This month, instead of writing a letter, I'm excited to come to you “in person” (complete with falling leaves and chickens in the background) to announce a big vision for the Glebe. 

Our vision for The Glebe includes a traditionally styled church, a Fellowship Hall with classrooms and offices, a parish classical school, housing to support retreats and conferences, walking trails, and a village green for community events. Our goal is for 

The Glebe to continue growing as the center of community for its members 

and a sanctuary for all Christians.

 

Thanks to a generous 2022 end-of-year gift, in 2023, we began working with our dream architect, Erik Bootsma, a specialist in classical and ecclesiastical architecture. Guided by faith and a bold vision for St. James’s future, we crafted a master plan for our historic 65-acre Glebe. This plan honors the land’s legacy and will serve the growing needs of our Parish, community, and Diocese for generations to come.

"Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field, 

and afterwards build thine house." 

Proverbs 24:27

 

Since 2021, we have been “making fit” the fields as the church has grown by preparing the Glebe to be in the position to grow into our Master Plan. 

(1) Expanding our small chapel to double its capacity. And, praise God, we already see the need to grow again.

(2) Remodeling the four-bay garage into a fellowship hall by adding HVAC, an ADA bathroom, and a kitchen.

(3) Constructing a parking lot and adding patios to our buildings.

(4) Establishing a cemetery, consecrated by the bishop.

(5) Working with pro-bono lawyers to formally establish “The Glebe School,” with an eye toward beginning classes in the fall of 2025.

As I was preparing to share the news of our vision and ask for your support, we got the most wonderful text from a dear friend and donor out of state. Last summer, they visited the Glebe and we gave them the full tour. As we stopped by our five year-old son's garden, he immediately grabbed the first and only thing in the garden (a squash of which he was very proud and had been patiently waiting to pick for months) and cheerfully gave it to them “for your food.” It is the sweetest and most generous memory. Last week, she texted us a picture of that same squash with these words:

 

 “He gave his best… his only… so like a little child who has no fear of not having enough. We felt like David must have felt when his soldiers risked life and limb to bring him a cup of water from his hometown to slake his thirst on the battlefield. He was so overcome with the magnanimity of their gesture he could not drink it, 

but poured it out as a sacrifice to God Himself.

…But then, we ate it! And enjoyed this beautiful gift from this sweetest child! I think this might be an appropriate story for your newsletter dedicated to the fundraising effort. “Unless you become like as little children…” We need never be afraid of not having enough. This story is an encouragement to consider prayerfully what Our Heavenly Father would have us to give, cheerfully, from the Heart, with the generosity of a little child who never has to worry about having enough.

God makes no mistakes… and brought this photo up today as I was searching for another. I just wanted to share the memory with you, and the timing is perfect."

Please give me a call - I'd love to talk to you. There are already quite a few of you who I write with and find it so encouraging. I truly welcome your advice. 

How can the Glebe serve you? What would you want from a visit here? Or what would cause you to come and visit the Glebe for a retreat, a missions trip, a symposium, or a sabbatical? I have so many ideas. (In the future, should we have a gap year program where the students grow wheat and grapes to make sacramental wine and bread?) I would love to hear your ideas! Please write back to this email or call me and let's talk.

As you consider supporting the Glebe at the end of the year, we have tried to make it as easy for you as possible to be generous! Your contributions actively support the big vision for the Glebe as a place of retreat, heritage, and rest on this incredible 300 year old property. 

You can also download and access this PDF if you click right here.

We would be grateful for your support at this pivotal moment. 

I humbly ask that you come alongside us and help build The Glebe into a haven of God's grace so that we can share it with any looking for peace and rest 

for the next three-hundred years.

 

 

While we are asking for end-of-year gifts now, please know we are developing an integrated long-range Capital Campaign Plan tied to our Master Plan building strategy to launch in 2025.