Inreach
Our Holy Spirit Community is our family. We pledge to take care of one another
in times of need and in times of crisis. We raise each other up in
the day-to-day and in the unimaginable times.
Inreach Ministries
St. Josephs Guild prepares and provides receptions after funerals.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors bring Holy Communion to our shut-ins, helping to keep them connected to our congregation. (This ministry has recently restarted after being on hiatus during the pandemic.) Intercessory Prayer Group follows Timothy’s urging “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” We have a firm faith in the power of prayer and believe that, as Christians, we are called to pray for the world and for our community. We also believe that one of the best supports and services we can all give to our parish is prayer. We meet monthly to pray an Intercessory prayer service for healing, comfort, rescue, support, guidance and God’s Peace. Our prayer list includes names of people and organizations from our parish, clergy, communities and the wider world. We also pray for those whose names or needs we do not know, confident that God knows the needs of all. Each member of the Intercessory Prayer Group has committed to pray on a specific day each week, so that there is always someone praying, in confidence, for all those on the prayer list and for the needs of the world. Prayer Shawl Ministry meets monthly to create knitted and crocheted shawls for the newly baptized and others who might be in need of comfort and to feel love wrapped around them. Our Daughters of the King (DOK) ministry strives to serve our parish and our community. Recent service projects include; collecting and filling purses with all of the things women need to carry with them and donating them to Mission of Yahweh, collecting and delivering men’s shoes to support those served by Lord of the Streets. |
Worship & Inreach Ministries
Worship:
Acolytes Altar Guild Chalice Bearers Children’s Church Lay Readers Music Ministry Ushers Vergers |
Inreach:
Daughters of the King Fellowship Events Flower Guild Lay Eucharist Visitors Prayer Shawl St. Joseph Guild Weddings Welcome Committee |
In Times of Crisis
In our recent history, our community and others were impacted by two major events – Hurricane Harvey and a global pandemic.
As we responded, we saw the time, talents, and physical labor coalesce into something that was greater than we could have imagined.
These experiences further defined our community as one that is ever stronger when we come together in service to others;
the connections we made, both in person and virtually, brought new faces to our church community.
As we responded, we saw the time, talents, and physical labor coalesce into something that was greater than we could have imagined.
These experiences further defined our community as one that is ever stronger when we come together in service to others;
the connections we made, both in person and virtually, brought new faces to our church community.
H U R R I C A N E H A R V E Y
In August 2017 Harvey, a devastating Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Texas and Louisiana. Much of Houston was left under water for days and many areas for weeks. Our Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and School Community was ground-zero after the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, but together we worked to achieve the following:
Assisting 60+ Holy Spirit Community families that were directly impacted by the flooding, through mucking and clearing of homes, financial support, and gifts of items and supplies for months following the disaster. Sharing our worship, church office, and classroom space with flooded Emmanuel Episcopal Church & School. Acting as good neighbors to the surrounding neighborhoods through no-cost provision of tools and clean-up supplies, debris clearing of a low-income housing area, and supplying water and first aid kits to local rescuers and community coordinators. Arranging for the distribution of over $250,000 in cash and in-kind donations from donors from around the country to those in need. Also, assisting in coordinating, housing, and feeding the teams of out-of-town volunteers who generously lent their time and talents to the clean-up effort. Assisting the Diocese in getting clergy members and staff into the heart of our neighborhoods, and serving on larger committees to explore longer term needs of the Churches impacted beyond our Diocese. |
G L O B A L P A N D E M I C
The arrival of the Pandemic in 2020 brought unique and unexpected challenges to the entire world. The Holy Spirit community, under the dedicated leadership of our clergy and staff, maintained remarkable connection throughout this period of isolation. Worship services, led by our clergy, were streamed from the church website and included readings which were recorded and submitted by our lay readers, organ accompaniment for hymns, and pre-recorded solos presented by members of our choir, all edited together into a seamless order of worship for a Rite II Eucharist. There was always a cheerful chorus of “hello’s” as individuals logged on before the service began, and we often had friends and former members from other cities and even other countries join us in worship. Children had the opportunity to participate in Formation via Zoom.
Volunteers left surprise packages on our doorsteps for Easter, and we awoke one day to yard signs, reminding us that we were loved and missed. Many members of our community joined small groups and enjoyed weekly Happy Hour Zoom gatherings. Old friendships were nurtured, and new connections were made.
When we returned to in-person worship it was truly a homecoming and we were delighted to meet new people who had joined us for the first time online and had worshipped with us from home throughout the pandemic.
Volunteers left surprise packages on our doorsteps for Easter, and we awoke one day to yard signs, reminding us that we were loved and missed. Many members of our community joined small groups and enjoyed weekly Happy Hour Zoom gatherings. Old friendships were nurtured, and new connections were made.
When we returned to in-person worship it was truly a homecoming and we were delighted to meet new people who had joined us for the first time online and had worshipped with us from home throughout the pandemic.