Continuing to Build

The construction of the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul continues as you can see. Brick is going on and soon the wooden trusses will be installed. It will be exciting to see the Chapel continue to develop in 2011. The contract indicates a completion date of sometime in September. Let us continue to pray in thanksgiving for the generous donors who have made this possible and to pray for the safety of all the workers involved. I'm reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and it reminds me that all the workers who are involved in constructing the Chapel have their own stories of joys and struggles. Let us pray for them as they serve our community in such an important way. The skills they use are God Given and we pray that they are a blessing for the individual workers and for the community they serve.

A Blessed Christmas to All

Apologies for slow posting lately but I did want to wish everyone a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. I'll try to get some more Chapel Progress pictures posted and reflect with you a bit regarding the exciting events of 2010 as we approach the beginning of 2011.

God Bless you in the Love of His Child.

The Great Inspector

You saw the earlier post with Chapel Inspectors but now you have the chance to see the Grand Inspector!!!!! Believe me she put the architect, designer and contractor through their paces making sure the Chapel would be kid friendly and solidly built. She wanted to make sure that when she's all grown up and running things the Chapel will still be in great shape and very low maintenance. You could hear the crew saying repeatedly................Yes ma'am, Yes madame inspector!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job Ms. Sattler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapel Inspection

Some of the Chapel Committee took a tour of the progress on the Chapel on December 2 and then had a meeting with our Liturgical Designer to discuss preparations for the stained glass windows. I think the Chapel Committee members would join me in saying that we have learned a lot in this process from pews to stained glass. These Advent days remind us to be especially grateful for the wonderfully generous gifts from so many individuals and families that have made the construction of this Chapel possible.

I often get the question from Catholics and non-catholics.........Why are you calling it a Chapel........it seems to big to be a Chapel. It is large and I suppose that was the overwhelming impression of the Chapel Committee members as we looked around. We have all seen much larger churches but the Chapel has a feeling of ample space and presence that I hope will contribute greatly to the worship that takes place there. This is all possible because of the loving sacrificial donations of so many.

Let us continue to pray together during these Advent days.......in thanksgiving for the greatest gift of all.......God's own Son and in prayer that we might live in His light always.

Today, December 3, we celebrate St. Francis Xavier a missionary of the 16th century who is described as "the greatest missionary since the Apostles". Let us pray that St. Francis Xavier may inspire all of us to "go out to all the world and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I have had some great runs lately........the weather in East Texas has been its usual "changeable" but today is beautiful and sunny with a temp of about 70 degrees.......I hope to get in a good run at lunchtime. If you haven't gotten any exercise during these busy Advent days.......why not get out there and join me. A nice brisk wall or even just a leisurely stroll will do you good!!!!!!