FINAL WORDS

​In March of 2023, the Congregation Council had its first discussion of a capital campaign to address needs identified by the Property Team to sustain our building into the future. Fifteen months later, we have concluded a Capital Campaign to fund those improvements. We set a three-tiered goal: $1.5 million to do the minimum. $1.8 million to do what was essential. $2 million to do all we hoped to accomplish. As it stands, we have received commitments of $2.352 million from 203 households of the congregation.  

---

​These commitments will allow us to maintain our building, welcome guests, and serve the community far into the future. They will also provide $235,000 in grants to our mission partners to feed the hungry, house the homeless, nurture the disabled, welcome the refugee, and much more.  

The Congregation Council has appointed an Implementation Committee which has already met to begin obtaining bids for HVAC system improvements. The process continues without delay. 

Looking at what God has done through the people of this place, a lot of words come to a preacher’s mind. I offer just three: 

A word of thanks: I’ll borrow from Paul to offer a word of thanks. He writes to the people of Philippi, whom he loved dearly, “I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-6). 

Thank you to all the leaders who stepped up to the praying, planning, communicating, hosting, feeding, visiting, and asking that made this possible. The Body of Christ demonstrated the vast variety of gifts given and the willingness to serve. Thank you to Walsh and Associates and their director Melanie Haddock who led us faithfully and professionally. Thank you to all those who made thoughtful and generous gifts of all sizes so that, together, we could do what God called us to do.  

A word of encouragement: The 203 commitments received represent a little over a quarter of the households who call this place home. We know that the generosity of others sometimes makes up for our own struggle to give. Yet we also know that we are all called to give as an act of loving God. I’ll borrow again from Paul and say, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8) If you have not yet made a commitment, or just need to let us know you can’t at this time, please prayerfully do so.  

A word of hope:  This effort has shown us God’s grace and revealed to us that God has plans for us. We have seen new relationships form, new leaders and disciples emerge, worship attendance has risen, and people are excited about the movement of the Spirit in our midst.   We need not fret about our future. God is with us. We need not worry about whether there is enough of anything, God has provided and will continue to do so! Paul, once again, has a word of hope: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) 

Pax Christi,  
Tim Olson – Lead Pastor