Steering Committee co-chair Bob Brown's comments
Good morning. Sue has asked me to say a few words this morning as representative of the most recent Steering Committee for this capital campaign, That committee's task has been to keep as much communication and coordination happening as possible. There is perhaps an off chance that we could have met or published or spoken more often but I really think we're about ready to come to closure this morning.
You've heard from Tom and Jackie and Peg and Jim and Dave already this morning. We have been guided by our ministers and staff through worship and music and programs to find the place of discernment in the Spirit. I think it's time for the Steering to be done.
I remember two years ago that Tom Aldrich begged us to get going so that he might see some results - support the motion this morning and we can invite both Tom and Margaret to help move furnishings and then dig up some earth within the next few months.
But I also want to speak today from a very personal perspective. We are about to make a decision that will transform us - affirming a spiritual and financial and action-oriented commitment to a growing, transforming community in a transformed setting. Let me give my personal take on this. I certainly understand that we have concerns about the dollars and bricks we are dealing with but I want to go behind or beyond all that:
Just over thirty years ago i came to this area with my wife, Mary, and four - soon five - children. Mary found this church after we had searched a bit, Eventually both of us had joined, Since then, in this place, I have seen that fifth child baptized. I have seen all our children grow through church school and other programs. I have seen our daughter married here (the first summer the fans were in use and while the social hall was being redone; we did the reception in the Living Room) and seen one of our sons married here. I have seen memorial services for my wife and my oldest son. I have seen grandchildren baptized. A couple of years ago I actually volunteered to be part of the planning to transform the church so important to me so that it more readily could be important to others.
I certainly didn't ask for ali those other transforming events, but I want to support one that feels so positive and long lasting, this building program, Our worshipping and loving CCC community supports us --through living out the love of Christ and through the passion of service to others. Our facilities give us a place where we form our vision and launch our mission and refresh our faith in regular worship. Our vote today is on whether to finish the first phase of transformation of those facilities. (We'll just have to hold off for now on the sanctuary changes in our Master Plan, but certainly not forget them.)
I believe that in choosing to implement construction we will build a place that will better sustain even more stories of lives which are shaped by the abundance provided by the loving God who shared life with us in Jesus and which are supported by the faith-filled community which is CCC. I cannot help but think of all the two-year old Andrews who, I believe, deserve that legacy -just as we were given it by the earliest CCC dreamers and riskers, builders and mortgagers, 50 years ago.
Thanks for this chance to share. I am impressed that we are also a community that does good discussions. The floor is open.