Capital Campaign – Page 2 – First Congregational Church of Essex Junction

Week 5 – Getting to Know You and Getting Ready to Celebrate

March 8, 2018/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea Sharp

The first phase of the Capital Campaign is in full swing. A group of visitors has been busy over the past few weeks meeting with members of the congregation, talking about their relationship with the church, sharing their hopes for our future, and getting to know each other better. More visits will take place after our Campaign Kick-Off Event on Sunday April 8^th (see details below). So, if you haven’t had a visit yet, you will have that opportunity soon!

Some visitors were initially skeptical when told that the Campaign, and especially the visits, would be “fun.” But that’s exactly what is happening! Bart Frisbie, a member of the Steering Committee, said this about one of his visits: “Paulette and I have sat in a pew behind Paul Hyde for years. I knew he was retired from IBM, but that was about all I knew. In one visit with Paul and his wife Marilyn, I learned that Paul had worked for IBM for 45 years, and took early retirement to help Marilyn. We had such a great talk. I’m so glad that I got this chance to know both of them better, and it wouldn’t have happened without the Capital Campaign.”

If you’ve found yourself looking around at our congregation (for years, or months, or maybe just weeks) and wishing you knew more people better, seize this opportunity. Welcome visitors when you are contacted, or even volunteer to be a Campaign Ambassador/Visitor in the second phase of the Campaign. It’s a great way to meet new people, strengthen existing ties—and have fun!

CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF CELEBRATION

Sunday April 8^th

(after single 10:15 am service)

Get ready for a party! Mark your calendars for the April 8^th Campaign Kick-Off Celebration. Please remember that we will have only one service that day (at 10:15 a.m), with the Kick-Off to follow. We will have food, a scavenger hunt, the Big Blue Trunk entertainer, and an exciting announcement about our Campaign’s progress to date! For information about volunteering with set-up, or to donate a baked good, please contact Cathy Shearer.

For more information about the Campaign, visit our Capital Campaign page on our website at www.fccej.org and follow the church on Facebook!

Week 4 – Many Hands Make a Work of Art!

February 21, 2018/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea Sharp

Last Sunday (February 18), lots of hands came together to create a piece of art that represents what “Our Home” and God means to each of us, and how we experience God’s love in this place. A large canvas was set up in Fellowship Hall and children and adults of all ages were encouraged to cut out a shape to add to a colorful collage. All were invited to create and add their work after both services, and the children had an opportunity to participate as part of their Faith Formation time during the second service. It was great to see everyone considering what they wanted to add, and the finished project is as diverse as we are. The collage includes our church, sunshine, flowers, butterflies, mountains, a rainbow, animals, musical notes, a paintbrush, and so much more. Even the tiniest hands were able to participate by helping glue shapes and letters into place. Please take a few minutes to look at our beautiful community artwork and ponder what God and our church means to you!

Upcoming Events:

Campaign Ambassador Training – Saturday, April 7
All-Church Campaign Kick-Off Celebration – Sunday, April 8 (after single 10:15 service)

For more information about the Campaign, visit our Capital Campaign page on our website at www.fccej.org and follow the church on Facebook!

Week 3 – First Group of Campaign Ambassadors Trained and Early Visits Begin!

February 15, 2018/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea Sharp

On Saturday, February 10, 35 church member volunteers spent the morning learning more about the Capital Campaign and preparing to visit other members. These visits are vital because one of the most important goals for this Campaign is to help people feel even more connected to our church and one another.

One of the most meaningful parts of the training was a conversation about what the church and the Campaign mean to us. One Ambassador expressed that the facility improvements would allow us to expand our community outreach. Another noted the amount of time Church Council and the Trustees spend trying to solve building maintenance issues without the necessary funds—time that could be much better spent on our people, programs, and mission. Still another echoed the theme of the Campaign, saying it was Our Time to invest in the church, making sure it is here for future generations.

Eventually, everyone in the church will have an opportunity for a group or individual visit with a Campaign Ambassador. Again, these visits are not about asking for money; they are a time to share stories, get to know another church member a little better, and answer any questions about the Campaign before confidential pledges are made.
Don’t worry if you haven’t been contacted yet. It is going to take us some time to reach everyone, but we will! The Campaign is just beginning, and the majority of visits will be taking place after our next big milestone: an All-Church Campaign Kick-Off Celebration on Sunday, April 8 (after a single 10:15 service)! Put the date on your calendars for what is sure to be an exciting and fun event!

