A Senior Moment: Waiting…….

I like to ‘live in the moment’ but it is hard to avoid the excitement coming our way in the near future at St. John’s. We await Eric’s arrival and the opportunity to welcome him and Rosemary to our community, our church family.

We look forward to hosting Reading Camp which will probably be under way as you are reading this. We are humbled by the volunteers, most of whom are veteran teachers and librarians, who give some lucky kids a week-long and fun-filled experience they won’t forget.

And then there’s the parking lot! Since our last publication a contractor has been hired and has met with a committee of staff, wardens and the architect for a final walk-through before breaking ground. It looks like a tentative start date for construction is July 22. We are hopeful that with patience and some generosity from our neighbors that it will cause minimal disruption to parishioners, staff and guests. John Blake, property contact for Sacred Heart, has generously met with us and is helping navigate some neighborly accommodations while our new lot is constructed.

Here is what we understand about where to park at church during the construction of the new lot which we are hoping will be necessary only for four to six weeks:

Parking on Sunday morning: Roadside parking around the church, of course, is still an option. Please use the Sacred Heart lot adjacent to our lot accessible through the alley or Quarrier St. If necessary, their larger lot accessible via Virginia St is an option but is often also used by First Presbyterian which means it can get crowded.

Parking on weekdays: Again, Sacred Heart has offered their Virginia St parking lot as an option but only until teachers return to work when the gates will be locked to outsiders. We are seeking options for weekday parking from the city when Sacred Heart/Charleston Catholic is back in session and, if necessary, some privileges in the Quarrier St Sacred Heart lot which would involve some special passes and, at our suggestion, some rental fees. We will keep you informed by email and announcements in church as to how this unfolds. Please check with Linda or Mike in the office if you find yourself needing parking during the week and are unsure as to what’s available.

Many thanks to the many who have stepped up during this time of transition as we await Eric’s arrival. Linda and Mike in the office continue to work overtime, filling in the gaps. Brian Hamra, junior warden, might as well set up residence there as he manages food service, property needs and is a Reading Camp regular. A special thanks to Beth Marquert who has arranged supply clergy during this time. My job as Senior Warden has been made easy by all of you!