INSIDE St. Luke's Episcopal Church - December 2011
In the life of our parish, we celebrate this season and not just because of Christmas. As the year closes, it gives us pleasure to report that for the fifth straight year we have grown Sunday attendance by at least 10%. Last year at this time our average Sunday attendance was 172. This year it is 191. More than 300 people packed the church to enjoy our recent Lessons and Carols service and nearly 200 feasted together at our Big Din celebration on All Saints Day. You know what? It was fun! To put this extraordinary growth trend in perspective, In this day and age, with fewer people attending church, it is remarkable for any parish to register growth in even a single year. The growth at our parish has been recognized by the national church and John has been asked to serve on a committee with leaders of similar parishes across the country, whose churches have increased membership.
The growth brings us opportunities. We are eager to tap our new members for new ideas, fresh learning opportunities and for leadership. If you are one of the new or newer faces here at St. Luke’s – and odds favor that you are! -- we encourage you not to hesitate to become involved. Have an idea? Something you would like to see at St. Luke’s? Please step forward with your ideas or seek out one of our many areas to serve, from teaching Church School to Buildings & Grounds, to Worship, to Outreach to Stewardship to find your own footing. Join a committee or start one, and you will make a difference here quickly.
Our growth also gives us a very realistic chance in 2012 to run a balanced budget, a goal we have targeted for years, and which (fingers-crossed) we have budgeted for the coming year. When we put out that goal years ago, it was impossible to know if the growth we targeted would continue or if it was so much wishful thinking on our part. Thankfully, it is becoming a tantalizing reality. St. Luke’s has not run a balanced budget since 2001. (You read that correctly.) On virtual life support, our turnaround began in 2007 with John’s arrival. Last year we had 125 pledges that averaged $2,326 and brought in $290, 722, an 11% increase from the year before. With the New Year not yet begun we already have 91 pledges for 2012, well ahead of last year’s trends. Thank you for your generosity! If you and yours find a spiritual home here at St. Luke’s and have not yet pledged, we hope you will consider doing so as an exciting opportunity for all of us. Start somewhere, even with a small amount, and discover a deepening involvement.
It has been a challenging year for us in terms of our infrastructure needs and we have made, and are making now, the most significant investments in our infrastructure in a decade. Such large-scale investments require multiple bids, much back and forth and refinement, and if you have ever experienced big projects at your home or place of work, you will have discovered as we have that we are dependent upon on schedules that do not always overlap with our own urgent needs. A few updates.
- Heating and cooling. As previously reported our two antiquated boilers, more than 40 years old each, failed. So far, we have managed to get an updated heating and cooling system onto the third floor of the parish hall and have just contracted this week to heat and cool the first and second floors for a total of $70,000. We are still awaiting detailed bids to heat and cool the assembly hall, the Second Time Around Shop and a few other spaces. Losing a boiler in a big commercial space is a big deal and we have investigated a lot of options to heat our spaces temporarily until we can implement the new system. Know what the going rate for a temporary boiler is? About $6,000 a month for a required five-month contract plus installation fees of $30,000. The vestry said “Thanks, but no thanks.” We will rely upon space heaters, the warmth of good company and hot tea until we get a modernized system in.
- The ramp. As previously reported we have engaged a local architect to design and build a ramp to make the church and the Assembly Hall handicap accessible. The architect’s plan is in, however, the bids from the contractors came in at costs that exceeded our expectations. We have asked for re-bids and are still awaiting response.
- Fire Alarm System. Nearly Done. We are pleased to report we almost have a thoroughly updated fire alarm system completed for just under $70,000.
- Proving that when old boilers fail, they do so simultaneously, the ancient boiler that heated the Rectory also quit in October. As October turned to November, John and Sonia were relying upon space heaters, firewood and wool socks to try and stay warm. We are happy to report that the Rectory now has a completely upgraded forced air heating/cooling system that cost $38,000. This investment gives us many options for the future, including sectioning the building to provide both living space and office space if need be.
We have so much more to discuss— parish surveys, Sunday School, Adult Formation—but you know what? It’s Christmas! We’ll get back to you in the New Year. See you at church!
Sincerely yours,
Martha Thalheimer and John Wyatt