Sing “Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil,” Campaign Kickoff]
Piano begins playing
In the gospel, when Jesus talks about the seed, he is using it as a metaphor for God’s word (as he explains in the following verses). God’s word can come to us in many forms . . . obviously the most apparent is scripture, but God’s word can come to us in the sacraments, in nature and even in our own experience (or revelation) with God. For us Catholics we also believe that God’s word comes through the Holy Spirit especially moving through the leaders of the Church (i.e. the Pope, the Bishop, etc.) The important thing is that we make ourselves open and ready to receive God’s word.
Let me share with you a song that explains that.
Sing:
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
open to the seed of your word.
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard, break the stone away.
When my heart is cold, warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart, Lord, let my heart, Lord, let my heart be good soil.
When we merged together the two parishes of St. Pius and St. Edward, one of the messages that we kept repeating is that . . .”We need to trust the Holy Spirit moving through the Bishop and the leaders of our Diocese.” One of our goals was to be one. You told us that the best way for this to happen, is to fufill Bishop Kinney’s request for us to worship at one site only. Well, this weekend we are finally ready to take a look at that seed that is to be planted into our midst . . . in building a new church.
We have a booklet for each of you to look at. I ask our ushers and volunteers to pass them out to everyone here (including visitors and kids). As they do, please pass down the postcards and pencils. This is for one member of each household to fill out, telling us that we don’t need to send you a booklet . . . that you will take one with you. Everyone gets to look at it now, but take only one booklet per household. And if you can take a booklet to a neighbor or family member, fill out a card for them also.
I will go over this briefly now, but the idea is for you to take it home and read it thoroughly
Let’s take a look at the document together:
The cover page indicates this is new information as of July 2017. Note the message from our project leadership groups with an invitation to join them for one of three feedback meetings this week.
Page 2, we have a detailed chronology of our planning and the key decision points dating back to the creation of our parish in 2010. Page 3 we show the new site located off 293rd Avenue and County Road 9, about one mile each of Highway 169 on County Road 9.
Page 4 is the main level floor plan for phase 1. Note the long rows are pews and the tiny squares are seats. In this plan, we can seat 500 people for regular worship. Note the daily Mass chapel in the back of the church. On the right side of the graphic is the additional phase one features including a gathering space, kitchen, restrooms, a small office, elevator to the lower level and the vestibule entrances. To the far right in the smaller graphic, is the lower level showing the mechanical room and the unfinished space.
On page 5 we show the potential overflow seating that will add 475 more chairs to enable seating for 975 people during major events like Christmas, Easter, large funerals, etc. On the right side, you will see a detailed list of the key benefits in the new space, as well as the costs for the phase 1 building project.
On page 6 we show a ground level entry approach view of the Phase 1 project, with the dotted area to the right future phases. On page 7 we outline how this is a first step as we prepare the way for the complete master plan. Note in the boxed area, our initial goal to raise $5,000,000 is the acquisition step to help us purchase the entire 107-acre site, and create a substantial down payment for Phase one of the master plan. On the right side are seven important guiding principles for how we will conduct the capital campaign.
Page 8, the back cover we share the process wheel that will guide sour steps, and the list of volunteer leaders who have helped so far. This does not include the 64 Advisory Group members. We are changing the name of the Executive Committee to “ONE IN THE LIGHT CAMPAIGN CABINET.” I ask those volunteers to stand who were involved in this process at any level . . . committees, Advisors, etc.
Like planting a seed, sometimes we may not see the result of the harvest. But we still need to plant God’s word in our midst. We are planting that seed not only for tomorrow, but for our furture. The area between Princeton and Zimmerman has recently been sighted as one of the fastest growing areas in the state. We are planting a seed not only for us, but for our children and our children’s children . . . and for the future Catholic presence in this end of the Diocese.
Please take home one copy for your household. Remember to fill out the card so we don’t waste resources. Leave any extra documents and the card in the pew and our volunteers will pick them up at the end of our liturgy. We hope you will take time to review this important document, and then join us for ONE of the 3 meetings this week if you have any questions. During the meetings, you will be invited to offer your comments and questions about the information. We need to learn your thoughts and ideas about the proposed plan.
Take a few moments to look at it more carefully.
[I sing again]
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
open to the seed of your word.
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
Where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard, break the stone away.
When my heart is cold, warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart, Lord, let my heart,
Lord, let my heart be good soil.