Post-Ike Updates
Episcopal Relief Work on Galveston Island
From Maggie Immler, Relief Coordinator, and Luke Blount, Volunteer Coordinator:
Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development, in partnership with Galveston County
Restore and Rebuild, is assisting the poor, elderly and disabled homeowners of
Galveston County to rebuild their homes. We have helped over 125 families in
Galveston and La Porte, Texas, and we have provided more than 23,000 hours of
work. That's roughly $400,000 worth of free labor! We have already completely
repaired six homes from bare studs on up, and those families have moved home.
We gutted more than 80 homes and facilitated partial rebuilds on several more.
More than 1,500 volunteers have committed their precious time to help
Galvestonians. Many stay at our housing base for up to a week, and some take a
day trip to the island. Those who are unable to lend a hand also help us through
much needed donations of tools, supplies, and money.
Grace Church gives thanks to God for the many
contributions of time and talent and treasure by friends and members of our
church. Four recent additions to our worship were blessed on Rededication Sunday
by our blessing of the church and through their use in our service.
The new collection plates and receiving basin are gifts from David and Nancy
Wilkes.
The baby grand piano was a gift from Mr. Jack Hudson.
The piano bench cushion was made by Laura Eanes in celebration Grace’s
rebuilding and in memory of her mother, Marguerite Holloway Becker, who was born
100 years ago today.
And our new red hangings were donated by Rhonda Cummins in honor of the Altar
Guild of Grace Church.
Renewal and Recovery
By Vickie Robertson
About ten months ago, we all began to make our way back to our once lovely
island and found it utterly changed. Many of our homes were damaged or
destroyed, possessions ruined or washed away; most of us have either been
displaced or suffered through living in homes under reconstruction (or both, and
for some, this continues); jobs disappeared in the flood; no one on the island
was unmarked or untouched by loss.
Grace Church did not escape the monster. Members of our parish family were
dispersed, displaced, traumatized. All of our buildings were damaged; many of
our furnishings, some of which had been used at Grace for over a century, were
ruined - now become part of just another ugly, smelly pile sitting on the curb.
Like almost every other congregation on the island we have had to scramble - and
rescramble - for worship space, starting out in our (partially gutted) parish
house, then spending most of the winter in our (unheated!!!) church, then
temporarily returning to the parish hall after our pews left (in pieces) for
Alabama. We had no kitchen, the sacristy moved as many times as the “church”
did, and the office had a split personality: Cathy’s living room housed almost
everything but Fr. Paul’s desk which took over his car, and the phone which was
in his pocket.
Look at us now. Does anyone miss the red carpet that covered our beautiful
hardwood floor? And have you noticed you don’t have to pry the hymnals out of
the pew racks or fight to put them back? And did you know that we now have a
dishwasher that does a load in 85 seconds?! And Quin Hall is (beautiful and)
air-conditioned! This didn’t happen without help, and lots of it, from parish
members, friends and strangers, our diocese. And though our parish is
significantly smaller, our work still gets done because parish members have
stepped up and taken over for those who couldn’t stay. (I am reminded of a
children’s book written by a rabbi that teaches that our hands are God’s hands.)
Familiar faces have come home, new ones have joined us. And that gracious
Presence that has always been a part of Grace, that palpable Presence we feel
the moment we enter - still and ever here, dwelling among us.
Like the rest of the island, Grace Church still has a way to go, but we are
recovering. Things are not the same as they were, and will not be again. But
nothing happens, good or bad or even indifferent, apart from God’s loving
presence. And whatever happens, if we can turn our faces toward God, we will
find God’s grace beside every circumstance.
Because everything changes - except the fact of God’s loving and eternal
omnipresence.
