It has been a blessing It has been a blessing toto

celebrate our 250th celebrate our 250th anniversary this year,anniversary this year,

and to look back at someand to look back at some

of the traditions and of the traditions and peoplepeople

that have served as thethat have served as the

foundation for our church foundation for our church

family.family.

Simultaneously, the Simultaneously, the Visioning Committee Visioning Committee has been meeting for has been meeting for over two years to over two years to determine: what’s determine: what’s next?next?

94% of churches are 94% of churches are losing ground in the losing ground in the communities they communities they serve.*serve.*

* * Church researcher and author, Church researcher and author, Thom RainerThom Rainer

So what are the 6% doing?So what are the 6% doing?

According to Darrell Pursiful in his article According to Darrell Pursiful in his article “Churches That Get It Right”, “Healthy “Churches That Get It Right”, “Healthy churches know how to spot a risk worth churches know how to spot a risk worth taking.”taking.”

““They are not locked into self-preservation They are not locked into self-preservation mode where no risk is acceptable.”mode where no risk is acceptable.”

Stephen Gray of churchplanting.com tells Stephen Gray of churchplanting.com tells us that the answer to, “What defines a us that the answer to, “What defines a successful church?” is engaging in the successful church?” is engaging in the community.community.

Commentary by Scott Gunn, Commentary by Scott Gunn, Executive of Executive of Forward Day by Forward Day by

DayDay You may have read reports of decline in You may have read reports of decline in

the Episcopal Church. The numbers are the Episcopal Church. The numbers are sobering. Thousands of congregations are sobering. Thousands of congregations are in financial peril. In many places, in financial peril. In many places, attendance dwindles. And yet, as I travel attendance dwindles. And yet, as I travel around The Episcopal Church, I see much around The Episcopal Church, I see much to celebrate.to celebrate.

There are hundreds of examples of There are hundreds of examples of thriving congregations, large and small. In thriving congregations, large and small. In places, attendance is growing, and places, attendance is growing, and abundance has conquered scarcity. What abundance has conquered scarcity. What is the difference? Change.is the difference? Change.

So what changes do we So what changes do we need?need?

June 8, 2011, any interested June 8, 2011, any interested parishioners were asked to discuss parishioners were asked to discuss the addition of a handicapped the addition of a handicapped bathroom.bathroom.

The addition of the bathroom meant The addition of the bathroom meant other changes to the Hawkins Room.other changes to the Hawkins Room.

Dave D’Amore was asked to visualize Dave D’Amore was asked to visualize changes.changes.

Dave identified changes that needed to Dave identified changes that needed to be made to accommodate the be made to accommodate the bathroom, and noted other areas that bathroom, and noted other areas that might be worthy of consideration.might be worthy of consideration.

So programs were evaluated.So programs were evaluated. It was determined that programs had It was determined that programs had

been retrofitted into space, and not been retrofitted into space, and not visa versa.visa versa.

Objectives were created.Objectives were created.

1. We need a 1. We need a bathroom that bathroom that everyone can get everyone can get to and use easily, to and use easily, including those in including those in wheelchairs, and wheelchairs, and those with young those with young children.children.

2. We need safe, 2. We need safe, accessible offices for accessible offices for our Administrative our Administrative Assistant, our Assistant, our Rector, and our Rector, and our Director of Music. In Director of Music. In addition, we need addition, we need space where space where confidential confidential conversations can conversations can occur.occur.

3. We need a safe, 3. We need a safe, clean nursery clean nursery where a parent where a parent would feel would feel comfortable comfortable leaving their child leaving their child or children.or children.

4. We need a 4. We need a larger area for our larger area for our growing Sunday growing Sunday Schools for all Schools for all ages, including ages, including adult Bible Study.adult Bible Study.

5. Our NOAH 5. Our NOAH program and Food program and Food Pantry need to be Pantry need to be accessible to all, and accessible to all, and to maintain the to maintain the dignity of our guests. dignity of our guests. The stairway The stairway leading to these leading to these programs is not safe.programs is not safe.

6. Our current 6. Our current facility needs work:facility needs work: bell tower repairbell tower repair foundation repairfoundation repair new carpet/new new carpet/new

entryentry

replacementreplacement sound system sound system

upgradeupgrade

Plan 1 is created – Hawkins Plan 1 is created – Hawkins Room renovations. Room renovations.

Hawkins Room renovations Hawkins Room renovations meet our first objective.meet our first objective.

Hawkins room renovations address Hawkins room renovations address our first objective – creating a long our first objective – creating a long awaited handicapped accessible and awaited handicapped accessible and family-friendly bathroom -- as well as family-friendly bathroom -- as well as creating more comfortable meeting creating more comfortable meeting space. These renovations are space. These renovations are scheduled to begin by the end of scheduled to begin by the end of January.January.

