Sanctuary Renovation Planning Update

Planning continues for the renovation of our Sanctuary. You’ll recall the Feasibility Study conducted in July by the Episcopal Church Foundation found a high probability that a capital campaign could raise $964,000, and perhaps more toward our “stretch” goal of $1.6 million for the entire project.

Since then we’ve worked with Clint Pehrson Architects of Seattle, our architectural consultant, to further refine the project scope and budget details based on the ECF’s conclusions. In late August, Clint, Father R.C., members of the Vestry, and I met with KMB Architects of Olympia, to discuss hiring them as the primary architects. While not specialists in church architecture, KMB brings a wealth of design experience in weatherproofing and structural improvements that may improve the efficiency of our project. A local firm, they have completed many public-sector projects in education, hospitality, and health care. We are now working with KMB to clarify all project details and costs in anticipation that we will soon contract with them for design services.

Clint Pehrson is under contract to remain as the Owner’s Representative throughout the design phase. He will assist us in negotiating the owner/architect agreement, guide KMB’s design work for the aesthetics and acoustics of our worship space, evaluate and advise us on that design, assist with project permitting, and help us select a general contractor. At our option, we may retain Clint during the construction phase, which is planned for summer 2020.

Over the next several weeks, KMB will move forward on schematic design, including drawings that will help us envision what the renovation will look like. These should be available when we launch our capital campaign later this year. I will update you with any renovation developments in the November edition of The Chronicle, and as needed until then.

For the Sanctuary Renovation Committee:

Lou MacMillan, Chair
Tim Tayne
Tom Loranger
Ray Willard

We are excited by this year’s annual pledge theme, “Shining Our Light.” This theme, taken from the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, speaks to us as individuals and as a community of faith. Individually, each of us is called to make sure we are letting God’s light shine through our work, our friendships, our service, and our giving. We are called to be light bearers. This is a powerful calling.

As a faith community, St. John’s | San Juan’s must shine the light of Christ through our worship, welcome, pastoral care, and outreach ministry to our wider community. We are often amazed by how members of our Church use their time, talents, and treasure to keep their light shining brightly. Some of us make sure the snacks at the coffee hour are delicious and abundant. Others participate in our worship either by singing in the choir or assisting in the service. Still others prepare the worship space with flowers or altar vestments. Many of us also represent the church in our participation of various community service programs.

While during this pledge drive, each of us asked to make a generous financial pledge for the coming year, we are also grateful for the many gifts of time, food, and skills from each member of this church. We hope you’ll join us as we work together to shine our light in church, in our community, and in our lives. Pledge cards and return envelopes should have arrived in your postal mail, but are also available at the Church Office. We will collect them at the end of our campaign on Sunday, October 27th (although you may return earlier to the Church Office).

Faithfully,

Sarah Clifthorne and Gerry Apple 
Co-Chairs 2019 Pledge Campaign

Sing to the Lord a New Song

Capital Campaign Update

With the successful completion of our Feasibility Study, we are moving ahead diligently with plans for our Capital Campaign. The Feasibility Study Report suggests a primary goal for the Campaign of $964,000 and reflects the clear consensus of our members that the top priorities for the funds raised should be replacing the sanctuary roof and resolving the life safety issues in the building.  Discussions with our architect confirm that the primary goal should (within a small margin of error) be sufficient to address these two priorities.

Jerry Campbell, our partner with the Episcopal Church Foundation, will continue to guide us as we prepare for the Solicitation Phase of the Campaign, which will launch in January 2020.

This month, we will recruit the Gift Workers for the Advance Gift (“Quiet”) solicitation phase of the Campaign. We will also begin work on printed materials for the Campaign, including the brochure, pledge card, and content for the website.

Thanks so much for your interest in and support of our Capital Campaign. We look forward to keeping you informed as our preparations continue. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact me at bobleroy05@gmail.com.

Onward together in faith…

…Bob Le Roy, Capital Campaign Chair

Our Financial Statements (Financial Position, Income and Expense, Budget v. Actual) through August 31, 2019 are available on the parish website by clicking here.

Work on our 2020 Budget will begin in later this week (October 3). We will build this budget collaboratively. Each ministry will be provided a template for use in projecting their needs in 2020 and preparing a narrative describing the purpose and impact of their work in the life of our parish and community. We plan to present the 2020 Budget to the Vestry for approval at its November meeting, following completion of the 2020 Pledge Campaign.

If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding our financials, please contact Cynthia Knapp, our Bookkeeper, at cynthia@stjohnsoly.org, or me at bobleroy05@gmail.com.  Both of us can also be reached by calling the church office, 360-352-8527

On a Sunday in November, during the Forum between the services, Cynthia and I will present a workshop on how to read our Financial Statements. Stay tuned for the exact date.  You’re welcome to join us!

Respectfully submitted…

…Bob Le Roy, Treasurer

Fall seems to be upon us.  Time to square things up around the church for winter.  Dan our sexton mentioned there is a florescent light out in the parish hall that apparently has a bad ballast.  Is there anyone that has the wiring experience to help install a new one?