From Our Junior Warden:
We continue to make progress, albeit sometimes slowly, on our rebuilding
projects. In the Church we have new tile on the floor of the Narthex and new
carpet in the Chapel. The new front door for Quin Hall has arrived and will be
installed this week. Within the next couple of weeks we should see the final
painting completed followed by tile and carpet and then it will be time to move
in. The “Over 55” group has painted the interior walls of the Rectory, and it is
ready to rent as soon as we can move our Sunday School, choir, vestments, etc.
back in to Quin Hall. There will be a meeting at 5:30 PM on June 30th in Jinkins
Hall with the architect for Partners for Sacred Places to discuss options for
repairs to the Bell Tower and the Silk Purse.
From Our Senior Warden:
As you can see, the reconstruction work on our beautiful Church and surrounding
buildings is nearing completion. They really are more beautiful and functional
then they were before. The one exception is the Silk Purse, which has not been
worked on yet. The congregation is meeting on June 30th to hear input from the
architect hired to assess the Silk Purse and Bell Tower. The architect is
expected to discuss alternative ways to proceed with rebuilding the Silk Purse
and repairing the Bell Tower. It will be an opportunity for you to provide your
input on the best option for rebuilding . Please make it a point to attend this
meeting which will include a pot luck dinner.
Back to the Church: We are going celebrate the rededication of the Church on
July 26th, following our service. Bishop Harrison will be here to be part of the
rededication. The rededication celebration will have a summer BBQ theme complete
with brisket, chicken and pork loin to be cooked by Bob Green and John Michael
Provenzano. The congregation will be providing salad, sides, and dessert (look
for a signup sheet at the back of the church). There will be indoor as well as
outdoor seating and entertainment for children. Please plan on attending (and
bringing a food item to share with the congregation) and enjoying our
celebration as we rededicate our church. The celebration team consists of Ella,
Leslie, Shirley, Doris Ann, Betty, and Gerald. Please feel free to contact one
of them with and questions or suggestions.
THINGS MADE NEW
AGAIN
(AT GRACE CHURCH GALVESTON)
. . . let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are
being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all
things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were
made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 291)
At the 9:30 AM service on July 26, we will be privileged to celebrate the
“new” Grace Church! Our buildings and grounds are all being made new new, as we
are well along with the job of repairing the damage from Hurricane Ike. The main
church is resplendent in the refinished original long-leaf pine floor and the
rebuilt and reconditioned pews. The interior of Quin Hall is brand new; the
storm damaged interior walls replaced along with the windows. Central heat and
air conditioning replaces the old window units and our rector’s office and that
of the secretary have been redone to reflect the improvements. Jinkins Hall is
also upgraded with a new kitchen that is pleasing to all our cooks.
It has been a long haul to clean up and rebuild from the mess that Ike left
behind, but with that work and repair comes the blessing of substantial
improvements. So we give thanks to God that our blessings always outweigh our
problems. To celebrate our recovery and re-dedicate our buildings, Grace Church
will host Bishop Dena Harrison, who will offer confirmation along with the
blessing of our buildings.
The service will
be followed by a BBQ on the lawn.
We especially invite all who have supported our rebuilding with prayers or cards
or donations to come take part in this glorious celebration. And we pray that
our former members and those that were forced by Ike to leave Galveston will
return to worship and celebrate with us.
Put July 26 on your calendars now to insure that you will be present.
Rebuilding
The Church continues to look fantastic. As previously reported, we refinished
the original long leaf pine floor that was discovered underneath the carpet and
the asbestos tile that was installed in 1944 after a hurricane. The floor looks
great! Baseboards have been installed and the paint has been touched up. Tile
for the Narthex and carpet for the Chapel have been ordered and will be
installed after the refinished pews return around the middle of May.
Quin Hall, the most heavily damaged of our properties, is scheduled to be
completed in June. The damaged sheetrock has been replaced. New wiring has been
installed along with new lighting, doors, cabinetry and central air and heat.
The new windows have arrived and are being installed at this writing. New floors
will be installed following the completion of all other repairs.
