Capital Fund Campaign, Fall 2006
Long-Range Plan Improvements, Phase I, Spring 2007

God’s Challenge
to grow

God’s Challenge

•   Our facilities need improvement

•   Our ministries need new staff and leaders

•   Our outreach needs to be boosted in funds and focus

In the challenging days in which we live, God is inviting Church of the Nativity to shine His light.  We are clear about our mission:  to be and to make faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are growing disciples both young and older, and are an inspiration to many. We are welcoming guests and new members who wish to grow with us, and are poised to reach out to the wider church & world.  We are an “in-between” church, too large to do church as we’ve known it, too small to meet God’s challenge to grow more.  Our facilities are in need of improvement to match our mission and to reflect the excellence of God.  Our ministries are in need of new leaders, including new staff, especially those who work with children.  Our outreach has lagged, as we haven’t fully given away what we’ve received For many years it appears as if we’ve been “stuck”, unsure about how to move forward.  Though our budget has increased dramatically, it hasn’t kept up with rising facility costs or growing opportunities for ministry. God has invited us to pray deeply, think creatively, dream boldly for a future in which we will once again be at the forefront of Christian ministry in our region.  His challenge is very clear.

Our solution
to move forward

Our Solution

•   Phase I of a Long-Range Plan

•   Mission-focused hiring, repairing, improving, and giving 

•   A step of faith which calls for support which affirms that, with God, all things are possible

More than two years ago, the Vestry, with the advice of the Parish Development Committee, established a Long-Range Planning Committee.  This group worked tirelessly to seek God and His people here for a solution to God’s challenge.  Working with many parish leaders, they developed a plan which calls for a step of faith into the bright future which God has for us.  This multi-phase, multi-faceted plan redevelops our ministries, facilities, and outreach for our mission. Phase I calls for seed money to hire a Minister for Children and Family, so that we can further our long-standing work with the church of today and tomorrow.  It details repair of our parking lot and Nave, and relocation and renovation in other areas so as to make our spiritual deepening work with people of all ages more possible.  It includes improvements to our buildings and grounds, and a tithe for outreach, to reach out to those we have yet to meet. Like the entire plan, Phase I will be accomplished in phases this year and next, as we refine the ministry and building plans, and raise the necessary support needed to move forward.  The leaders of this plan, both the Vestry and the Long-Range Planning Committee, are grateful to God for His guidance to a solution that seems to rise to the challenge, while not presenting an impossible dream. And as we will soon see, with God, all things are possible!

Our Response

Obviously, in order to put our solution into place, money will be needed.  In early December, each member of Nativity will be asked to make a pledge to this effort, to be paid over a three-year period.  Our theme will be that, though we all will not be able to give equal gifts, we all will be encouraged to make an equal sacrifice, for the benefit of all, including those who will join us. In the meantime, all of us can respond positively in prayer. Though we may still have questions about the current and future state of our parish and the church as a whole, we can pray that God will direct and guide us in pursuing our mission of being and making faithful followers.  We can ask Him to bless these efforts to respond to the challenge He has given us to do just that. Though we are being guided by a paid consultant – Rev. Craig Miller from RSI, the same firm used in our last Capital Campaign to build the Parish Hall – this Campaign will require the involvement of many of us in order to get the word out, encourage one another to respond, receive the pledges, and ensure their completion.  You are needed.

Members of Nativity
have always risen to a challenge and have
taken big steps of faith.
    We will do so again.

You Are Needed

Responding to God’s Challenge and realizing our solution, in order to fulfill our mission will not be easy.  However, members of Nativity have always risen to a challenge, and have taken big steps of faith.  We will do so again.  If each of us will accept a small part of the task, giving of our time and, eventually, our finances, we will see God move us forward. Nehemiah, an exiled Israelite, had a vision to restore Jerusalem to its former glory and ministry.  An impossible task for a lowly cupbearer.  No funds.  No ‘growth curve’.  Yet, with the assistance of many who saw and acted upon God’s vision, the city of Jerusalem was restored, brick by brick, ministry by ministry.  Generations were blessed by their faithfulness. In the next few weeks you will be hearing more details about our Capital Fund Campaign, and how we plan to accomplish our goal.  You will have an opportunity to serve on one of several teams that will be organized to show members and friends how they can respond.  You will be fully prepared for your task, and no one will be expected to ask for money or for pledges.

Every one of us will
have the opportunity to participate in this great move forward, to give of ourselves for God

Please Say Yes

Your help is important.  This effort is not small, but can be shared in small pieces.  If you will say “yes” by stepping forward, or by affirming a call made to you, we will be able to get this job done, and realize a brighter future. Each of us will have the opportunity to participate in this great move forward.  Those leading this program know how busy we all are, so they have designed a program that allows us to maximize our effectiveness. Some of our members – among them some very busy people – have already said “yes” to leading aspects of this campaign because they believe this is important enough to make the sacrifice of their time.

Campaign Fund Leaders

Campaign Leaders:   Advance Commitment: Children’s Activities: Contacts:   Program Coordination: Enlistment:   Follow-Up: Hospitality:   Information: Prayer:   Print Communication:   Response:   Small Group:   Special Event:   Student Activities:   Visual Communications:

Steve Symes Bob Kimball	How can you support and  pray for these leaders?
Bill Rawstron ??????????	Could you work with Bill, or serve on his team?
Amanda Panikian ????????????	What about serving with Amanda and children?
Jeri Deslauriers ??????????? ???????????	Could you join Jeri in contacting parishioners with information?
Bette Ann Whynot Cindy Loverin	Pray for these two who coordinate info & meetings
Joe Stolberg Bruce Reilly	Encourage Joe & Bruce as they ask us to serve
Cathy Mogavero	Pray for the 3 years ahead
The Bergstroms Kristin Swift Jaye Cassellini	Could you join this Team to invite everyone to a December Kick-Off Event?
???????????	Provides info. to all of us
Hallie Cowan Cindy Engholm	Join this team to undergird all of this with prayer
Marilyn Perry Linda Cassidy Jim Baker	Help this team develop all of the printed materials to get the word out
Marge Carlson Jim Wagner	Serve here by ensuring that cards are turned in
Jane Pond Paul Gill	This team makes sure that groups get information
The Randalls The Campbells	Help these people plan a wonderful Special Event
Erik Panikian ??????????	Assist Pastor Erik with our Jr. & Sr. High members
?????????? ??????????	We need a few people who can make a video

Let’s add to this list

In the next few weeks, you may be contacted by one of these people, asking if you would serve.                          As future news of the campaign comes out,  perhaps your name will be on this list, so that this campaign will be fully engaged.  Please pray about your response now.