Sacred Ground, Emerging Story

This week we received the preliminary report from TRC Inc. Although the parent company is based in Greensboro, NC, our pro

ject was overseen by John Kimes, a Geophysical Archaeologist from Columbia, SC. John brings eleven years of experience across thirteen states, with clients ranging from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the North Carolina and South Carolina Departments of Transportation, and now Saint Francis.

Ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) identifies unmarked graves by detecting changes in the soil, not bones or coffins, but the disturbance created when a grave is dug and refilled. The technology is non‑invasive and remarkably sensitive, especially in sandy Lowcountry soil like ours. GPR sends radar pulses into the ground; when those pulses encounter something different from the surrounding soil, disturbed earth, a void, a coffin outline, a burial shaft, they reflect back as anomalies. After surveying the agreed‑upon grid, John takes the data back to the office, where a series of software allows him to slice, analyze, and interpret it in three dimensions. He looks for targets roughly the size and shape of graves, while also considering surface features such as headstones or depressions. From there, he classifies each anomaly as a probable grave, a possible grave, or something else entirely, such as a root channel or animal burrow. This is why the current report is preliminary.  There is a lot to go through.

So what do we have so far? The report identifies 16 probable graves. You may recall that we located 17 death certificates associated with the Con Bailey Cemetery, a strikingly close alignment. The report also notes 14 possible graves, bringing the total number of anomalies to 30. All of them fall within the area in and around the live oaks. More analysis is still to come, but John offered this early conclusion: “The cemetery is where it appears to be, roughly the size it appears to be, but there are more people in that space than it seems.” Remember, only one grave is marked.

That marked grave belongs to Samson Reed (Reid), whose federal military headstone identifies him as a soldier of the 21st United States Colored Infantry. Like many enslaved men in the Lowcountry, Reid enlisted during the Civil War, serving in a regiment that helped secure the very freedom he would later live into. In 1881, sixteen years after emancipation, he purchased 15 acres for $150, a remarkable achievement for a freedman whose wages were hard‑earned and rarely secure. His family buried him on that land, a sign of ownership, stability, and dignity. Together with the death certificates, the GPR survey now confirms additional related burials surrounding his stone. Between the careful GPR work, the research of Toni Carrier finding death certificates, and what we know about burial traditions in our region, the story is taking shape. We may never know every detail, but we do know this: as a church, we are now the caretakers, the stewards, of this remarkable family cemetery.

Important Calendar Dates

Jun

May 15 - Church Auction

May 20 - Taizé Prayer Service with
the Presbyterian Church on Edisto

June 28 - Pride Celebration

From the Rector - Property - Building Committee

It was with grateful hearts that the Vestry received the final report from the Dreamers’ Task Force this past Tuesday. With that act, the Dreamers have completed the work they were charged to do. By now, most of us have had the opportunity to view the short video (see it here) and offer feedback. The Vestry and this congregation extend heartfelt appreciation to all who served so faithfully on this task force: chair Olivia Padget, Amelia Powers, Christian Stemkowski, Robin Smith, George Hayworth, and Vestry liaison Jean Murray.

So what comes next? The dream has been cast… but how does that dream take shape on our property? How do we discern which parts of the dream we can realistically accomplish now, and which parts may need to wait or be discarded altogether? To take up the mantle handed off by the Dreamers, the Vestry has formed a newly constituted Building Committee.

Buildings, property, and money are ultimately the responsibility of the Vestry, but it is customary to constitute a committee to do the day‑to‑day work. Committees do the detailed work that enables the Vestry to make informed decisions.

To avoid confusion, it’s important to name how these groups differ. It is important to be clear about our structure. Our Building Committee is different from the Doers Task Force. Yes, the Doers Task Force is still hard at work getting the property ready for our future campus. That is not the work of the Building Committee. The Building Committee discerns and designs… the Doers Task Force executes and implements. One works with architects; the other works with vendors. One moves at the pace of discernment; the other moves at the pace of real‑world logistics.

Current members of the Building Committee are George Hayworth, Gary Cantrell, Rosalie Crouch, Jeff Neumann, and Vestry liaison Carla Cantrell. Each of these members either heard the “what’s next” conversations in church or read about them in the newsletter and then stepped forward to serve. If you, too, feel called in this way, please contact Fr. Joseph. While it is important for this committee to remain small and nimble, there is room for a few more members.

