We are launching this much-needed campaign to support our vision of becoming a Beloved Community

• We believe in our vision by promoting our identity as a welcoming, inviting and caring church that understands how to serve our community.
• Our church is moving forward with renewed focus and growing in our faith and relationship with God & others by enhancing fellowship and worship for all life stages.
• Our strong faith-based community over the years has laid the foundation for reaching others more effectively and investing in the future.
• We want to leave a legacy of service in ministry and mission for the next generation by attracting families with children.

• Funds will be allocated first to replenish monies used to pay for the three projects completed over the summer – NE Ramp Flood, Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary Lighting – based on urgency, timing and grant fulfillment. This will ensure that our financial foundation remains strong into the future.
• You may designate one of the three needs or a specific project aspect if you would like to target how your donation is used. Your request will be honored, and your donation will be applied to your chosen need.

The operating budget covers the annual costs of existing ministries. The entire operating budget is usually spent each year. It’s not designed for periodic extraordinary expenditures like major capital expenditures or new initiatives. We can’t cover these expenses through our annual operating budget – they are too large.

The SLB (Servant Leadership Board renamed from the ALB) designated the Building Change Priority Committee in May 2024 to prioritize building modernization needs based on our vision of Becoming a Beloved Community.   The list of projects under the three areas – Provide a Welcoming Church that Enhances Fellowship; Create a Dynamic Worship Experience for all ages; and Preserve investment in our church building– were then approved and communicated at the May 2024 All Church Congregational Meeting.   Subsequently, SLB, Pastor Gary and Church Leadership approved moving forward with 3 projects this summer to address our flood risk in the NE Ramp area; take advantage of limited use in Fellowship Hall and use of grant monies for our Sanctuary Lighting.

If we raise more than our stated goal of $1M, additional projects with broad support would follow the prioritization process as stated above.

The SLB is accountable to the congregation and will keep the congregation informed of its meetings and decisions through the monthly JOY newsletter and other communications.  SLB meetings are open to the congregation. We invite and encourage you to attend and participate in any or all meetings.

Over the years, our church has had strong financial leadership coupled with a loving and committed generosity of giving from our congregation along with existing capital funds have enabled us to make these investments. Based on sound project planning, we were able to forecast the project cashflows with our Finance Committee. It is important that we replenish those monies to ensure we have a stable and sound financial position for future generations.

You may pay when you pledge in a lump-sum payment in 2024 OR spread your payments over three years (2025, 2026, 2027).  Choose what works best for you.  Some people pay their pledges with long term investment proceeds, bonuses, lump-sums or other discretionary funds, while others use their annual income stream.

This campaign pledge is in addition to your operating pledge donations.

You can choose to pledge in “sprints”.  You would make a one-year capital campaign pledge on Commitment Sunday 2024 and indicate that you would like to pledge again in 2025 and in 2026.  This allows you to continue your support of our church beyond your operating pledge while retaining flexibility for your budget.

Our goal is 100% participation – we want everyone to contribute.  Every dollar you donate will help, and when everyone participates, it shows our church’s commitment to our Faith and our Vision of Becoming a Beloved Community by Connecting, Growing and Serving.  In Mark 12:42-44, Jesus praised the widow’s small contribution because she gave from what she had.
We invite you to review your budget, and prayerfully consider how you can contribute. 

You can avoid paying tax on your RMD or the appreciated value of securities, if the distribution comes directly from your brokerage account to the church.  Please contact Pam Vaughan, church business manager, for details on how we accept such transactions.

If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can contribute up to $105,000 from your IRA as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) directly to the church and avoid paying income taxes on the distribution. For joint gifts from married couples, both spouses must be 70 1/2 or older at time of distribution and each must have IRAs.  Please contact your financial advisor for details.

For multiple years, we have heard comments from first-time and infrequent visitors that our Narthex presents an image counter to the vibrancy of our community of faith.  Our vision is to become a Beloved Community that is welcoming, inviting and caring for both visitors and members. We hear from visitors that the room does not help them find their way, the source of help is not clear, and the vibe does not imbue warmth.

The Building Change Priority Committee did not prioritize the lack of seating for people to fellowship together in a relaxed and private atmosphere in the Narthex.   However, we have heard a common theme from many to expand the seating area capacity in the Narthex.  There is a design proposal on the table if additional pledges are raised.

The office has a lot of unused space, and the office itself has minimal physical security.  The current counter hangs into the gathering space, and it is not accessible for those with disabilities.  The overall configuration will put the front desk closer to the Silver Spring entrance, uncoupling it from the coffee service and making it more visible to visitors as they ascend the entrance stairs.  The design also embraces our mid-century modern architecture, adding overall cohesiveness to the entire area.

 The front of Lydia’s conceals the displays inside and visually does not tie into the rest of the Narthex.  The current door is behind an area where people stand during narthex gatherings, blocking the path.  The new design opens the view into Lydia’s and matches the plan for the office front desk façade. It also widens the entry door to meet accessibility building standards and makes it a sliding door so we can eliminate the cumbersome door swing that currently covers display space.  By locating the door in the center, it allows for a new display area to the right for Mission purposes.  With better signage, display, and accessibility, Lydia’s Treasure will have a greater impact on the overall Narthex.

The Sanctuary has a dire need for new carpeting to ensure first time visitor experience is impactful.  However, we have decided to give ourselves time to consider changes to the Sanctuary as a whole, rather than take a piecemeal approach.  We will use our changes to the Chapel over the next year as a test case before we decide on changes to the Sanctuary, including flooring that could also require asbestos abatement. The Chapel project scope will replace pews with chairs but more importantly, change its use to a multi-purpose space.