For those that missed Peter’s update during his sermon on June 16th regarding our campus improvements, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide the latest information.

The good news is that we are on track to be in the new social hall by year-end!

The new social hall is going to be beautiful!  The demolition of the bathrooms, kitchen and storage room is complete.  Moving the bathrooms and storage room to the side annex, a brand-new kitchen and installing the elevator will be an amazing enhancement for us and our guests.  Adding an outdoor patio area, gazebo, and enhancing the Barton Room for bridal parties will bring in additional dollars through rentals of our beautiful space.

After delays with the city permitting, and redirecting an unexpected underground stream, we laid the annex floor and elevator base, and the walls are going up.  The renovations of the social hall are also beginning.

As many of you know, we made a commitment that all capital campaign dollars would be raised with no burden on the church’s operating budget.  After we secured the funding for the original budget of $727,000, construction work began. 

We recently reviewed our comprehensive plan, which includes outstanding items related to the social hall project, and other important items needed on campus, so that all projects are included.  Our vision is that we take care of all outstanding campus improvements at this time.  This includes such items as new doors for the classrooms, new fencing around the children’s playground, emergency north wing roof repairs, better church signage, repair of the Anthony Room deck, updating the south-wing restrooms, and repairing our outdoor decks and stairs. 

Further details will go to you this summer after Board approval.  The balance is estimated to be a little more than $300,000 and here is the good news: due to a challenge grant from Lynn Shad, Kathleen McKenzie and David Laffitte, all donations will be matched up to $150,000; so because of their generosity, we are already almost halfway to our goal. 

Capital Campaign co-chairs, Peter Racine and Kathleen McKenzie, and I will be reaching out to you over the summer.  We want to empower each member to give according to their means.  There is a place for everyone in this campaign!  Also, there will be options for one-time payments or payments over-time. (Please note that contributions to the Capital Campaign are separate from our annual Mission Funding which takes place in the fall and covers our general operating expenses.) 

There are certain things that are “life-changers,” and for this church, our members, and our guests, this project is truly one!  Please do not hesitate to contact me, Kathleen or Peter with any questions you may have. 

Sincerely,
Meg Rohal
Board President