Little Church with a Big Heart

Bruce Seibert (Small Church Steering Committee, Convocation: Northeastern) is a layperson at Church of the Messiah, Gonzales. In his role on the Steering Committee, Bruce has been visiting various small churches in the diocese. This spring, Bruce and fellow Messiah-parishioner Sandi Ward visited nearby Church of the Annunciation and had a conversation with its rector, the Rev. Jim Kee-Rees. Bruce can be contacted at blsiebert@outlook.com

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The Church of the Annunciation, Luling celebrated its 150th anniversary last December, when Bishop Read addressed the congregation, and spoke to its past, its present, and enthusiastically about its future. Following the services, lunch and fellowship was held in the newly remodeled kitchen and dining room of the Parish Hall. That same Parish Hall serves as the site for Annunciation’s “no strings suppers,” where every Wednesday, the whole community is invited to dinner. Parishioners prepare food for all attendees and also deliver to those who are unable to attend. About 250 meals are prepared weekly.

Alongside renovations to the kitchen and Parish Hall, Annunciation’s altar has recently been moved forward and refinished. Plus, the church has plans to expand and update the playground to make space for both adults and children to be outside together.

The church members of Annunciation give generously of their time, talent and treasure in addition to the weekly suppers. For example, the Quilts and Cars Fundraiser helps to support the “no strings supper” and other church projects. For more than 70 years, the women of the church have been doing an Enchilada Supper Fundraiser, gathering together to have fun rolling enchiladas. The proceeds of that supper help to fund the youth program. Not to be outdone, the men of the church hold an annual raffle for a quarter of a beef steer. The proceeds from this event help to fund youth projects around Luling and the annual mission trip to Watonga. The county seat of Blaine County, Watonga is located within the former Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation, opened for non-Indian settlement in the land run on April 19, 1892. During their mission trip Annunciation and Luling youth help host VBS, do small repairs around the church, cook meals for the community, and clean headstones at the historic Indian Baptist Cemetery.

But that’s not all! Annunciation is a vibrant and active place, hosting a number of special events and ongoing programs:

• An exhibit on loan to the church during Lent featured the life of Christ as depicted in 18th century art.
• During a youth lock-in in May, ten youth stayed at a local ranch playing games, swimming, fishing, and building community.
• A Middle School Youth Group is beginning to take shape on Wednesday Nights.
• New acolytes are being trained to serve on Sunday mornings.
• Father Jim leads a regular adult Bible Study.
• And a new prayer ministry on Sundays during the worship service has just begun.

This is one busy little church! And Father Jim Kee-Rees and the congregation like it that way. Father Jim encourages shared decision making wherever possible, and appreciates the way the congregation comes together, reaches out to each other during times of change, and are all flexible and generous enough to rotate leadership among all members.

And, Father Jim says he especially appreciates the way the congregation loves and supports families with special needs children and adults and welcomes them into the church.

Father Jim Kee-Rees brings a deep love and understanding of nature along with 37 years of experience to his role of rector at the Church of the Annunciation. His credo is one of “Friendship Evangelization” and it shows. His welcome on the church’s website reads, “We are joyful, and there is much laughter amidst God’s work. Come as you are, be who you are here at Annunciation.” When we asked Father Jim what one thing he would most like for the world to know about this church, he answered with a big smile, “This is a small church with a big heart, and a big mission.”