Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor
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Westminster's Little Pantry
Our Little Pantry is located on Cook Street on the south side of Graham Elementary (near the main entrance of the school). To ensure it is visited regularly per week and kept clean and well-stocked, we are maintaining a signup list for checking on the pantry. Sign up below by clicking the link. Reimbursement is available for items purchased, and a supply of items is kept at the church. Sign up to stock Westminster's Little Pantry |
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Donation suggestions:
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Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Matching Grant Guidelines and Application.
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Steadfast Neighbor Service Week
June 19 - 23, 2023 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 14:58 This year’s focus was repairing and painting front porches as well as mending a sidewalk. Additionally, a team planted Westminster-decorated flower pots that were placed on Steadfast Neighbor participant porches. Look at the photos here to see how Westminster members mix work with fellowship! |
Steadfast Neighbor Service Week 2023
Fourth Annual Steadfast Neighbor
The week of June 19-23, 2023 70 members gathered for a devotion and music before arriving at our neighborhood sites. Projects included power washing, painting, landscape improvements, repairing front porches and fences. Lunches were prepared by Pat Hymans’ Hospitality Team and served at 12 noon in Parish Hall. Following lunch Monday - Thursday the teams returned to their sites to complete the day’s work. The team gathered for a celebratory lunch and awards presentation on Friday. A report to the congregation was presented Sunday, August 8.
Fourth Annual Steadfast Neighbor
The week of June 19-23, 2023 70 members gathered for a devotion and music before arriving at our neighborhood sites. Projects included power washing, painting, landscape improvements, repairing front porches and fences. Lunches were prepared by Pat Hymans’ Hospitality Team and served at 12 noon in Parish Hall. Following lunch Monday - Thursday the teams returned to their sites to complete the day’s work. The team gathered for a celebratory lunch and awards presentation on Friday. A report to the congregation was presented Sunday, August 8.
When Westminster’s Strategic Planning initiative began to take form in 2019, the committee chose the name Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor because it articulates what we believe about God and affirms our commitment to the neighborhood. Over the next ten years, Westminster plans to invest $450,000 in the neighborhood which is one-third of the total cost of our Site and Landscape Plan.
Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor History
On Sunday, April 26, 2020 the congregation took a historic vote and overwhelmingly approved the Steadfast Neighbor Site and Landscape loan for up to $1.3 million from the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program. The interest will be between 3.5 and 3.76% and the loan will be paid back over 20 years. On April 7, the Presbytery of Great Rivers guaranteed the loan.
The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor is possible because of the successful "Building a Legacy of Faith" Twenty-Year Anniversary Endowment Campaign. The loan payments will be made from the interest earned from our General Endowment which had a market value of $4,062,600 on March 31, 2020. This General Endowment is part of the total Support and Endowment Fund, which had a market value of $6,599,400 on March 31, 2020.
This endeavor fulfills the vision of our congregation, who voted to remain in our present location and to be a steadfast presence in this neighborhood 20 years ago. Today we are investing in our neighborhood by beautifying our grounds, expanding our parking, and reaching out to the neighborhood in the mission component, which will be one-third of the renovation costs. The mission funding will be made from the interest earned from our General Endowment. Neighbors were invited to apply for matching grants or partake in the Steadfast Neighbor Service week August 10-14, 2020. A team of members were recruited to do minor repairs and small landscape projects for homes in the neighborhood. Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor Matching Grant Guidelines and Applicationnsw_application___guidelines_2022_form.pdf. Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor Service Week Guidelines and Application.
Session approved the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor in April 2019 empowering the Strategic Planning Committee and related task forces (Hardscape, Landscape, and Mission) to continue to groom their plans, communicate to the neighborhood, seek permits and bids, and develop mission opportunities.
The significance of the name: “Steadfast Neighbor” affirms our commitment to the neighborhood and resonates with the “steadfast love of God.” Steadfast in the sense of continuity, consistency, resilience, being there, and staying the course provides rich imagery for God’s faithfulness to us and God’s call for us to be faithful to our neighbors.
History: The seed for this endeavor was planted twenty years ago (May 2, 1999) when the congregation approved long range strategic goals to develop a site plan which reflects our commitment to remain at the present location, including: development of a memorial garden, enlargement of the endowment, expansion of the parking lot, enhancement of landscaping in parking areas, and purchase of additional properties to allow for expansion. The strategic goals also included mission initiatives within the neighborhood: tutoring/counseling program for families in this area who are living in poverty and programs to serve and improve the neighborhood around the church. The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor is faithful to this vision.
Funding: The successful “Building a Legacy of Faith” Twenty Year Anniversary Endowment Campaign initiated in 2015 is making the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor possible. The market value of the Support and Endowment Fund is $6,523,874. The Site and Landscaping Plan will require a loan to complete the project in a timely manner. The interest and earnings from the general endowment designated for Special Church Support will repay that loan. Although we will not embark on a capital building campaign, gifts which will reduce the amount of the loan are welcome. The Mission disbursement of the endeavor will be at least one-third of the Site and Landscape Plan expenditure and will be funded by the general endowment earnings designated for Mission and Benevolence.
The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor is possible because of the successful "Building a Legacy of Faith" Twenty-Year Anniversary Endowment Campaign. The loan payments will be made from the interest earned from our General Endowment which had a market value of $4,062,600 on March 31, 2020. This General Endowment is part of the total Support and Endowment Fund, which had a market value of $6,599,400 on March 31, 2020.
