2022 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Strengthening Our Home – Serving the Future 
Learn about our current capital campaign in these newsletters:
1st Newsletter (March 1, 2022)
2nd Newsletter (March 30, 2022)
Important Dates:
6/18 All Parish Celebration
6/19 Ingathering Sunday
Photo April 8, 2022
2022 Frequently Asked
Questions and Answers
1 – Q: What work have we funded and completed? What is left to do?
A: Repair of the St. John’s Steeple, building bathrooms in the parish hall, installing stairs for an emergency exit from our sanctuary, laying the foundation of improved HVAC and restoring our electrical system to safety was the good work of the first Phase of this Capital Project. This first phase cost $850,000. This was funded by a successful Capital Campaign, which raised $640,000 between 2018 and 2021. The remainder was funded with investment income and growth in our Undesignated Endowment Fund.
The work of this second phase of the Capital Project will continue to focus on ease of access and building safety: providing for ADA access with two new lifts, adding a welcoming center that connects the church and the parish hall, repairing the walls of our Parish Hall, and bringing our air circulation system up to a safe level. We have contracted with Accord, the Contractor which did the Snohomish Carnegie Building restoration, for this phase of work for $2 million.
2 – Q. What is the history of this project and where are we now?
A: Fifteen years ago, a capital facilities committee was formed by Fr. Mark Miller and chaired by Jim Church to address deferred maintenance and safety issues in our church. In 2013, the committee prepared a comprehensive study of needs on which the committee based a proposal for restoration and new space.
The committee authorized Mark Nelson to prepare advanced design development drawings. These drawings have been updated over the course of the past few years as the work has uncovered the extent of needed repairs to the steeple and parish hall walls. At this point we have selected Accord Contractors and they have begun work, which is expected to be completed in October 2022.
3 – Q: Where is the money coming from?
A: The campaign seeks to raise $350,000-$400,000 with a stretch goal of $450,000. The more we raise, the more quickly we can re-grow our endowment fund and ensure generosity of outreach and financial strength for St. John’s into the future. As reported at our 2022 Annual Meeting, our vestry has a plan to raise the remainder of the total $2 million needed from a portion of the savings and Endowment legacy funds which have continued to grow over the past fifteen years, leaving enough untouched in these funds that they can grow back in the coming years. This will allow us to fund the project by October 2022 and repay ourselves as campaign gifts are received over the next three years.
Confident in God’s assurance to provide for us, each of us is encouraged to make a financial pledge that will challenge us to grow in faith and reliance on God. With hope and faith, we are asked to stretch ourselves in our giving over the three-year campaign period above and beyond our regular gifts to the church.
4 – Q. How much shall I give?
A: There is no simple answer or formula of how much to give. Each member and friend of St. John’s is encouraged to prayerfully discern and commit a gift that best reflects your heart felt feeling for St. John’s; your faith, expressed in both generosity and sacrificial giving; and a joyful spirit responding to God’s abundance to them.
5 – Q: When will I be asked to make my gift?
A: Commitment Sunday is June 19th, 2022, on which day each member household will be invited to make their three-year pledge – above and beyond their annual stewardship pledge – to our capital campaign.
Leading up to Commitment Sunday, there will be many opportunities to participate in the campaign and reflect on what commitment you are called to: a Bible Study is being held Wednesdays in Lent, Informational Gatherings will start in April, a Prayer Vigil is planned for April 23rd, an Advance Commitments gathering is planned for early May; and an all-church picnic and children’s party is planned for. Saturday, June 18.
6 – Q: Can I make a pledge to the campaign right now?
A: Members are encouraged to attend the events of our campaign, and engage in thoughtful prayer prior to making a commitment. Know that your participation in this process will be helpful to you, and an inspiration to others. For more information, contact any member of the Capital Campaign team:
• Linda Adams – Resource Director
• Nancy McConnell – Publicity and Children/Youth Director
• Jane Berard – Informational Gatherings Director
• John Terauds – Prayer Vigil and Bible Study Director
• Tom Schelfhout – Hospitality Director
• Barb Macho – Continuation Director
• Eric Fritch – Co-Chair and Commitments Director
• Candace McKenna – Co-Chair
• Fr. Nigel Taber-Hamilton – Rector
7 – Q: What happens to the courtyard in this plan?
A: The courtyard will be bound by the new addition that will take the space in front of the parish hall, and across to the church along the street. An access door will be provided from the main entry hall. This will create a private courtyard space and isolate our activities from the street noises. Sunlight will continue to enter the courtyard as it does now from the south. It will fill the courtyard with light and the church stain glass windows and parish hall windows will remain unaffected by the addition.
8 – Q: Will there be a Phase III?
