An Update from the Renew, Rebuild Committee

“Giving does not only precede receiving; it is the reason for it. It is in giving that we receive.”
Isrealmore Ayivor

Your Renew and Rebuild Committee provides this update to the “receiving” part of our wonderful church community’s pledges relative to the 2023 Capital Campaign drive. As a refresher, $1,803,710 was pledged. The expenditures against that total so far are $1,220,307. Some of the completed projects are obvious; others not so much. And…we are not done. (Fifty two of seventy two projects and tasks have been completed.)

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Maya Angelou

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, the bigger projects completed include a remodeled kitchen and staff main office as well as new playground equipment installed on a much safer fall zone surface. New desks for all staff and volunteer locations were purchased. New porcelain tile covers the foyer, kitchen, downstairs bathroom hallway, Channing Hall (replacing worn carpet) and the hallway from Channing to the Sanctuary. A new digital sign and landscape improvements might also be noticed (although we are not done on the Fannin Street side relative to landscaping).

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill

Some large, yet less visible tasks completed include the creation of a facilities reserve fund that is multiple in size to past years as well as paying off an old First Church endowment loan. While the low interest loan acquired to add solar panels to our campus was not originally a Capital Campaign target task, Capital Campaign monies have paid off that loan early to save the church interest charges. A large Emergency Contingency Fund was approved by the Board for $290,000 of which half of that target amount has been deposited via Capital Campaign funds. The Emergency Contingency Fund was created to avoid future cash flow challenges when a costly unexpected facility expense occurs such as the elevator retrofit several years ago.

“No one has ever become poor from giving."

Anne Frank

Yet to be completed of the larger projects and tasks include completing the deposits for the Emergency Contingency Fund as well as building a new First Church website You may have noticed the active website precursor work that is focused on new branding (selecting a new church logo for example). Additionally, new chairs throughout the campus are to be selected and ordered. Finally, relative to the larger projects on our list, some security enhancements to the campus are under consideration.

There is a separate sub-committee under the Renew and Rebuild Committee chartered with sanctuary modernization projects. You may have just completed a survey related to sanctuary changes (and a big thanks to those of you that did). The survey will guide the Sanctuary Modernization Sub Committee team to prioritize changes, acquire costs and work with the Renew and Rebuild Committee to complete those projects.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

Mahatma Gandhi

As stewards of the Capital Campaign fund, the Renew and Rebuild Committee appreciates your trust in our decisions and actions. Your generosity has allowed for tremendous improvements to our campus!

Michael Morrison

Chair, Renew and Rebuild Committee