This endeavor fulfills the vision of our congregation, who voted to remain in our present location and to be a steadfast presence in this neighborhood 20 years ago. Today we are investing in our neighborhood by beautifying our grounds, expanding our parking, and reaching out to the neighborhood in the mission component, which will be one-third of the renovation costs. The mission funding will be made from the interest earned from our General Endowment. Neighbors were invited to apply for matching grants or partake in the Steadfast Neighbor Service week August 10-14, 2020. A team of members were recruited to do minor repairs and small landscape projects for homes in the neighborhood. Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor Matching Grant Guidelines and Applicationnsw_application___guidelines_2022_form.pdf. Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor Service Week Guidelines and Application.
Session approved the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor in April 2019 empowering the Strategic Planning Committee and related task forces (Hardscape, Landscape, and Mission) to continue to groom their plans, communicate to the neighborhood, seek permits and bids, and develop mission opportunities.
The significance of the name: “Steadfast Neighbor” affirms our commitment to the neighborhood and resonates with the “steadfast love of God.” Steadfast in the sense of continuity, consistency, resilience, being there, and staying the course provides rich imagery for God’s faithfulness to us and God’s call for us to be faithful to our neighbors.
History: The seed for this endeavor was planted twenty years ago (May 2, 1999) when the congregation approved long range strategic goals to develop a site plan which reflects our commitment to remain at the present location, including: development of a memorial garden, enlargement of the endowment, expansion of the parking lot, enhancement of landscaping in parking areas, and purchase of additional properties to allow for expansion. The strategic goals also included mission initiatives within the neighborhood: tutoring/counseling program for families in this area who are living in poverty and programs to serve and improve the neighborhood around the church. The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor is faithful to this vision.
Funding: The successful “Building a Legacy of Faith” Twenty Year Anniversary Endowment Campaign initiated in 2015 is making the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor possible. The market value of the Support and Endowment Fund is $6,523,874. The Site and Landscaping Plan will require a loan to complete the project in a timely manner. The interest and earnings from the general endowment designated for Special Church Support will repay that loan. Although we will not embark on a capital building campaign, gifts which will reduce the amount of the loan are welcome. The Mission disbursement of the endeavor will be at least one-third of the Site and Landscape Plan expenditure and will be funded by the general endowment earnings designated for Mission and Benevolence.
Site and Landscape Plan includes four major renovations: East Entry, Parking Lot, West Terrace, and Landscape.
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The East Entry: Enlarge front door landings to make entrance more welcoming, add ground-level terrace for group gatherings, update landscaping, and preserve the architectural integrity of our historic building.
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Parking Lot: Increase parking from 113 spaces to 137 spaces, address water and ice hazard, widen the sidewalk along Parish Hall, add drive-through feature to better accommodate those with special needs and for better access to building, add green space to the parking area and renovate landscaping on the north side of sanctuary. This requires the removal of the two Walnut Street rental apartment properties and the utilization of the Glenwood rental home driveway.
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West Terrace: Provide a screen for Parish Hall worship services, update landscaping, and create an area for meditation as well as a welcoming space for fellowship groups.
Landscaping: Replace 60-ish year-old gum trees, add new grass turf in Southeast lawn with irrigation, add landscaping to East Entry, Parking lot, north side of church, and West Terrace. |
Proposed Timeline: Spring 2019 - tree removal begins, Fall of 2019 - Landscape Initiative begins, Spring of 2020 - Hardscape Initiatives for East Terrace, West Terrace, and Parking Lot begin. Fall of 2020 - Final landscaping installed.
Mission – The seeds sown twenty years ago have already brought forth meaningful neighborhood mission including Compass, Adopt-A-Street, Harvest Fest, and VBS community outreach. Opportunities for growing mission include:
Strategic Planning Committee: Todd Knox (chair), Pat Hildebrand Culler, Sally Godbey, Keith Hamilton, Beth Kincaid, Meg Kontio, Carolyn Swanson, Brinton Wilday, Todd Wise, Dr. Kieffer (staff liaison)
Hardscape Task Force: Linda Chronister, Randy Germeraad, Mal Hildebrand, Gregg Humphrey, Mark Vasconcelles, Gary Warnick (staff liaison)
Landscape Task Force: Scott Day, Peter Kieffer, Becky McDonald, Andy Sherrick, Dale Rogers (staff liaison)
Mission Task Force: Keith Hamilton, Bob Leffler, Brad Milliman, Mary Caroline Mitchell, Mary Peura, Rev. Trajan McGill, Rev. Christian Choi (staff liaisons)
Mission – The seeds sown twenty years ago have already brought forth meaningful neighborhood mission including Compass, Adopt-A-Street, Harvest Fest, and VBS community outreach. Opportunities for growing mission include:
- expand hospitality
- advocate for renters
- create summer teams of college youth and adults to paint, to repair, and to landscape neighborhood homes
- partner with Habitat for Humanity
- provide matching grants to home owners
- partner in mission with neighborhood congregations
Strategic Planning Committee: Todd Knox (chair), Pat Hildebrand Culler, Sally Godbey, Keith Hamilton, Beth Kincaid, Meg Kontio, Carolyn Swanson, Brinton Wilday, Todd Wise, Dr. Kieffer (staff liaison)
Hardscape Task Force: Linda Chronister, Randy Germeraad, Mal Hildebrand, Gregg Humphrey, Mark Vasconcelles, Gary Warnick (staff liaison)
Landscape Task Force: Scott Day, Peter Kieffer, Becky McDonald, Andy Sherrick, Dale Rogers (staff liaison)
Mission Task Force: Keith Hamilton, Bob Leffler, Brad Milliman, Mary Caroline Mitchell, Mary Peura, Rev. Trajan McGill, Rev. Christian Choi (staff liaisons)