Currently, as we understand things, our most pressing need is to move from the dream to a master plan. This master plan is step one. Think of it this way: the Dreamers set a broad vision with only a few in‑depth details. It sounded like this… we want a church influenced by traditional Lowcountry architecture; we want buildings where we can minister to our community. And they gave us so much more to work with.

In this next phase, we will enlist an architect to walk with us through a process of discernment, helping us tease out our most pressing needs. The master plan will become the major building block of our future campus. We still will not know paint colors or exactly where bathrooms might go, but things will begin to come into focus.

To assist us in this first step, the Building Committee will be discerning, interviewing, and getting to know architects so that they can make a recommendation to the Vestry. Ultimately, this is a Vestry decision. Their charge to the building committee is:

1. Receive and review the full body of work produced by the Dreamers.

2. Engage architects and consultants as authorized by the Vestry.

3. Develop conceptual options that reflect the parish’s mission and the realities of our site.

4. Facilitate parish listening through forums and conversations.

5. Assess feasibility, including phasing, cost ranges, and timelines.

6. Report regularly to the Vestry with updates and recommendations.

As this work unfolds, there will be many opportunities for listening, learning, and conversation. Please keep the Building Committee, the Doers Task Force, and the Vestry in your prayers. Together, step by step, we will see how God’s dream for this parish takes shape on this holy ground.

Joseph+

Honoring Memorial Day Together on May 24

Taizé Style Prayer Service

Join us on Wednesday, May 20^th for an evening of Fellowship and Taizé music as we join choir, voices, and prayer with the Presbyterian Church on Edisto.  We will meet at 6:00 pm in their parish hall for dinner followed by Taizé style music and prayer. All are welcome and encourage to attend. 

Readers for Pentecost

As is the custom of Saint Francis, we need folks who can read in a foreign language to assist us in reading the Pentecost story from the Acts of the Apostles. Please contact Fr. Joseph if you can help.  If you speak to him in church, make sure he writes it down or better yet, write on a sheet of paper your name and the language you can help with. We will be reading Acts 2:5-14. Follow this LINK to see a translation for many languages. While you will be taken to an Italian version, simply click on the dropdown menu found in the upper right hand corner of the website to change the language. (picture below)

Church Auction

Save the Date, Friday, May 15

Our 4th Annual Auction will be held on Friday, May 15th from 5–7:30 PM at the home of Barb and Bill Houston, 2810 Palmetto Blvd.  

We are inviting donations of auction items. Last call May 8th. 

All are welcome and every contribution helps. Thank you for supporting this year’s auction with such enthusiasm and care.

Look for an email next week to sign up for food.

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Outreach

         Hearts and Hands

What is our Hearts and Hands Ministry? Hearts and Hands is a meals ministry that supports our church family during times of need. Think of it like the "take a penny, leave a penny" tray at a cash register—if you're able to give, we welcome your help; if you're in need, we're here for you.

If you're willing to cook a meal, please reach out to Jean Murray, to be added to the contact list for when the meal chain is activated. And if you’ve been ill, hospitalized, or could simply use a helping hand, contact Jean or Fr. Joseph to receive support through this ministry. 

The Blessing Box now has a fresh look!  A new door thanks to Jeff Neumann and repainted inside. We so appreciate the continued contributions. The box is filled several times a week and is emptied within 24 hours (except the carrots and beans!).  

Keep up with what is going on around our diocese and enjoy the weekly newsletter. Simply click anywhere on the image below and link to the latest diocesan news.
 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Sharon Dooley receiving her birthday blessing and Pat and Alison Hunter getting their anniversary blessing.

May Birthdays:

Shelagh North-Coombes 5/03, Carla Cantrell 5/06,  Laura Goldsmith 5/06, Ginny King 5/7, Dean Habhegger 5/13, Janet Oakley 5/13, Elizabeth Galaida 5/14, Joseph Smith 5/18, Kathy Kuntz 5/25

Please email any errors and omissions for February birthdays by clicking

HERE

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Upcoming Service Schedule
(Click on image for larger view)

Church Prayer List

Faithfully Departed

Stella Conte

Bruce Earnshaw

Jameely Moore

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You may also  follow this Link

to give, or contributors can text ECOEGIVE to the number 73256, followed by their gift amount, to give online through text.  The 73256 is used instead of a phone number.