I. From the Desk of the Vicar
Dearests of St. Joe’s,
I am writing today with some complicated and important news concerning our church building.
Having observed structural concerns within the sanctuary, we engaged a structural engineer to perform a site evaluation across two visits in February. On Wednesday afternoon, we received the structural engineer’s report. The report stated that, based on his observations and findings—and given the extent of structural deficiencies throughout the building—the issues pose a significant safety concern and the church sould cease operations in the sanctuary until structural repairs can be made. (I am speaking here only of the church building, not of the parish house.) I immediately contacted the Diocese, and in consultation with the bishop and diocesan staff members, it was confirmed that we need to vacate immediately.
I know this news may come as a real sadness or shock to many of you who hold this space so dearly. Over these past two days, I have felt a tenderness, and a deep love for this place and for you.
Your vestry, deacon, sexton, and I met last night to discuss the short-term ramifications of this and to begin considering longer-term ones. For the immediate future: on the next two Sundays—Palm Sunday (March 29th) and Easter Sunday (April 5th)—we will gather, for both our 10:30 am and our 6:00 pm services, in the sanctuary at Beth El Synagogue (1004 Watts St., Durham). I and the vestry are deeply grateful to Rabbi Daniel Grayber and to the Beth El community for their immediate and generous hospitality.
All of our weekday Holy Week services will go forward as planned — in the room at the top of the steps in our parish house (the space used by the Romanian church; many thanks to Father Florin and the Romanian church community for their flexibility in allowing us to use this space between their own Sunday worship services). Let me name plainly that this space is not accessible to those with mobility challenges, as it requires walking up steep stairs. I will be in touch directly with those I know for whom this will be difficult; if you fall into that category and you have not heard from me by this Sunday, please contact me directly.
Below in the announcements is a comprehensive list of our Holy Week worship services. I want to particularly flag our overnight vigil with Jesus in the form of the consecrated host from Thursday night until Friday morning. We hope that at least two people will be keeping vigil throughout the night, so I encourage you to sign up (there can certainly be more than two people in any given hour, so please feel free to add your name even where two pwople are already signed up). As in years past, we will have a security guard present through the night. Sign up here.
We are making one small change to the previously announced schedule: confessions on Wednesday, previously scheduled from 3:45 to 5:45 in my office, will now be heard from 3:45 to 4:45, enabling us to use the downstairs of the parish house for part of our 5 pm intergenerational Holy Week service. If you wish to make a confession and that time does not work for you, please contact me to arrange another time.
The vestry and I actively working on plans for where we can gather for Sunday worship after Easter, and we will share those as soon as we are able. For the time being, our Monday-Saturday Morning Prayer services and Wednesday evening prayer services will also happen in the upstairs parish house space.
There is much we do not yet know. We do not yet have a plan for repairing the church building, and we do not know how long we will be out of that building. The Diocese is fully apprised of the situation, and is working closely with us. The vestry and I will, of course, keep you updated as we learn more.
This news comes to us at the threshold of Holy Week, when the Church turns again toward the story of Christ’s passion—toward a week in which places we expect to be stable are shaken, and what seemed secure is revealed to be fragile. Over the course of this week, we will hear again of a temple that is questioned, unsettled, and ultimately understood anew in the light of Christ. And we will remember that Jesus himself speaks of his body as the temple—“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In this season especially, we are reminded that the Church is not finally a building, however beloved, but a people gathered into Jesus’ life.
It is not lost on me that a congregation so committed to serving those with housing insecurity is now entering, in a way, into our own form of it—a kind of worship homelessness. And yet, even here, we are not without dwelling. We are held in Jesus, who makes his home among us and gathers us wherever we are.
Our beloved church building holds so many sacred memories—of prayer, song, sacraments, and community—and it will not be easy to step away for a time. I am confident in the resilience of this congregation and in our capacity to meet this moment together. As ever, if you have questions or concerns, please send them directly to me.
I often say how much I look forward to worshiping with you, and how much I cherish every moment of Holy Week at St. Joe’s. If anything, this unexpected circumstance has only deepened both cherishments.
With love from,
Vicar Lauren
II. Announcements
Holy Week at St. Joseph’s
Please note Morning Prayer will gather in the upstairs during Holy Week, Monday-Saturday at 8:15 AM in the upstairs room of the parish house.
Palm Sunday, Sunday, March 29, 10:30 AM & 6:00 PM, Beth El Synagogue, 1004 Watts St. - with bagpiping!
Intergenerational Service: Wednesday, April 1, 5:00 PM, parish house
Tenebrae: Wednesday, April 1, 6:00 PM, parish house
Maundy Thursday: Thursday, April 2, 6:00 PM, parish house
Night Watch: Thursday, April 2-Friday, April 3, parish house
The Night Watch begins concluding the Maundy Thursday service and ends when morning prayer begins on Friday, April 3rd. Sign up for an hour-long slot here.
