Dear Members and Friends,

At a specially called congregational meeting on June 7, 2009, the congregation approved two special motions with regards to the repair of our church steeple. Anyone looking up at the steeple recently will notice the evident deterioration. Parts of the wooden framework of the grills and dormers have fallen off, paint is badly peeling, and tiles are lifted or missing. While the internal structure has been repaired, the exterior remains a big concern.

As a result of three years of many meetings, the congregation accepted the bid of $136,800 to complete the steeple repair on the exterior. The successful contractor was Reese Brothers of Somerset, who performed the interior repair on our steeple and recently built the Somerset Church of the Brethren. They have been in business 38 years and gave excellent references. The work is expected to be performed from September to November. While lifts will be used for repairs, we will still have access to the church from Main Street on Sundays. The steeple will be restored to its original design. All wood visible in the repairs will be replaced by AZEK, a composite material impervious to moisture. The steeple will be sheathed in ¾” plywood, covered in WinterGuard for extra moisture protection, and the outer layer will be Presidential TL shingles (the best available with a lifetime warranty). Copper will be used for drip edges and a hip cap. The cross will be restored with improved lightning rod protection.

To pay for this steeple repair, the congregation will be tapping both short and long-term savings. Together with interest earned on these funds and other monies expected before construction, we expected to have $76,500 available at the time of the congregational meeting. This left a construction loan need of $60,300. The congregation accepted a plan to apply for a 10-year unsecured loan from the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA (the national church). This will carry an interest rate of 6.875% until year five, when it will reset once. In order to pay off the loan in a timely fashion without undue interest, the congregation approved a plan to repay the loan in three years. We will also be using additional funding from Endowment Fund interest, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans matching funds, and fundraisers to lower this amount.

At the time of the congregational meeting, it was computed to ask for member families to take a share in this ministry of $170 a year for three years. Because of early donations to the steeple fund, additional interest and new memorial funds given to the steeple project, our need funds on hand now total $78,355. This leaves a new loan need of $58,445. This lowers the member share to $160 a year for three years. Families may also choose to do a ½ share of $80 a year for three years, a ¼ share at $40 a year for three years, or any amount in that three year period. In the near future we will be asking families to commit to a share in this ministry. While some may wish to pay off this commitment immediately, it will also be possible to make periodic contributions. Please use a Special Offering envelope to make your gift apart from your regular giving. A Commitment Form can be downloaded from this web site.

To the Glory of God,

Pastor John W. Harmon

For the Church Council