First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 1 Church Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452 | (802) 878-5745
Week 5 – Getting to Know You and Getting Ready to Celebrate
/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea SharpThe 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 8th (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 8th
(after single 10:15 am service)
Get ready for a party! Mark your calendars for the April 8th 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!
March 2018 Church Council
/in Agendas /by Andrea SharpMarch 6th, 7:00 pm – Marvin Lounge
- Opening prayer – Rev. Simon
- Changes to the agenda
- Approve February 6, 2018 Council Meeting minutes
- Approve Annual Meeting Minutes – this may be postponed until April
- Capital Campaign Update
- Follow-up questions from Capital Campaign meetings:
- Ask Trustees to generate a plan for scheduled maintenance and include those costs in our annual budget
- Capital reserve fund – need to fund it
- Review an emergency exit plan during worship (+ choir loft) for fire and other hazards
- Ask Council to amend the By-Laws to allow proxy voting
- Review Church Council policy regarding how long we are bound to memorial gift terms (e.g. can we move/remove the red light in the sanctuary; if so, what is the process for doing so?)
- Review request from Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts to continue in our role as Charter Organization when they start allowing both boys and girls to be members – Kevin McCullen
- Food Pantry feedback
- Approve By Law changes and possible April 22nd Special Meeting
- Member in Discernment Status for Josh Sharp
- Community meeting on proposed gun law changes
- Church participation in Block Party
- Adjourn
Approved meeting minutes are available from the church administrator.
Week 4 – Many Hands Make a Work of Art!
/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea SharpLast 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!
/in Capital Campaign /by Andrea SharpOn 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!