Building an addition is Building an addition is considered.considered.

To meet our other five objectives, an To meet our other five objectives, an addition to the building was considered.addition to the building was considered.

To add to the challenges of To add to the challenges of complementing a historic building, we complementing a historic building, we only own a very small piece of a land to only own a very small piece of a land to the west of our church.the west of our church.

The addition, which would only partially The addition, which would only partially meet our remaining objectives, would meet our remaining objectives, would cost $1.2 million.cost $1.2 million.

The YMCA becomes The YMCA becomes available.available.

Given the cost of Given the cost of an addition which an addition which would not meet all would not meet all of our objectives, of our objectives, the purchase of the the purchase of the Y was examined.Y was examined.

Pros and Cons were Pros and Cons were considered.considered.

ConsCons The YMCA needs The YMCA needs

rehabilitation.rehabilitation. It was built about 1910. It was built about 1910.

Best guesses can be Best guesses can be estimated for rehab estimated for rehab figures, but as an old figures, but as an old building, it could require building, it could require unseen work. Maintenance unseen work. Maintenance costs are also unknown.costs are also unknown.

The current configuration The current configuration would have to be modified would have to be modified to meet our needs.to meet our needs.

No elevator.No elevator.

ProsPros The building has been The building has been

deemed sound by experts.deemed sound by experts. The purchase price, in The purchase price, in

addition to the renovations addition to the renovations will be substantially less will be substantially less than building an addition to than building an addition to St. John’s.St. John’s.

The space in the Y on the The space in the Y on the first floor, would allow us to first floor, would allow us to meet all of our objectives.meet all of our objectives.

Rehabilitating this building Rehabilitating this building would benefit downtown would benefit downtown JohnstownJohnstown

The additional space would The additional space would provide room for outreach, provide room for outreach, or a number of other or a number of other potential ideas.potential ideas.

What would happen to other What would happen to other two floors?two floors?

Half of the second Half of the second floor – though the floor – though the installation of a installation of a bathroom is needed bathroom is needed -- is in excellent -- is in excellent shapeshape

The other half is a The other half is a gymnasium can be gymnasium can be useful for youth and useful for youth and other activities.other activities.

The third floor can The third floor can be rented out to be rented out to another entity, if another entity, if we find a good fit.we find a good fit.

It was deemed by the Vestry that It was deemed by the Vestry that purchasing the YMCA building, purchasing the YMCA building, within the spending cap of $80,000, within the spending cap of $80,000, was a risk worth taking.was a risk worth taking.

Why?Why? The finances of St. The finances of St.

John’s are stronger John’s are stronger than they have been than they have been in a number of years.in a number of years.

We have Mother We have Mother Laurie for a our Laurie for a our leader.leader.

We are committed to We are committed to helping more people helping more people develop and nurture develop and nurture a relationship with a relationship with God.God.

Projected BudgetProjected Budget

Hawkins RoomHawkins Room project project - $160,000- $160,000

Building rehabiliation Building rehabiliation – –

$290,000 including:$290,000 including: - bell tower - $130,000- bell tower - $130,000 - foundation/water- - foundation/water-

proofing - $85,000proofing - $85,000 - entrance/floor/carpet - entrance/floor/carpet

replacement - replacement - $35,000$35,000

- sound system upgrade –- sound system upgrade – $40,000$40,000

YMCA - YMCA - Purchase price – up Purchase price – up to $80kto $80k Renovations to first Renovations to first

floor $220floor $220

Total:Total: $750k$750k

Where would money come Where would money come from?from?

A capital campaign for $750,000.A capital campaign for $750,000. As some of renovations benefit NOAH and As some of renovations benefit NOAH and

the Food Pantry, this will become a the Food Pantry, this will become a community project which allows us to apply community project which allows us to apply for grants such as NYS Consolidated Funding for grants such as NYS Consolidated Funding Grants, and Episcopal Church UTO grants.Grants, and Episcopal Church UTO grants.

Parishioners like yourself, making a pledge Parishioners like yourself, making a pledge that would be paid over five years.that would be paid over five years.

Inspiration from 2 Inspiration from 2 Corinthians 9:Corinthians 9:

But this But this I say:I say: He who sows sparingly will He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. bountifully will also reap bountifully. So So letlet each one each one givegive as he purposes in his as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God God loves a cheerful giver. And God isis able to make all grace abound toward you, able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in that you, always having all sufficiency in all all things,things, may have an abundance for may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:every good work. As it is written:

““He has dispersed abroad,He has dispersed abroad,He has given to the poor;He has given to the poor;His righteousness endures forever.”His righteousness endures forever.”

Inspiration from Timothy 6:Inspiration from Timothy 6: Command those who are rich in this Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  of the life that is truly life.