$100,000 for 100 years

A hinge holds a door onto a wall to allow the door to open while still being held firmly attached to the rest of the house.  Our 100^th Anniversary can be understood as a “hinge” time.  During this centennial year, our church is celebrating the past 100 years while preparing to open the door on the next 100 years of Christian discipleship. 

The SHPC Centennial Committee has five sub-groups functioning as hinges.  Three groups, History, Publishing, and Celebration, are focused on telling the story of SHPC, preserving our story in a booklet, and planning a series of celebrations which mark the milestones of our past.

Two groups, Futuring and Building & Grounds, are focused on preparing for the next 100 years.  The Futuring group is planning new ministry opportunities to address our community’s evolving needs and the next generations of believers.  You will be hearing more about this at a later time. 

The Building & Grounds group has been focusing on how the church can use our facilities more effectively for future ministry.  They have established four criteria:

1.     To enhance the congregation’s worship experience.

2.     To promote greater fellowship possibilities.

3.     To support our educational ministry

4.     To reach out to our neighbors and witness to God’s love.

To accomplish these tasks the congregation is asked to consider a major remodeling project. 

Included in the and on the website are preliminary drawings and cost estimates for your review and consideration. [INSERT LINK HERE]

Two very important dates for your calendar:

Sunday, May 15^th– The session has scheduled a Town Hall Meeting for the purpose of discussing this proposal. Please come prepared with any questions or comments you may have. The session is interested in your feedback as we embark, together, on the next 100 years of our ministry.

Sunday, May 22^nd– The session has called a Congregational Meeting for the purpose of voting on whether or not to proceed with this plan.  

As you give prayerful consideration to this proposal, I am highlighting some of the major points to help guide your review through the other documents.

1.     To enhance the congregation’s worship experience.

a.      (Sanctuary) Move the choir risers forward for better sound quality

b.     (Sanctuary) Improve the sound and recording system

c.      (Sanctuary) Install a video projection system

d.     (Sanctuary) Include a cross in the chancel area

e.      (Sanctuary) Include some “child-friendly” seating areas for families with small children (“family boxes”)

f.      (Lower Level) Provide a dedicated choir room in the basement for Sunday morning rehearsals, storage, security, robbing, etc.

g.     (Lower Level) Install an elevator to allow easy access to the basement for choir members.

2.     To promote greater fellowship possibilities.

a.      (Ground Level) Open up and enlarge the current fellowship hall by removing the current “table storage” closet, choir robe area, and choir music storage closet.

b.     (Ground Level) Build a new storage closet in the current hall between the church office and the “parlor”.

c.      (Ground Level) Move the pastor’s office to the current office of the Director of Children and Youth and use the current pastor’s office as a conference room for meetings, family gatherings during funerals, a brides dressing room, education, library, etc

d.      (Ground Level) Reconfigure the access to the janitor’s closet and both rest rooms for easier access for visitors.

e.      (Ground Level) Utilize the old “food pantry” as our new kitchenpantry area and install stationary stairs to access the attic area.

3.     To support our educational ministry

a.      (Lower Level) Move the current choir director’s and Sunday school offices to the basement.

b.     (Lower Level) Build a large storage area for children’s ministry resources.

c.      (Lower Level) Install a kitchenette in the basement to use for fixing snacks, craft clean-up, etc.

d.     (Lower Level) Upgrade the bathrooms in the basement.

e.      (Lower Level) The availability of an elevator will allow easier access for our “little ones” instead of them having to negotiate the stairs.

f.      (Ground Level) Move some of the “youth” furniture into the West Wing (former cry room) for a youth lounge, area for families with “fussy” children, nursing mothers, small group meeting area, etc.

4.     To witness to God’s love.

a.      (Outside) Build the first stage of a columbarium for interment as well as prayer and meditation.  When completed it could be used as an outdoor fellowship area, a space for small outdoor weddings or receptions, etc.

b.     10% of the $100,000 will be tithed by the church for missions.