We have solicited a bid for minor repairs to the Rectory. We plan to have the
Rectory ready to rent as soon as we move back in to Quin Hall.
Several plans are being considered for the restoration of the Silk Purse.
David Wilkes
Jr. Warden
Rebuilding
V Significant progress has been made in the rebuilding of our facilities damaged by Hurricane Ike.
V Jinkins Hall has been completely refurbished with insulated walls, new wainscotings, new heating and air conditioning, a completely rebuilt kitchen featuring a commercial dishwasher, fresh paint throughout and refinished long leaf pine floors. Grace Church has the only functioning Episcopal parish hall on the Island.
V Molhusen (the Boy Scout hut) has been restored and is currently serving as the Church office and temporary Sacristy.
V The Church has new heating and air conditioning ducts to replace those that were inundated by Ike’s floodwaters, the organ has been repaired and the pews have been sent to Alabama to be refurbished. As of this writing the original pine floor is being refinished. Services are being held in Jinkins Hall pending the return of the pews from Alabama.
V Quin Hall is undergoing a major overhaul which will feature higher ceilings, new cabinetry and case work, central air and heat, new windows and a new roof.
V Minor repairs have been made to the Rectory which is currently being used by the choir, the boy scouts and Sunday school.
V The Silk Purse requires significant structural repairs before we can begin to put back sheetrock, etc. An architect has been through the building and is preparing an architectural assessment. She will present her findings to the congregation on a Wednesday evening in April.
David Wilkes, Jr. Warden
From the Senior Warden
In my annual report to the parish, I commented that the $5,000 initial grant for architectural assessment given by Philadelphia-based Partners for Sacred Places could lead to a $25,000 grant pending the outcome of our application for it. Bob Jaeger, the speaker from Partners, talked about how important historic churches are, not only as places of worship and significant pieces of beautiful architecture, but as meeting places for the community. Sacred Places is not interested in preserving historic church buildings to be museums; instead, it wants to help them be vital links to their neighborhoods and the larger community. Along those lines, we had our architectural assessment concentrate in two areas of need: the Silk Purse and the Bell Tower/Chapel area of the church. Both of these require significant upgrading in addition to repairing the damage from Ike, so we hope that one or both of them will qualify for the additional grant. In the meantime, those of us who love Grace cannot wait until we can open our doors again, something that is being diligently worked on as we speak.
Grace will have a Sunday Rededication Celebration when Quin Hall and the church are finally completed. We will publish the date for that event as soon as we have a firm date for project completion and have arranged for a Bishop to visit. We hope that all of our displaced members and everyone that has contributed to our recovery will be able to be part of that grand day!
The annual Grace church retreat at Camp Allen is scheduled for the weekend of November 13th through the 15th this year. Please join us and enjoy the serenity of beautiful Camp Allen with your Grace Church Family. To reserve a room in one of the cabins on the lake call Bill Watson at 409-770-3322.
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation has significant grant money available to help rebuild single family homes. To find out more go to www.tsahc.org\donations\foundations_Fund.PHP or call Paige McGillowa at 888-638-3555 Ext 411.
Thanks,
Bill W.
Our
"Corner of Hope"
As you know, the main church had close to a foot of storm water that covered the red carpet and swirled around the bottom of the original 1895 wooden pews. It was not enough water to float anything out of place, but more than enough to cause problems.
Once the carpet and padding were removed, asbestos tiles were found. These were removed and the remaining black adhesive tested negative for asbestos. Ideas were discussed about floating a new wooden (or wooden-like) floor, possibly laying tile, or even the more cost efficient option of new carpet to cover the unsightly tar-looking remains. But alas, the pipe organ does sound even more magnificent without the carpet damping its resounding notes. So another idea was proposed: What if we could refinish the original wooden floor lurking under the black goo?
