Thursday, May 3, 2012


We are excited to be sharing the life and ministry of La Capilla.  For me it is a place of challenge, wonder, and change, or in priest talk, a place of grace and transformational blessing!
A continual sense of newness and energy make ministry here fun and wonderful.  This joy sustains us all through the struggles we face, both as individuals and as a community, and fills us with confidence for the unknown way ahead.   But it wasn’t always so. 

The Rev. Ray Oropeza is standing in the center.  
We began ministry in this small community after a failed attempt at a Spanish liturgy at our home church.  It seemed the prudent thing to take church to the people instead of trying to get the people to come to church, especially since there was fifteen miles between.  Our first service was on Palm Sunday four years ago.  The Rev. Ray Oropeza presided.  The service was held in the community hall and setting up for the service took almost as long as the worship itself!  The building was noisy and on occasion the rooms used for children’s ministry would be locked.  It was difficult to get the word out and attendance was small and sporadic.  But Rev. Oropeza had the gift of quiet patience and so week after week he came;  to visit, to listen, to knock on doors, and to celebrate Holy Communion and pray with the people gathered.  Slowly a community of faith began to form.  When he died unexpectedly the following year, a small church mourned his passing.

Since then the church has grown and in the fall of 2011 we were able to move into a building where there is an office, a chapel, a nursery, as well as a meeting and worship space.  It is in the heart of the community so now La Capilla de la Gracia is at work seven days a week.  The ministry administrators, Maria and Ofelia, welcome all who come.  They listen to needs and fears and connect people with the services they are seeking.  They have developed networking partners throughout the valley and sponsor any number of health and education programs for area residents.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays children come for assistance with homework, tutoring, and a general good time with adult volunteers.  A youth program meets every other Wednesday evening for supper, games, art, and religious education.  An adult Bible study meets weekly and classes for sacrament preparation are ongoing.  There is a small food bank.  Slowly, but surely, La Capilla is building community and becoming a place of welcome and peace.

On Sunday the large meeting room becomes a sanctuary for worship at 2 p.m.  This late hour gives those who work in the fields a chance to get needed rest and the priest time to travel.  A small chapel is being developed so that there will be a place set apart to meditate and pray during the week.  We are excited to announce that the bishop will be coming to dedicate the chapel on June 24!

La Capilla is an extension of the community and ministry of Grace Episcopal Church.  Our mission is to be one people worshipping in two languages.  We do ministry with one another, just as we, on occasion, worship with one another.  Both spaces, both ministries, belong to all.  This is especially true with our youth ministries.  Children and youth from both places participate fully together.  We are currently gearing up for Adventure Club.  This names our every other week hiking adventure!  We leave early in the morning on Wednesdays and return in the early afternoon.  (Watch for our great pictures and posts!)  The challenge of hiking the mountains and deserts has a subtle, yet profound effect that overlooks our differences and lets us connect with God and one another in a unique and wonderful way.


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