Silent Prayer: Friday, April 3, 12:00 PM, parish house
Good Friday Liturgy: Friday, April 3, 6:00 PM, parish house
Holy Saturday: Saturday, April 4,10:30 AM, Holy Saturday liturgy, parish house
The Great Vigil of Easter: Saturday, April 4, 9:00 PM, parish house
Dessert social in the parish house following the Easter Vigil. If you would like to help by baking or bringing a dessert (not required, but most welcome!) please email Jan Krause.
Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5, 10:30 AM & 6:00 PM, Beth El Synagogue, 1004 Watts St.
After the morning service, children of all ages are welcome to participate in a festive egg hunt. Bring a basket if you have one; bags will be provided if you don’t have one.
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Sarah Jobe, friend of St. Joe’s and director of chaplaincy services for North Carolina’s prison system, will celebrate her new fabulous book about prison chaplaincy, No Godforsaken Place, at Vicar Lauren’s house on April 11, 4:30-6:30. All of St. Joe’s is invited. Please let the vicar know if you plan to attend. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.
Our Congregational Care teams help parishioners by providing meals, transportation, visitation and prayer, child care, and help with physical tasks. Joining a team means you'll see requests as they come through, but there's no obligation that you respond. If you or a loved one could benefit from one of these ministries, or you'd like to join a team, please reach out to care@stjosephsdurham.org.
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St. Joe’s is going out to the ballgame! * We are scheduling two Bulls outings this summer: Sunday, June 21 at 5:05 p.m. and Thursday, August 13 at 6:45 p.m. If you are interested in attending either (or both), please email Patrick Burrows. Tickets will be $5.
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On April 10, from 9:30 am-1:30 pm at the Southwest branch of the Durham County Library, help turn feed bags into useful tote bags, all of the bags made will be directly donated to the breakfast ministry at St. Joe’s. Feel free to bring your own sewing machine, or use one that will available onsite, all materials will be provided, and no sewing experience is required. Register here if you are able to attend.
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Newcomer Soiree * Thursday, May 28th from 5:00-7:00 pm at Vicar Laurens home. We hope anyone is new or newish to St. Joe’s will join us, and we also hope many who are not so new will join — exactly so that newer folks can meet some people who have been part of St. Joe’s a bit longer. All are welcome! RSVP here. Questions? Email Lauren Norton.
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Confessions during Lent * Vicar Lauren will hear confessions during Lent in the Vicar’s office on Wednesday, April 1, 3:45-4:45 pm. Just show up—if the office door is closed, please wait outside the Vicar’s office. If you have questions about making a confession, or if you need to make an appointment for some other time slot, please get in touch with Vicar Lauren.
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Congregational Conversations * What is meaningful to you about St. Joe’s? What do you dream for our church over the next 5 or 10 years? You are invited, together with your family unit (or up to 2 close friends, folks you feel you share your life with in some regard) to, at some point in 2026, sign up for a conversation with a two members of parish leadership (clergy and/or current and immediate-past vestry members). Your vestry is anticipating these conversations with real joy and enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to sit with you and learn from you about your life at St Joseph’s.
III. March Vestry Highlights
New signage * The vestry thanked the Building and Grounds committee (and especially Paul Siceloff!) for their recent work in designing new signage for the property.
Breakfast fundraiser * Senior Warden James Chappel updated the vestry on the progress of this year’s Lenten breakfast fundraiser so far, emphasizing the effort undertaken by those who have written letters and sent texts and emails on behalf of this ministry. The vestry especially thanks Charlotte McGee for the immense amount of work she has taken on in organizing the fundraiser. Several vestry members expressed hope for strong parishioner involvement in the weeks remaining, especially from parishioners who have not yet been involved.
New Children’s Ministry Committee * Senior Warden James shared that this newly formed committee, charged with considering the priorities for children’s and youth ministry at St Joe’s, had a productive first meeting. The vestry expressed grateful to those serving on this committee and excitement about receiving its recommendations.
IV.Art
V. Community Events
Sacred Places: Decoding the Spiritual * Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts is hosting the debut of Matthew Rushing's new community-focused ballet on Saturday, April 11 from 7:00-9:00 pm. This version of the ballet was created through research with Divinity and University faculty, and the performance will feature Trinity and Divinity students as well as members of the Durham dance community. Register here.
Southern Trans Convening, TDOV Annual “What’s Tea” * Join for the Annual TDOV gathering “What’s Tea” on Saturday, March 28, 2:00- 5:00 pm at Durham Central Park. This is a collaboration between, The LGBTQ Center of Durham, Southerners on New Ground (SONG), Black LGBTQ Migrant Project (BLMP), Fierce and Free, and The Transgender Law Center (TLC). Learn more here.