Our yard service crew takes care of our leaves, thank you our anonymous doner who provides that service.  Keeping the gutters clear is always a job until the leaves are all down.  We'll be visiting with Ray Willard about what trimming we need to do this fall and schedule a work party.  We also need to do some sidewalk repair and I'll organize a work party for that when I get back in town.  Anyone have concrete experience?  If you have time for any of these projects let me know and we'll  plan for it.

Ric Weatherman,  jr warden
ricciw@hotmail.com
360-352-8527

9/24/19
Pigeon Forge, TN

Dear Members and Friends,

Greetings from the Great Smoky Mountains!  What beautiful scenery we've been lucky enough to see.  Certainly different from the Pacific Northwest, but just as grand it its own way.

We've come about 2,800 miles on this venture and have another 500 or so to go before beginning the trek west and heading home.  

In addition to the gorgeous scenery we've seen, Lin and I were quite impressed with the focus on family.  Last Sunday, we found a picnic area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where we could have lunch.  As I dragged out our small cooler with sandwiches etc., we noticed families arriving by the car load.  They unpacked tables, chairs, grills, coolers in amounts I've never seen.  Families gathered to celebrate each other with food and fellowship.

Church buses arrived and members unloaded to find table after table (with tablecloths, I might add) laden with food ready to be savored.

Wherever we are fortunate enough to go, we are always reminded of our families and our relationships- some of the greatest gifts bestowed on us.

In the attempt,
Mark Hampton
St. Warden

With the successful completion of our Feasibility Study, we are moving ahead diligently with plans for our Capital Campaign. The Feasibility Study Report (which you can download by clicking here) suggests a primary goal for the Campaign of $964,000 and reflects the clear consensus of our members that the top priorities for the funds raised should be replacing the sanctuary roof and resolving the life safety issues in the building.  Discussions with our architect confirm that the primary goal should (within a small margin of error) be sufficient to address these two priorities.

Jerry Campbell, our partner with the Episcopal Church Foundation, will continue to guide us as we prepare for the Solicitation Phase of the Campaign, which will launch in January 2020.

Thanks so much for your interest in and support of our Capital Campaign. We look forward to keeping you informed as our preparations continue. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact me either by email (click here) or by calling the church office.

Onward together in faith,

Bob Le Roy, Capital Campaign Chair

Our Financial Statements (Financial Position, Income and Expense, Budget v. Actual) through July 31, 2019 are available on the parish website (click here).

Our share of the Diocese of Olympia Master Trust (the endowment) is comprised of three accounts with the following balances as of July 31, 2019:

• General Account = $444,326.22
• Altar Guild (Restricted) = $22,887.66
• Memorial Fund (Restricted) = $21,891.54

Work on our 2020 Budget will begin in mid-September.  We will build this budget collaboratively.  Each ministry will be provided a template for use in projecting their needs in 2020 and preparing a narrative describing the purpose and impact of their work in the life of our parish and community. We plan to present the 2020 Budget to the Vestry for approval at its November meeting, following completion of the 2020 Pledge Campaign.

If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding our financials, please contact Cynthia Knapp, our Bookkeeper, by email or (360) 352-8527, or me by email or by calling the church office.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Le Roy, Treasurer

After several years of struggling with the maintenance issues of St Johns, as Jr. Warden I still have my focus drawn to our buildings needs. We are well on our way to resolving many of our sanctuary issues. The success of our upcoming capital campaign will show us just how much we can accomplish. Along with those projects outlined in the capital campaign we are drawn into the maintenance needs of the whole church.

We are striving to come up with an accurate accounting of just what it takes to operate St Johns in a manner that will address our needs and create a budget to address them. In addressing some of these needs we will be giving our parishioners opportunities to volunteer to help fulfill some of these tasks. Most of these are simple jobs that only require a little time each week or monthly. Helping clean up after major events, cleaning the kitchen, emptying the trash occasionally when we have had unusual high use of the facilities are examples. We will start posting a list and signup sheet on the parish hall bulletin board so we can co-ordinate tasks and volunteers. We are also posting a job search for candidates for a part time sexton in leu of a weekly cleaning service that does not seem to keep up with our fluctuating needs.

There are many things going on at St Johns these days, so please contact one of us on the vestry for comments and questions as well as what you may be able to do the help our parish fulfill our needs.

Getting Ready to Shine Our Light!

By Gerry Apple and Sarah Clifthorne

Greetings from your Annual Pledge Campaign Co-Chairs! We are excited for this opportunity to work together so that all of us as individuals and as a faith community can shine our light, making God’s love visible and available to all in our lives. Our Annual Pledge Campaign will run from late September through the end of October this autumn.

Currently, we are recruiting for folks interested in keeping others informed about what’s happening during the campaign. You WON’T ask anyone for money, but you WILL share with a group of 6-10 of your fellow parishioners what’s going on with the Annual Campaign. Interested in joining our team as a Stewardship Shepherd? Please send an email to Gerry at gerryappl@yahoo.com. Together we can accept this opportunity to stretch and grow, into our individual purpose, and into the mission of our church.