Are we ready to embrace
our future?
Vestry sets
May 18 deliberative session; June 1 vote
On Tuesday, April 15, the Vestry, in a long, but productive meeting, heard
extensive presentations on three possible plans for a facility that will meet
our needs for the foreseeable future.
The first two, both
produced by the design-build firm, Arenco of Amherst, were for a new building
on our Route 13 site.
·
One, a
15,000 sq. ft. design, was quite similar to the proposal offered last October
– but with some simplifications that would keep costs in check.
·
The other,
a reduced-footprint version with 12,000 sq. ft. of space, was produced in the
hope that even greater savings could be achieved. In the end, however, it came
in at an estimated cost of only $35,000 less than the larger plan.
The third, produced by
Bedford architect
Cary Simmons, offered an alternative for the renovation and expansion of our
current building should neither of the two new building alternatives prove
feasible. It called for the demolition of a portion of our current building to
allow expansion into 10,500 sq. ft. of floor space.
After considerable
discussion and debate, the Vestry voted to present to the parish Arenco’s
15,000 sq. ft. plan.
At that same meeting,
the dates for the deliberative session and the vote (as outlined at Annual
Meeting last winter) were set:
·
The
deliberative session will be on Sunday, May 18 after a single 9 a.m. service.
·
The vote
will be on Sunday, June 1, in the context of a single 9 a.m. service (not as a
separate meeting following it – see below).
One major difference
between our process last fall and the plan agreed upon for this time around is
the setting within which the vote will take place. Instead of voting on the
same day debate is heard (May 18), we will reconvene to vote on the proposal
two weeks later. No further debate will occur at this meeting. Somewhat like
an “SB-2” town meeting, the debate will occur at the deliberative session, and
only the voting at the final meeting.
A lot of hard work and
meticulous planning have brought us once again to the place where we as a
parish can make our voices heard. We voted once to embrace our future in May
of 2003 – by a margin of 80-20%. We voted again in April of 2006 when we
raised more in Capital Campaign pledges than anyone thought possible for a
parish our size – $830,000. And even though we didn’t quite reach the
two-thirds threshold last October, the fact that nearly 60% of us said “yes”
then indicates that many among us still hold fast to the hope that this is the
vision God has set before us.
The time has come to
ask, once and for all, “Are we ready to embrace our future?”
— The Rector
Rogation Sunday,
April 27…
A Rogation
procession on our new land
Weather
permitting, we will “beat the bounds” of our Route 13 property on Rogation
Sunday, April 27. Immediately following the 10:00 service that day (which
will be shortened to accommodate the Rogation Procession), we will carpool our
way down Route 13 to our plot of land. The procession will take us to the newly
refurbished outdoor chapel, and from there to a spot near the proposed site of
our new church building. Along the way, we will stop at several “stations” to
pray for the ministry that God is calling us to fulfill in that setting. We will
then return to the church for coffee and refreshments.
Should weather
prohibit “beating the bounds” on Route 13, we will substitute an “interior
procession” with the same liturgy within our current building. At each station
we will post photos suggesting the location we would have visited in the outdoor
procession.
Final
adult forum of the spring is May 4
This
spring, we resumed the Adult Forums we had been offering to inform the
parish on matters of importance and seek feedback where appropriate.
On
March 9, our Rector and Wardens reported on the just-completed
Leadership Retreat (held March 7th and 8th at the Barbara Harris Center in
Greenfield). Last month, Fr. Chip spoke about his upcoming
Sabbatical, June-Aug. 2008, including plans for pastoral and Sunday
coverage during the time he will be away.
On Sunday,
May 4, the five lay parish members who are going to Angola in June to
cement our friendship with the people of St. Andrew’s Church, Ondjiva,
will speak about their travel plans.
The forum will
occur in two sessions, one between services (9:00-9:45) and one following the
10:00 service (11:30-12:15).
The forum
is open to all
and you are
encouraged to come and join in the conversation. These forums will resume in
September and your input as to appropriate topics is welcomed.
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