A: There is no timeline for a Phase III of this Capital Building Project. We are leaving to the future the prioritization and planning for additional needs, which are inevitable in the life of a building. Areas not upgraded by Phase I and II may need attention in the future, including the classroom area downstairs, offices, memorial room and kitchen.
9 – Q: What is the significance of our campaign logo, the Carpenter’s Cross?
A: The cross formed with carpenter’s tools signifies what we are doing and why. We are using the tools at hand to make our church building safer and more accessible for the purpose of continuing the work of Christ in community. Throughout the almost 130-year history of St. John’s, parishioners have periodically taken up tools to build, repair and enhance our church facilities as needed to further our Christian ministries. Our current capital project continues this tradition.
In 2018, St. John’s Capital Campaign, ‘Invest in Our Future – Build Community’ culminated with updated modern electrical throughout the building, securing an unstable steeple, adding two bathrooms, and bringing the sanctuary up to current fire code with an emergency exit. A video summary is below.
November 4, 2020
Video Tour of Building Project 2020, narrated by parishioner John Gray.
October 23, 2020
2018 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q. What is the history of this project and where are we now?
A: Over the past 10 years, various studies of the structure and the electrical and heating systems have been prepared by the subcommittee on facilities. Fr. Mark Miller formed a capital facilities committee. Jim Church served as the first chair. In 2013, the committee prepared a comprehensive study of needs. Also, the committee prepared a program of needs for restoration and new space.
The committee recognized an architect was necessary to provide a schematic master plan. Architect Mark Nelson was interviewed and hired to draw up the design. He developed a design that was presented to the congregation and the diocese. Further steps then included preparing necessary 3-D surveying to map the existing structure and site. The committee further authorized Mr. Nelson to prepare more advanced design development drawings. These drawings have been submitted for City and historical review.
Q: Where is the money coming from?
A: The money comes from the members of the St. John’s congregation. Our campaign theme is Investing in Our future—Build Community. This capital campaign effort is a three-year commitment. Confident in God’s assurance to provide for us, each of us is encouraged to make a financial pledge that will challenge us to grow in faith and reliance on God. Armed with hope and faith, we are asked to stretch ourselves in our giving over the three-year period. This giving is beyond our regular gifts to the church. The vestry may also consider using portions of the undesignated investments in combination with fund-raising and other options such as applying for grants and loans.
Q: What are the priorities for renovation and building?
A: We have identified a list of priorities. The level of success of our capital campaign will determine how far we can proceed. We would like to complete all of the following Priority 1 and Priority 2 items. If we can’t complete all Priority 3 items, we hope to make some progress.
Priority 1
- Replace the main electrical service and electrical distribution system
- Upgrade the existing heating systems.
- Increase the number of meeting spaces.
- Improve the internal circulation and access to all functions and spaces.
- Add a central reception and welcome area.
- Add access and connection to the northern end of the Sunday school.
- Replace and relocate the narrow stairs leading to the north end of the church with wider stairs and a ramp that connects to the parish hall.
- Install an elevator with enough room for a large wheelchair.
- Fix the undersized men’s bathroom in the administrative zone.
- Fix the foundation under the rector’s office.
Priority 2
- Remodel the rector’s office and remove the bathroom.
- Remodel the current space used for counseling—it is too dark and it is isolated.
- Fix the exterior exit in the school zone.
Priority 3
- Relocate the administrative zone to make it more useful.
- Relocate the poorly-designed library.
- In the school zone, add more storage space for the community kitchen.
- In the school zone, add more space to the mechanical room.
- Remodel the bathrooms in the school zone.
- Modernize the parish hall.
- Provide access to the memorial garden from the Parish Hall.
- Make remodeling changes to the worship zone to enhance the worship experience.
A: The courtyard remains unchanged. It will be bound by the new addition that will take the space in front of the parish hall, and across to the church along the street. An access door will be provided from the main entry hall. The other existing doors will continue to provide access. This will create a private courtyard space, which will isolate our activities from the street noises. The sun will continue to fill the courtyard with light. The church’s stain glass windows and parish hall windows won’t be affected by the addition.
Q: This project does not directly address the sanctuary space. Why not?
A: The sanctuary space has always been outside the scope of work by the committee that assessed the needs of the church. The decisions involving this space are more heavily influenced by the rector with the approval of the diocese. The heating and electrical issues in the sanctuary space are the exception.
Q: The kitchen is not being remodeled under this plan. Why not?
A: The Capital Facilities Committee determined early in the planning and needs assessment process that the current kitchen is adequate. However, normal and expected remodeling of the cabinets and floor is expected. Also, appliances will need to be replaced eventually. These projects would need to be funded at a later time.