More Ambassadors will be needed to visit members in the second phase of the Campaign after the Kick-Off. If you are interested in volunteering, there is a second training session scheduled for Saturday, April 7. Also needed are volunteers for the Kick-Off Celebration on April 8 and the closing celebration in June. Please contact Co-Chairs Dave Johnson or Kaki McGeary if you would like to get involved or learn more.

As the initial visits get underway, the Ambassadors look forward to meeting with members and sharing more of those meaningful conversations. It is a powerful way to create connections with one another that will last long into the future, even as memories of the Campaign begin to fade.

Upcoming Events:

Ambassador Training – Saturday, April 7
All-Church Campaign Kick-Off Celebration – Sunday, April 8 (after single 10:15 service)

For more information about the Campaign, visit our Capital Campaign page on our website at www.fccej.org and follow the church on Facebook!

Week 2 – Campaign Visits, How to Pledge & More

February 8, 2018/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea Sharp

Sanctuary Restoration Project update…

This week, we were thrilled to have historic architecture preservation and restoration specialist Sally Fishburn, from Danville, VT, visit our church to assess our beautiful historic windows and plaster walls in the sanctuary. Sally will put together a detailed cost estimate for the restoration work and get back to us in a few weeks. We are grateful to the Preservation Trust of Vermont for a grant to fund Sally’s consulting services. You can see more pictures from Sally’s visit on our Facebook page (scroll down to post on Feb. 5)!

What are the “Campaign Visits” About & How do I Make a Pledge?

One of the most important goals for this Campaign is to help people feel even more connected to our church and one another…after all, this is Our Home!

Everyone in the church will have an opportunity for a group or individual visit with one of our trained “Campaign Visitors,” people who have volunteered to meet with folks to talk about the Church, listen to stories about what it means to our members, and answer any questions about the Campaign before confidential pledges are made.

The visit can be in your home, your office, the church, a café…wherever is most comfortable for you. We want you to know that the home visit is NOT about asking for specific amounts of money – that is for you to decide and the details of your pledge are confidential. We believe you will enjoy getting to know someone better (or making a new friend), while you learn more about this important step we are taking together in the life of our Church.

Your Campaign visitor will bring a pledge card for you to fill out. At the end of your visit, you can place your confidential pledge in a sealed envelope and give it to your visitor, or if you need more time, you can return it to the church office. Your sealed envelope will only be opened by Campaign Treasurer. The Campaign Treasurer and FCCEJ’s Financial Secretary are the only ones who will know pledge/gift amounts.

When will I be contacted about a visit?

The first phase of Campaign, known as a “quiet phase,” involves reaching out to an initial group of church leaders. During this time, we will also be gearing up for an All-Church Campaign Kick-Off Celebration on Sunday, April 8th after a single 10:15 service. After the Kick-Off, we will reach out to the full congregation. We hope you will say YES to a visit when a volunteer contacts you!

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, February 10 – 1^st Visitor Training
Saturday, April 7 – 2^nd Visitor Training
Sunday, April 8 – Campaign Kick-Off Celebration! (after single 10:15 service)

Questions? Want to get involved? Please contact Co-Chairs Kaki McGeary or Dave Johnson.

Thank you for your support, prayers and enthusiasm for the Our Home, Our Future, Our Time Campaign!

Week 1 – And we’re off!

January 31, 2018/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea Sharp

Our Home, Our Future, Our Time Campaign begins!

At the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 28^th, the congregation voted unanimously to approve an $822,000 Capital Campaign! The Our Home, Our Future, Our Time Campaign will raise funds for repairs, renovations and improvements that will maintain and preserve our historic buildings, increase accessibility and safety, and further efforts to expand ministry and outreach. Click here to read a copy of the press release announcing the Campaign.

So what happens next?

The Capital Campaign Steering Committee will get to work right away to get the Campaign off the ground. We will hold a training for volunteers who will be “visitors” or “campaign ambassadors” in mid-February, and those trained volunteers will begin reaching out to an initial group of church leaders about the Campaign. This first phase of the Campaign is known as a “quiet phase”.

During this time, we will also be gearing up for an All-Church Campaign Kick-Off Celebration that will be held on Sunday, April 8 after the second service. After the Kick-Off, we will reach out to the entire congregation and make sure everyone has an opportunity for a group or individual visit with one of our Campaign volunteers!

If you have any questions about the Campaign, or you are interested in helping with the kick-off celebration or serving as a visitor/campaign ambassador, please reach out to Campaign Co-chairs Kaki McGeary & Dave Johnson. There are many ways to get involved, and we would be happy to discuss how you might be able to lend a hand.

We will have many more details to share with you as the Campaign unfolds. In the meantime, we greatly appreciate your support, prayers and enthusiasm for the Our Home, Our Future, Our Time Campaign!