It is truly a wonderful concept to restore the floor and keep the acoustic advantage for the organ, all for a price that is about the same as installing more carpet. This photo does no justice to the beautiful test spot that has recently appeared near the usher's closet. Come on by the church and take a look for yourself next time you are in the neighborhood. Fr. Paul and Cathy will be in their temporary office space in Molhusen House. They would love to see you.
January 12, 2009
Father Paul and Bill Watson attended the Partners for Sacred Places grant announcement reception. Grace was one of 10 Galveston scared places to receive a grant from Philadelphia based Partners for Sacred Places. The initial grant is for $5,000 and will be used for an architecture assessment of the buildings making up our campus. Churches that successfully use the initial $5,000 can apply for an additional $25,000. At the reception, Bob Jaeger, the speaker from Partners, talked about how important historic churches are for the community. Not only are they a place of worship and a significant piece of beautiful architecture, they also serve as community centers hosting activities that benefit not only the parishioners but also the community at large.
December 17, 2008
Dear People of Grace,
Good News! Great Joy!
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, it is has been difficult to find any “good
news” or to feel “great joy” as we continue to dig ourselves out of the rubble
and work at rebuilding our homes and our lives. But it is precisely at times of
much stress and difficulty that we realize even greater blessings from the Good
News of Christ. My prayer for all of us this Christmas is that we will savor the
blessing of God’s gift that was born among us. Because everything else in our
lives is small and insignificant compared to the incredible outpouring of God’s
grace that is made evident by the simple act of the birth of a child.
Grace Church has begun the long process of repairing and rebuilding our campus.
Work is well along on the Parish Hall and the Youth Building. When those
buildings are completed in early January, we will move our Sunday services to
the Parish Hall, and the Youth Building will become the Parish office. The
repairs required on the church and classroom/office building will then commence.
The primary work on the church is re-wiring much of the building, replacement of
all HVAC ducts under the floor, and refinishing the floor and pews. Repairs to
the offices and classrooms will be more extensive, as very little of the
interior structure and furnishings remain. We do not have a timeline for
completion of all of the work; however, we will try to keep you updated as
things progress. In the meantime, please keep Grace Church and our church
leadership in your daily prayers.
Grace Church is blessed with faithful people and a great spirit of charity and
love. I pray that we will continue to faithfully be led by God through this time
of change. Our church has a long history of survival through hardships, and I am
certain that we will again survive and thrive, with God’s help.
God bless you and keep you all,
Paul+
Thanksgiving Day 2008
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, p. 246)
In this Thanksgiving season, it is our great joy to give thanks to God for our many blessings. Even as we continue to dig out from the destruction of Hurricane Ike, we cannot help but be grateful for what we do have: for our church family and friends, for the many volunteers that have come to assist us, for the generosity of those that have contributed to our recovery, and for the constant hope and peace of mind that come from a loving God.
Grace Church continues to make progress in our rebuilding efforts. We are currently working on Jinkins Hall (the parish hall) and Molhusen House (the Youth building) and hope to have both of them finished by Christmas. Molhusen will then become the temporary office for Cathy Gould and me, while we work on office/classroom wing of our building. We will also move our worship to Jinkins Hall while we work on the sanctuary. The primary work that needs to be done in the church is to refinish (or replace) the floor surface, repair and/or replace the HVACS ducts and electrical wiring that run under the church, and repair the pews. We hope to begin that work in early January and have in completed by Easter Sunday.
Your Vestry and Foundation Board have been meeting every couple of weeks to make decisions about the scope of work to be done, financing issues, contractor selection, and construction oversight. Grace is blessed to have dedicated leaders that love our church and are determined that she will be restored to her familiar beauty. At the same time, this is a good opportunity to make some improvements in our buildings. Specifically, we want to better insulate our parish hall and upgrade our kitchen. We also hope to install central heat and air conditioning in the classroom/office wing. Rather than replace the ruined carpet in the church, we are looking into the possibility of restoring the original wood floor in the nave for about the same cost.
