A month later

On May 26, 2013, Grace Episcopal Church held its last service of worship and then closed. The decline had been coming on - with occasions of hope-filled bright spots - for a long time. Money might have helped keep the doors open. But, and I make every effort not to use the word but unless I want to call the previous clause into question, but, the people could no longer carry on. In God's good time, it was time to let it go.

It is now a month later. The building stands empty, waiting for Our Diocese, Connecticut, to discern, with God's help, how that property can best be used to join God's mission of restoration and reconciliation of all people and creation to God and one another.

The people have dispersed. I hear, from time to time, their forays into trying other places, their signs of hope for their next place of worship.

And the greatest sign of hope for the work that was done at 1 Union Park in Norwalk Connecticut, begun on Belden Avenue 1n 1890, is the story of Holy Needles.

This was a ministry introduced to Grace by Deacon Sally Herring. The purpose was to knit shawls for people who could use a sign of the prayers of the community at Grace. As people knit, or crocheted prayer shawls, they talked. They taught one another. They brought the concerns of the community of Norwalk to one another and worked on how to meet them. Men and women both were part of this community. When Family and Children's Agency wanted to present to Grace the opportunities the agency has for outreach, working within the City of Norwalk, it was to Holy Needles they came. And Holy Needles engaged members of the congregation in the connection with FCA.

When the vote was taken in April to close the church - a vote with only three dissents - the women and men of Holy Needles talked about how they might continue their work together and their conversations on behalf of the community.

A former parishioner heard of this, and made a suggestion. There is a local residential care facility that is looking for a group to come in regularly and teach and/or encourage knitting or crocheting to the residents, and engage them in conversation. After meeting one time at a local coffee house, the group decided that they would take up the invitation from the care facility. Now, every first and third Saturday morning, you will find Holy Needles embedded in the community, outside the church walls, where they have found God has gone with them.

I can think of no greater legacy for Grace Episcopal Church, Norwalk, Connecticut to have left. God grant them many years of loving service in the name of Jesus Christ.