Beginning in August, our building is undergoing major renovations to become more accessible.
Here is some information on the whole project. Weekly updates will be posted below.
- Building Task Force Final Report
- Current Project Schedule (at the moment–subject to change)
- Architectural Plans
August 2017 update
August 25, 2017 by Outreach Comission
Our August meeting was packed with updates, information to be processed and decisions to be made. Two key elements of discussion were the remaining Everyone Welcome tithe funds and our budget for the upcoming year.
Everyone Welcome tithe funds
After soliciting input from the congregation, we narrowed potential recipients to the five organizations that had strong support among congregants. From there we considered any specific proposals from those groups, the nature of the work they do, needs of our community, CMC’s Vision Process priorities, the sustainability of the organizations, and their capacity for other fundraising avenues. In the end it was voted on to allocate the remaining $10,00 as follows:
Comité Salvadoreño de Paisanos Unidos (COSPU): $4,000
Vine & Fig: $3,000
Scholars Latino Initiative: $3,000
Budget discussion
Hadley (Jenner, chair) supplied a proposed budget for 2017-2018. Historically, the congregation has sought to make Outreach Commission’s budget equivalent to about 15% of CMC’s total budget. Looking at the budget trend over the past few years, we are currently (roughly) $6,000 from meeting the 15% goal. We thus discussed the option of increasing our budget incrementally by $2,000/year for the next three years. First, we need to determine more accurate numbers regarding CMC’s total budget and how far off we are from the 15% goal. Additionally, with the possibility of a larger budget, OC members agreed to come to our next meeting having each drafted an “ideal” budget that fits the evolving needs of our community by rethinking current recipients, their funding levels, and any organizations we think should be added to or taken out of our budget.
*If you have strong input for our process, please email comments to aliese.gingerich@gmail.com.
Outreach Commission Update, June 2017
July 26, 2017 by Outreach Comission
During our June meeting, OC members amended our policy regarding financial support of young adults serving with Mennonite Voluntary Service. In the past, our policy did not provide for individuals who chose to serve an additional year. Our amended policy dictates that CMC continue to support such an individual financially at the level of $1,000 (as compared to $2,000 for her/his first year of service). Financial support will be given regardless of whether the individual chooses to serve an additional year in the same job and location or move to a different placement.
As communicated to CMC congregants in May, $10,000 remains of the Everyone Welcome tithe funds. A survey was sent out electronically and hard copies were made available at Sunday services in May. Input from the survey was compiled and discussed at our June OC meeting. There were many recommendations given, with several organizations being mentioned numerous times. OC members agreed to consider the survey results along with CMC's vision process results and come to our August meeting prepared to make a final decision for allocating the remaining funds.
Searching for Stained Glass Artists!
September 7, 2016 by alisha.huber
Once more, dear friends
July 21, 2016 by Jeremy Nafziger
It was a great temptation, after the celebration of the building dedication, to declare victory on the renovation project and move on. But it turns out it doesn't work that way, and that a number of items still remain to be finished. Many of them are small, and a few have been completed recently: the speakers to the fellowship hall, nursery, and room 109 are working, for example. We have a new fence around the Water Street side of the playground. We also have a good bid, within budget, for improved lighting in the sanctuary.
But the two big things left, and on which we need your help, are these:
- Painting the basement
- Contributions
The basement. The basement is a story that concisely sums up the vagaries of trying to fix one thing in an older building. The initial plan was to simply replace the carpet for about $12,000. It turned out there was asbestos tile under the carpet, which had to be removed ($16,000). It looked like the mastic (the stuff that holds the tile to the floor) would also have to be removed because it frequently also contains asbestos. Then, tests showed no asbestos in the mastic. There was much rejoicing, because that stuff it hard to remove. Then, it turned out that new carpet glue and old mastic don't get along, and in fact tend to combine to form what is technically known as ooze or gloop, which eventually works its way through the new carpet. Fortunately, the asbestos removal bid involved removing the mastic, too. Then it turned out that the mastic was nearly impossible to remove completely; removing it was either unsuccessful, or involved wrecking the concrete in the process. The solution is to pour a thin layer of self-leveling concrete over the old concrete and remaining mastic ($6,000). Oh, and when we tore off the old base cove, it left big clumps of old glue, so that either has to be removed or worked around... so we're using wood baseboard.
All told, the carpet removal and extensive work in the north hall of the basement left a big mess, and we're going to paint the entire area. In a short amount of time, so that Sunday schools and the preschool can start their years in their normal, nice, new spaces on good, nice, new carpet.
Painting in earnest will begin as soon as the new concrete is dry: Tuesday, July 26. The carpet installation will start August 8, so the goal is to paint as much as possible before that. Sunday school begins August 26.
This will take a lot of volunteer hours, there is no doubt about it. But school is still out, you've probably already taken your summer vacation (or are totally willing to postpone it because of this), and certainly have tons of free time (!). Football doesn't start for months, and preseason doesn't count.
And Tom Sawin has agreed to organize the painting work, and I'm very grateful for that. Please sign up for shifts in the regular place, here. It can be done. Make it a small group meeting, a replacement committee meeting, collect random strangers, and so on. Thanks.
Contributions. We made a very good start on pledges, and this will all get paid for in the long run. In the short run, though, some bills are payable now. If there's a way to pay your pledges ahead of schedule, or to add to them in the next month or two, that would be helpful. As always, mark checks as "Everyone Welcome Campaign" and put them in the regular offering. Suitcases full of cash can go directly to the church office. Thanks again.
Sermon and Party, 06/26/2016: Guided by the Spirit
July 4, 2016 by alisha.huber
On June 26, we held the official dedication for our newly renovated building. During the service, Jeremy Nafziger shared some history of the church building, including an intriguing bulletin from the 1930s, which declared that "Everyone is Welcome" here. He and daughter Augusta led the children in singing "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock," and then the kids got to build LEGO churches throughout the remainder of the service. The CMC Brass played in celebration of the commissioning of one of their own, Jon Nofziger, who, with his wife Grace Hercyk, is moving to Liberia to support its developing democracy.
Pastor Jennifer preached a sermon on building a church—not just the literal structures, but a church that lasts longer and goes farther.
And afterward...well, afterward, we partied.
The party included a LEGO guessing jar (Jessica Hostetler was the winner!), a slideshow of the renovation project, cake, and a fantastic musical performance by a CMC ensemble.
Here are some videos and photos, courtesy of Jim Bishop, Jack Rutt, and Alisha Huber.
Sing along!
A little Menno-Hasidic Reggae