Forward with Faith and Vision Campaign Celebration Sunday - October 2, 2011 -
With the Burning of the mortgage for the adjacent lot.
Perry Dukes, Stewarship Chairman, explained the Forward with Faith and Vision plan to the congregation.
Perry Dukes and Pastor Shannon Mullen then burned the mortgage.
.......Posted October 3, 2011
Forward with Faith and Vision Celebration - TODAY, October 2, both services
Thanks be to God that we keep on moving toward our goal of increasing the mission of God at St. John's! The thermometer is more than half way there!
.......Posted October 2, 2011
Consecration Sunday Is Coming!
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a per-centage of their incomes.
Our congregation’s Stewardship committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.
New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”
During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.
Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so volun-tarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.
We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning wor-ship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.
We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecra-tion Sunday team and Congregation Council members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.
Lon Carlson,
Congregation Council President
.......Posted October 2011 Newsletter
Forward with Faith and Vision Celebration - NEXT SUNDAY, October 2, both services
Don't miss this celebration of a joyful campaign and a "mortgage burning" for the adjacent lot!
Thanks be to God that we keep on moving toward our goal of increasing the mission of God at St. John's! The thermometer is more than half way there!
Of course, campagin gifts are welcome anytime, but we would love to have your final donation by Tuesday, September 27, so we an include it in the total for our celebration next week!
.......Posted September 25, 2011
Forward with Faith and Vision - making progress toward the goal!
Thanks be to God for faithful stewards who continue to help us move toward our goal! Keep an eye on that thermometer - we are nearly half way to our goal of $25,000.00 in hand for the first phase of our Long Range Plan, renovating and adding office space so we can grown in God's Mission by expanding our programs!
.......Posted September 18, 2011
Growing God's Mission:
Long Range Plan for 2012 and beyond - Further Explanations...
WOW! What a great milestone we have reached - the adjacent lot purchased just over three years ago has been paid for. Who would have thought as we began the Forward with Faith and Vision campaign that we would really be able to meet this goal! And the icing on the cake is that every dollar given as we finish the campaign will be used for Growing God's Mission. As I write this, nearly $10,000 is in the account, ready for a next step in our journey.
Over the next few months, details of the Long Range Plan will continue to be developed, and we will do our best to keep you informed of progress and to answer questions. For that reason, in this article I would like to address two questions which I and members of the Growing God's Mission/Long Range Planning team have been asked. These questions are:
1) Does this mean we are not building a new sanctuary?
2) Will this plan come up for a vote?
Both of these questions are more complex than you might think - in fact I could answer "yes" and "no" to these questions and be telling the truth. Let me clarify.
It is true we will not be building a new sanctuary right now, but at some point in the future we will indeed need to have two large spaces, separating our worship and fellowship. However it is necessary to take this smaller step before we can take the larger one.
There are two main reasons for this: first, our research shows that building a new sanctuary sized space would cost at least 1.5 million dollars, quadrupling our debt. It is unlikely that we would qualify for a mortgage of that size in this economy. In order to be able to take on such a project, we first must reduce current debt and continue to grow in membership.
The best way to grow in membership is to grow in mission. And growth in
mission can come through growth in programming - opportunities for people to serve and grow as disciples. What is limiting St. John's growth in programming at this time is a lack of space and staff. While we occasionally need more room for worship, we regularly lack both space for meetings and programs. We regularly miss opportunities to provide needed activities and opportunities because there are not enough hours to plan or lead them.
In sum, our three part plan to reduce debt, do modest building/renovation, and add a staff person will allow us to build a new larger building sooner, not later. We are not choosing between having separate worship and fellowship spaces or not, we are choosing to take a step necessary to get there.
Which brings me to the question of voting. Again, the answer is "yes" and "no". No, we will not present the plan itself for a vote, because it is just a roadmap for several steps. But yes, there will be votes along the way - maybe many. For example, no building will be done or renovations begun without presentation of a detailed plan and voting. No staff person can be hired without budgeting funds, and the congregation votes on every budget. The mortgage on our building is soon due to be refinanced, and a congregation vote is required for any mortgage.
We are in this journey together, and we will take it step by step. Where exactly the journey will lead us, only God knows. But what we do know is the journey never ends. There is always the next step. There is always a new invitation to step forward in faith, to grow in God's mission!
I am excited that the outline of a couple steps is before us. As details and plans are developed, together we will examine them, pray for God's guidance, and take a leap of faith. I am confident - and I am excited - because we know that our journey is about God's Mission - and God is always faithful.
Peace,
Pastor Shannon
.......Posted September 2011 Newsletter
Forward with Faith and Vision Celebration! - Sunday, October 2
Our three year capital campaign is nearly over. The adjacent lot is nearly paid for and we want to push as near as possible to our pledged amount so that we can move forward in Growing God's Mission! All campaign funds received in excess of paying for the lot will be used to for the upcoming addition and repurposing of programming space.
If you have questions about the status of your campaign pledge, please contact financial secretary, LaVerne Greenleaf.
.......Posted September 2011 Newsletter
THANKS FOR GRACE.....PAID IN FULL!
Final Payment made on Lot - All Foward with Faith and Vision
Donations Going toward Growing God's Mission Plan
WOW! Thanks be to God for faithful disciples who have
given sacrificially of their resources to our Forward with Faith and Vision Capital Campaign. To buy a lot just as the economic downturn was beginning was an act of Faith. To completely pay for it before the economy is even fully turned around - an even bigger act of Faith!
This means that every single dollar given to the completion of the capital campaign goes toward our Growing God's Mission Long Range Plan - to increase program space, and subsequently, program staff!
All members are encouraged to reach as close to their campaing pledges as possible - or even go beyond! Contact LaVerne Greenleaf to check your status.
.......Posted August 21, 2011
Long Range Plan Presented
In July, the Long Range Planning Committee presented a long range plan for St. John's including continued focus on growing God's Mission, adding program space, and addint program staff. The plan will be included in the next newsletter.
.......Posted August 7, 2011
Forward with Faith and Vision Capital Campaign ending Sunday, October 2, 2011
Our three year capital campaign is nearly over. The adjacent lot is nearly paid for and we want to push as near as possible to our pledged amount so that we can move forward in Growing God's Mission! If you have questions abou the status of your campaign pledge, please contact financial secretary, LaVerne Greenleaf.
.......Posted July 31, 2011
If you missed the Temple Talk last Sunday, you can hear it Temple Talk - Growing God's Mission here.
.......Posted July 31, 2011
Growing God's Mission: Long Range Plan for 2011 and Beyond
We give thanks to God for continuing to draw St. John's into mission, leading and guiding us as we seek to serve God by loving others. Today we are especially thankful for the work of literally dozens of people over the past three years, which have led to the announcements of a long e plan which will shape not only the remaining month of our Forward with Faith and Vision Campaign, buy also our ministry together over the next couple of years. Please spend some time reading the new long range plan carefuully.
Adjacent Lot Almost Paid For - only $6,500 left to pay!
We give thanks to God for all the generous givers who have brought us to the point of almost completely paying for the God's Mission Team to reveal a plan for the additional Capital Campaign funds.
.......Posted July 24, 2011