Grace is fully insured; however our deductible amounts are significant. Therefore, the Vestry recently decided to seek funds from outside sources by developing a brochure and hiring Gary Davis (husband of seminarian, Gena Davis) to oversee the campaign. The Diocese of Texas has also indicated that it will have funds available to Grace on a matching basis as well as opportunities for us to receive direct grants. All donations will be recognized in an appropriate manner.
Through the leadership of newly consecrated bishop, the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle, the Diocese of Texas hired Ms. Maggie Immler as Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Diocese. Maggie will be stationed in Galveston and will coordinate the work of volunteer groups that make arrangements through the Diocese to work in Galveston, or other Texas coastal areas. We welcome Maggie to our island, and we give thanks that the Episcopal Church is “here to help” and plans to be a good neighbor to those in need for as long as it takes to rebuild.
Giving thanks for each of you,
Fr. Paul+
Thursday 11-20-2008
Dear all,
Sherry and I have a new grandson, Travis Michael Prater. Anny is doing fine and
Travis is getting lots of attention. He was born at 8:01 AM on Thursday,
November 20 at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, GA. He weighs 7
lbs, 14 oz and is 18.5 inches long, and he is one handsome baby.
You can view pictures of Travis on
www.caringbridge.org
Then type travismichaelprater to access Anny's page.
Blessings on you all,
Paul+
Tuesday 11-18, Vestry/Foundation meeting highlights
Updates on the construction and bidding process were the main topic of the meeting. We discussed the current status of the church campus, church insurance, and rebuilding issues including approved contractors and cost estimates. Fund raising efforts are being considered that are similar to conducting a capital campaign.
Please note: 3rd quarter statements were not mailed but year-end statements will be sent for your tax records. If you are unsure of where you stand on your pledge simply call the church office number and speak with Cathy.
Sunday 11-16
Thank you to all the Altar Guild members and the Junior Daughters of the King that polished up Grace for the Ramirez wedding last weekend. Members from Trinity, Dickinson and St. John the Divine, Houston came to spend the day with our own altar angels to prepare for our first post-Ike service in the main church. What a blessing!!! We even had music....Aaron came to practice for the wedding and treated everyone to beautiful organ music. As a church family we continue to be blessed by the kindness of others. Let us continue to be gracious in our need and help those around us.
Wednesday 11-5
According to Fr. Paul, work has began on Jinkins Hall with the electrical and insulation. Positive changes should come pretty quickly with the carpenters there. We are continuing to talk with contractors and sub-contractors for work on the other buildings.
A big decision for us to make is what type flooring to put back into the main church. Of course, carpet is the least expensive and wood the most expensive. So while we may have champagne taste, we are looking at a beer budget. Ask your foundation and vestry members or Fr. Paul on more information about this and give them your feedback.
The next Vestry/Foundation meeting will be at Edgewater at 6:00 pm. Feel free to come hear what is going on.
Monday 10-26
My job as a county extension agent has lead me away from being with you these past two Sundays, but I can tell you that last Wednesday afternoon I was there to help arrange the pews in the church so that the candles will be in the right place for the wedding of Carol and Val's son Andy on November 8. Progress is being made on our church and in our neighborhoods. The vestry/foundation continue to seek bids and meet on the details of putting Grace back together. The rebuilding of Jinkins Hall will begin soon under the capable hands of Bob Davis (his company did the most recent restoration), and we will return to our beautiful nave to worship this coming Sunday. It's important to note that we are starting the construction. phase of the recovery effort. According to Fr. Paul, our target date is to have Jinkins Hall completed by Christmas!
As I attended St. John's (Palacios) yesterday, their congregation was concerned about us, as are many throughout the Diocese and beyond. As I listened to the readings, I knew you were all listening to the same ones. Many of us are spread away from Galveston during this time, yet we are together in spirit and faith. "Love thy neighbor" is one of the most familiar of all passages and yet, in times like these, we can see the relevance more clearly. Or at least, I think I can.
