As First Church Somerville Turns 100, a Capital Campaign for Repairs
The church hopes to raise $750,000 in three years, according to an announcement. It launches its capital campaign with pledges of $400,000.
Ed. note: The following was sent on behalf of First Church Somerville:
First Church Somerville (UCC) Launches Capitol Campaign with Over $400K in Initial Pledges
Campaign now moves to full congregation with a goal of raising $750K
Somerville, MA (June 6, 2012) – First Church Somerville (UCC) officially launched a major Capitol Campaign on Sunday evening June 3 at a church wide celebration at The Living Room in Downtown Boston.
The Campaign, with a theme of Defying Gravity has a total goal of raising $750,000 over the next three years. The funds raised will be used to reinforce and refurbish the current church structure located at 89 College Avenue at the corner of Francesca Street in Somerville.
“This year marks the 100th birthday of our current church building,” said Rev. Molly Baskette, Senior Minister. “Undertaking a capital campaign is a testament to our faith in First Church’s future. The time has come to build for the next hundred years. Our well-loved, well-worn building needs assistance in accommodating a vibrant, growing community and resisting the pull of gravity, weather, and time. “
Work planned, starting this fall, includes a new roof, securing and refinishing the entire outside of the building, reconfiguring the current sanctuary layout and building of additional classrooms, offices and restrooms.
On Sunday June 23 a special service will be held to announce the final amount of pledges raised during the campaign.
Anyone interested in learning more about the campaign or in donating can go to www.firstchurchsomerville.org and click on the Defying Gravity link.
About First Church Somerville
First Church Somerville UCC is a community of curious and creative spiritual seekers, committed to learning and embodying a progressive practice of Christianity. We walk in the Way of Jesus, striving to love kindness and do justice for all people. We are of many minds in our spiritual beliefs, but one body in loving service to others and in joyful worship of the One who made us. Sunday worship takes place at 10 am.
Shedward Weeks
4:22 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
"Capital" campaign, surely.
If a church's congregation can't keep it up, I'm not sure why anyone else should be called upon to help further. We already subsidize all these half-empty churches through religious organizations' unique and inexplicable tax exempt status.
Anne
11:01 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Every church capital campaign I've known did indeed collect the money from their own congregation (an extra pledge on top of the standard annual pledges) - plus some fundraising events and donations from some caring neighbors (after all, some people are willing to assign a monetary value to the history & scenic value of a classic church building that's been integral to the town for a century or 2 or 3) and previous congregants (often retired to warmer climes but with an affection for their old church).
People are "asked," not "called upon" to donate. You don't want to, don't.