<div dir="ltr">This is something that will require a great deal of prayer...and even more listening to the Spirit. And not the least, conversation...between Deb and me and the community. <div><br></div><div>Tucker will be heading to college next year, not sure where at this point. It could be close or it could be far. However, he is no longer our only concern. We have Kyleigh and Kason now. It is unknown for how long. For this one year for sure but we have already registered them for schools for the next year (simply in case). Kyleigh is heaven bent on attending the visual and performing arts school here in St. Louis. Kason, at 11, is more flexible. </div>
<div><br></div><div>All that said, Deb and I remained interested in living at Rivendell. We are most interested in the Spiritual Retreat aspect and the idea of sustainable farming. We are mindful that it was the daily office -- that rhythm of prayer -- that so affected us at Rivendell. And we agree with Becca - the Saturday evenings seem so important. </div>
<div><br></div><div>We need to come out to Rivendell to have a deeper conversation and we will try to do so. It needs to be after the marriage ceremony though. That is on November 8 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City. It will be celebrated by the Rev. Barbara Schlachter at or near 4:30...maybe a little sooner (hopefully a little sooner). Barbara was the "angel" brought to Fort Worth 11 years ago by the Episcopal Women's Caucus with their Angel Project. She was the first woman priest either of us had ever seen. :-) It is a blessing to have her involved in this special occasion. </div>
<div><br></div><div>So, there are a great many things happening. We don't know many things but one thing we know for sure -- the Holy Spirit is not through with us yet. </div><div><br></div><div>love to all -- prayers continue. </div>
<div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><i><font face="'times new roman', serif"><span style="font-size:large">Barbi </span></font></i><div><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbiclick/" title="View public profile" name="SafeHtmlFilter_webProfileURL" style="margin:0px 10px 0px 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 19px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:middle;color:rgb(0,115,178);line-height:13.196022033691406px;display:inline-block;zoom:1;background-image:url(http://s.c.lnkd.licdn.com/scds/common/u/images/apps/profile/sprite/sprite_profile_top_card_v8.png);background-color:rgb(246,246,246);background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat" target="_blank"><i><font face="arial narrow, sans-serif">www.linkedin.com/in/barbiclick/</font></i></a><font face="times new roman, serif" size="4"><i><br>
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<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 9:59 AM, Virginia Brown <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mothervirginiadb@gmail.com" target="_blank">mothervirginiadb@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span>Dear Companions,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span>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>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>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>- 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>- 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>- 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>- 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>- 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>So... change is in
the air. But what?<span> </span>We're blessed
with a wonderful property here--what shall we do with it?<span> </span>What might God be pleased to do with it?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span>Currently, the Motherhouse serves a couple of important functions:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span>- 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>- 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> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Here are some of the
ideas, dreams, and possibilities we discussed:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>- 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> </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>
</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> </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> </span>And what could be done with this land, if we
had some people with interest and expertise in sustainable farming, for
instance?<span> </span>We've talked with the people
who first came to mind, and two of the three households were excited about the
possibility.<span> </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> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>- But perhaps there
are others... others of you?... who might find yourselves up for something of
the sort?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>- 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> </span>We have done rather little to publicize what
we currently do, and nothing, really, to look for potential residential
members.<span> </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> </span>Especially
if we see our sights ecumenically?<span> </span>Maybe
or maybe not--but how would we know without trying?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>- Or maybe, as I've
been thinking, there is some other new ministry?<span> </span>Any of us could dream up a dozen in fifteen
minutes, I imagine!<span> </span>But what draws
us?<span> </span>What might be feasible?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>- 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> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>- We could put the
property up for sale.<span> </span>Oddly enough, I've
spoken with someone twice this week who might be interested in purchasing
it.<span> </span>He has pored over our website and
looked at Google aerials and such.<span> </span>Right
now we don't even have an appraisal, so estimating the value is guesswork.<span> </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> </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> </span>Should we do this, now or
later, the proceeds would of course belong to the Rivendell Community.<span> </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> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>So...As Guardian of this Community I am asking
you earnestly to pray about this, and also to share your thoughts and
ideas.<span> </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> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Much love to all,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Virginia</span></p>
</div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br></div>