<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>One thing that i have always missed was having a Saturday night gathering - i now know that it would have to be either in Bolivar or on the outskirts for most of the people that would participate. </div><div><br></div><div>I unfortunately have many commitments in town (speech, OT and PT therapy) that would make a long drive expensive and difficult at times. I am very willing to continue to brainstorm ideas and possibilities!</div><div><br></div><div>Becca<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Oct 26, 2013, at 9:59 AM, Virginia Brown <<a href="mailto:mothervirginiadb@gmail.com">mothervirginiadb@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">Dear Companions,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">This will be a long letter--but please don't dismiss it as "TLTR" (too long to read, as I learned from one of our younger members a few days ago!) It deals with a matter of considerable importance for the Rivendell Community.<br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">Earlier this week the Council of Advice met and began a conversation
which now seems substantial enough that it should be a conversation for and
with all our Professed Companions. What might we do now with our
Motherhouse?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">This isn't a brand new matter, of course, but several factors have
converged to present the issue in a new light:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">- The George Herbert Institute will hold its last session in
December. While this hasn't involved a great deal of time, it has claimed
one weekend a month for the last several years. It has been a significant
ministry, congruent with some of the goals of Rivendell, and has, I believe,
contributed very significantly to this Diocese. Its demise, though sad in
some ways, does give us a clean slate, a calendar open to whatever we may decide.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">- Susie, as you know, is talking about marrying Ed, maybe in the
spring. This would involve some rearrangements, whether that means that
she would simply move back to the "little house" with Ed, or whether they
would find another house in the general area.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">- Abby is now planning to live for a while with her birth mother
Heather. Again, this opens up some possibilities here, as well as, we
hope, being a good next step toward a happy, productive, independent life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">- I have been spending more time in Texas, and believe I'm of some
modest help to Elizabeth, Matt and the grandchildren, during this very
demanding and stressful period when Elizabeth is still studying preparatory to
ordination, has charge of a congregation, has three young children, and has
been quite involved with Rivendell-Texas, being the only professed member
there, although we now have two Novices as well.<br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">- Also, of course, there's the factor that Susie and I are, well, autumn
chickens, and even with Ed's great help with the grounds, the two of us are
challenged in maintaining the House and its programs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">So... change is in
the air. But what?<span style=""> </span>We're blessed
with a wonderful property here--what shall we do with it?<span style=""> </span>What might God be pleased to do with it?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">Currently, the Motherhouse serves a couple of important functions:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="">- The retreat ministry, meaning both our periodic "themed"
retreats and our space and hospitality for many others, for personal and small
group retreats. We have heard over and over how valuable and precious
this is for many, who find this a beautiful place of quiet, healing and peace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- The Motherhouse
serves as a kind of "center of gravity" for the Community.
Practically, of course, it's been where we keep our records and documents,
prepare and send out materials, and so on. I recall how Cathy sometimes
described the role of a congregation's priest as the one who woke up thinking
about her church, its members, needs and work... I suppose the residential
community of the Motherhouse is like that for Rivendell.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Here are some of the
ideas, dreams, and possibilities we discussed:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- What if some of us
(members of Rivendell not currently resident) who are able to do so moved to
the Motherhouse and "reinvented" its life and mission?<span style=""> </span>In particular, we thought of three households
who might do this, and thought of what a wonderful combination of gifts,
skills, passions and energy this might produce.<span style="">
</span>Then, the House might welcome others--in particular, we thought of
mothers, perhaps with children, who need a safe refuge and a place to be while
rebuilding their lives.<span style=""> </span>What a place of
healing, with both practical help negotiating social service systems and
spiritual support and prayer--it could really be beautiful!<span style=""> </span>And what could be done with this land, if we
had some people with interest and expertise in sustainable farming, for
instance?<span style=""> </span>We've talked with the people
who first came to mind, and two of the three households were excited about the
possibility.<span style=""> </span>However, subsequent thought
has raised feasibility questions for them, so it's not clear now whether this
might turn out to be a viable idea.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- But perhaps there
are others... others of you?... who might find yourselves up for something of
the sort?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- We might simply
extend the current retreat and hospitality ministry, doing more to publicize
it, recruiting those who might like to conduct retreats, and, again, finding
more people who would like to live here and help with this.<span style=""> </span>We have done rather little to publicize what
we currently do, and nothing, really, to look for potential residential
members.<span style=""> </span>Would there not be some who
would find this attractive and be able and willing to live in this way,
temporarily or permanently?<span style=""> </span>Especially
if we see our sights ecumenically?<span style=""> </span>Maybe
or maybe not--but how would we know without trying?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- Or maybe, as I've
been thinking, there is some other new ministry?<span style=""> </span>Any of us could dream up a dozen in fifteen
minutes, I imagine!<span style=""> </span>But what draws
us?<span style=""> </span>What might be feasible?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- We could explore
joining forces with another existing Community, perhaps one which doesn't have
a residential component but would like to, if they had resources.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">- We could put the
property up for sale.<span style=""> </span>Oddly enough, I've
spoken with someone twice this week who might be interested in purchasing
it.<span style=""> </span>He has pored over our website and
looked at Google aerials and such.<span style=""> </span>Right
now we don't even have an appraisal, so estimating the value is guesswork.<span style=""> </span>(This is, of course, a very tenuous business
at present; no one has made any kind of serious offer, and I've told him that,
although the possibility has come up, we currently have no plans to sell it.)<span style=""> </span>We could perhaps talk with a real estate
agent and get a better idea of what we might be looking at, value and prospects
for sale.<span style=""> </span>Should we do this, now or
later, the proceeds would of course belong to the Rivendell Community.<span style=""> </span>(This is not to be confused with dissolution
of the Community; the Community would then decide what to do with the
funds--perhaps begin something new elsewhere.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">So...As Guardian of this Community I am asking
you earnestly to pray about this, and also to share your thoughts and
ideas.<span style=""> </span>For now, let's keep the
conversation on <i>this</i> list, among the Professed Companions, who would be the
ones to make such decisions.<br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Much love to all,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Virginia</span></p>
</div>
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