IHS, Rhonda
Highlights from the 10/09/2008 vestry meeting:
Church Campus Status. Fr. Paul reported that the mitigation was almost complete and that the building were dry. No work going on at the moment. Part of the roof on Quinn Hall has been seriously damaged. An inspection under the Church determined that the duct work has been damaged. The existing duct work can be remediated at substantially less cost than the cost of new duct work. A decision will have to be made.
Rebuilding Issues. Fr. Paul discussed possible sources of funds including a contribution from the Diocese and contributions from parishioners. Possible “adoption of rooms” in Quinn Hall to be acknowledged by dedication plaques. Fr. Paul suggested a committee consisting of John McCulley, Jeff Kilgore and David Wilkes to oversee bids and construction work. He estimated that we need to come up with $300,000.
Sunday 10-12-2008 Update by Rhonda Cummins
We've all had a long month since IKE. Progress is being made around Grace, in our homes, and our neighborhoods. Fr. Paul made a very timely comparison to Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities in the sermon this morning. Truly these are "the best of times and the worst of times". While it may be easiest to see the worst, the best is also visible. I would like to remind you of the end of that novel when the main character gives his all and says "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done". What we do in the following days and months can also be a "far, far better thing".
Many lessons come from history and literature. Many lessons will come from the days ahead. Watch for the work of the Holy Spirit that is around us. We are not alone. We have all experienced the hope and hopelessness of each day, often within minutes of each feeling. The ride is certainly like a roller coaster. Stay strong. The Grace family will survive this. Call one another, call the office, call Fr. Paul....
Important notes from today's announcements:
The church phone number has been forwarded to a cell phone that is answered during our normal business hours by Cathy Gould. A message can be left when the phone isn't answered. The office continues to operate out of her home in La Marque.
The vestry and foundation members are meeting about every two weeks to make decisions about the financial issues facing the church, insurance claims, rebuilding needs, raising money, etc. Feel free to talk to any of the members and come to any of the meetings to learn more. Many decisions will be made over the coming months and your opinions and comments are important. Let your church leaders hear from you.
A group of volunteers will be coming with young, strong backs to help with moving heavy items. They will start with arranging the pews in the nave so that we can have church in the "natural environment" (no A/C) while we restore Jinkins Hall. Then, later we will have church back in Jinkins Hall while the nave is restored.
Please note:
An important task ahead for the altar guild is to account for all ours vessels and vestments. Many have been redistributed since the storm and as we regroup, we need to know who has what. Please check in with myself (rhonda.cummins@gmail.com), or Marilyn Cooper and let us know what pieces from the sacristy you have and what condition it is in.
Rector's Rebuilding Report
2 (by Rhonda Cummins)
Howdy!
Since Fr. Paul is busy, let me add some of my observations for those searching for news about Grace.
Our Sunday service in Jinkins Hall was a remarkable testament to our family and our community. Being back together helps make all of us stronger. Members from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church (Friendswood) joined the Grace members for services and then divided up to help with the monumental task of gutting our homes. Two members of Giertsen worshipped with us, giving a report on the current progress of their efforts after the service in our parish meeting. It was comforting to see the remediation workers camped out front of Quin Hall watching over our dear church. My spirits were lifted when I walked into the nave and saw the light on in the center of the reredos and our chancel and sanctuary intact. Only the carpet from the nave and chapel had to be removed. No windows were lost. The organ stayed dry. We were fortunate for all this, as well as the positive attitudes that our members continue to show as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives and their ministries.
As for Galveston, each day the city is a little cleaner, the roads a little clearer. Power and telephone service is being restored. Considering it has only been 3 weeks (yes, a very long, long 3 weeks), progress is amazing. Patience continues to be a true commodity. The best part is watching neighbors helping neighbors with labor and encouragement. Be not dismayed, the great spirit of Galveston is alive.
