks to Rev. Kathy for her heartfelt communications and ministry. She is grateful to the congregation for its gracious and supportive response to her retirement announcement. Considering Rev. Kathy’s announcement, we received a letter to the congregation from our Bishop the Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutierrez. Click here to read the letter from the Bishop.

Here are some of the first steps we will be making:

On April 20, the vestry will be meeting with Canon Arlette Benoit Joseph. She is Canon for the Transition Ministry for the Diocese of Pennsylvania. She will be reviewing the procedures and protocols we will be following during our transition process.

The first transition committee to be formed is a Prayer Committee. They will formally and collectively be praying for our congregation, Rev. Kathy and Marc, our parish leadership, the transition committees, and the new priest which will be eventually joining us. Anyone who is interested in being a part of this important work please contact Deacon Johnine or Eric Frankhouser.

In the near term I and the vestry will be working with Rev. Kathy to identify the status, plans, and needs for the various ministries and ministry teams as we move through this period of change.

Our wonderful Hospitality Ministry leaders are planning a celebration of Rev. Kathy’s ministry. More details to follow.

Also, a reminder of the health, growth, hospitality, and deep faith of the COHS congregation that will continue in and throughout this time of change.

Blessings and gratitude,

Kirk Walters
Rector’s Warden