This article is printed in the April Tidings.
In a few days, we will gather with family and friends to celebrate the joy of Easter. The discovery of an empty tomb and its message that Jesus has forever overcome the power of death is the central message of the Christian faith. All that we do as his followers grows out of that gift and every other occasion for praise pales in comparison to what we received on that day.
Even so, this month provides us with an occasion to celebrate what has happened in our shared life in another way. Eleven months ago, amidst a time of economic uncertainty, our members and friends made commitments totaling $3.6 million to the “Bridging the Generations” capital campaign so that we might begin our renovation effort. Not only was that response one which demonstrated great sacrifice and trust, but the giving toward those pledges since that day has been wonderful, too, as soon we will have received the first million dollars toward our goal!
While those gifts have been coming in, much has occurred in regards to the enhanced building itself, too. Our Renovation and Construction Committee continued to work closely with our architect in refining the plans, securing resolution over property line issues with neighbors, recommending the contractor and owner’s representative for our effort, and bringing us to the place that our plans now go to the Borough Council for approval on April 19.
At the same time, our Finance Committee developed a thorough cash flow analysis to help us see how much of the plan could be accomplished now and its impact upon future operating budgets, secured proposals from three banks willing to loan DPC the necessary funds, and shepherded the process through the Presbytery of Philadelphia, gaining approval last month.
Concurrent with those efforts, other members and officers gathered last fall to hear an early proposal for Phase One of our renovation work and offer feedback while members and staff helped refine plans for a new nursery, expanded kitchen, and consolidated office spaces. In response to all of those steps and the countless hours which made them possible, two months ago the congregation voted to proceed with the Andrews Hall work and the bridge, borrowing up to $5.2 million to help make that effort possible. All of this has happened since May of 2009.
Next month, we will celebrate the one-year anniversary of Commitment Sunday and share in a ground-breaking to mark the official beginning to the renovation effort. More details about both events will be coming to you in the weeks ahead, but for now, I invite you to pause and remember all that God has done through us and our family of faith in this special time. For those blessings and more importantly, the news from that first Easter, our most natural response is praise.
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