Keep checking back. I am trying to update the web as much as possible. If you have something you want to share with the world, email me (rcummins@academicplanet.com) and I will start a page with your comments.
Gig'em,
Rhonda
Click the red hyperlinks for photographs.
Rector’s Rebuilding Report #1
And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Mt 28.20)
Fr. Paul and Sherry, parish secretary Cathy Gould, and Vestryman David Wilkes went to Grace Church on Thursday, September 18, to meet with our insurance representatives and to begin the work of recovery. All of our buildings were flooded during the hurricane. Quin Hall (including the office, sacristy, vesting room, parlour, and classrooms) suffered the most damage, as the flood water was about 30 inches high throughout the building. Molhusen Youth House, Jinkins Hall, and the Silk Purse had about 18 inches of water, and the Church sanctuary got about 10 inches. The lower floor of the Rectory was also flooded with about three feet of water.
The representatives from the Church Insurance Company went through all of the buildings and noted the damage, and we were authorized to begin recovery work immediately. We hired Giertsen Company of Florida, a company that has been in the business of restoration and bio re-mediation since 1918, to do the work. By noon on Thursday, Grace’s front yard was filled with equipment and trailers and trucks, generators were running, and about fifteen workers were scurrying around. By the 6:00 PM curfew on Thursday, they had removed 100% of the carpet from our main buildings and sucked out most of the mud and slime that was left by the flood waters. All of the pews were put on styrofoam blocks to begin drying. Some of the nicer wooden furniture was put in a cleaned room to dry, but almost all of the furniture in Quin Hall is ruined. Large hoses with fresh air were inserted through the windows and several generators ran the large fans that began drying our buildings.
The initial phase of restoration is very difficult, because it is actually a continuation of the hurricane’s destruction. It is imperative to get rid of things that have been contaminated by “black water” because of the bacteria and mold that are left behind. Therefore; in addition to disposing of our furniture, we have to rip out all of the molding and the lower section of the walls and cabinets in the rooms that were flooded. It is sad to see the cabinets torn from the walls of Jinkins Hall and the credenza ripped out of the Rector’s office, but it is an absolutely necessary part of the recovery process. Cathy and Sherry did salvage all of our damp vestments and hangings from the sacristy and vesting room, and laid them out on the ground to dry. All of them will be washed or dry-cleaned before we decide which ones are salvageable. The silver communion vessels were boxed and taken to Anne Jinkins for cleaning and polishing. David did the nasty job of cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer in Jinkins Hall and helped coordinate the activities of the restoration company. We are doing our best to inventory our losses, and all of your memories will be useful in that regard. If you have a concern that something might be missed, please send an e-mail reminder to the office
The progress that we made in just one day was very heartening, and I want all of you to know that Grace Church and Galveston will be back. As a church, we will support and encourage each other on a daily basis until everyone is back on their feet again.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Paul
Dear Grace Family,
I am blessed to report that I have directly or indirectly heard from almost all of you, and we are grateful that so far all are alive and well. That is truly a miracle in the face of the massive destruction that occurred on our Island. Damage to our property and belongings was 100%; meaning that 100% of us suffered a loss of some magnitude. I send my best wishes and prayers to all of you that are facing the long hard task of recovery and rebuilding. I promise you that Grace Church will be a constant resource for your efforts. Our first church service will be Sunday, September 28 at 9:30 AM. We will have only one service on Sunday for the next several of months, because I think it is important for all of us to be together at the same time and because all of us need more time to do the practical work of God. After the service we will gather for coffee and brunch (if practical) and then send out teams to help each other clean up and stabilize their homes.
In the meantime, you can rest assured that we started the work on the Church last Thursday morning. By the time that you get back on Wednesday, our four main buildings (church, Quin, Jinkins and Molhusen) will have been cleaned and dried and remediated. We are saving as many of the vestments and hangings as we can, but we are faced with replacement of most of our furnishings.
May God bless and keep us all.
See you next Sunday,
Paul+