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. Donation suggestions:
Sign up to stock Westminster's Little Pantry |
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Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor Matching Grant Guidelines and Application. |
Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor Service Week Guidelines and Application. |
How precious is your steadfast love, O God?
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wing. Psalm 36:7
For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Galatians 5:14
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wing. Psalm 36:7
For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Galatians 5:14
Steadfast Neighbor Mission
We had a beautiful week in the neighborhood August 10-14 as 42 members ranging from age 15 to 85, 2 neighbors, and 8 staff came together to shower our neighbors with love and to live out our mission statement in a practical and meaningful way. We are grateful for those who served from ½ of a day to 5 days sharing their time, labor, and expertise and the delicious lunches prepared by the Hospitality Team.
Because rain was forecast for the week, Dr. Kieffer chose the theme of water for our devotionals as we gathered in the sanctuary with a new appreciation for the symbolism of the lovely wooden ceiling above us shaped like an ark. As it turns out, other than a very hot Monday, we had beautiful weather as well.
Together, we were able to:
Our intention over the next ten years is to invest $450,000 in our neighborhood. This is 1/3 the cost of the Steadfast Neighbor Site and Landscape Plan.
We had a beautiful week in the neighborhood August 10-14 as 42 members ranging from age 15 to 85, 2 neighbors, and 8 staff came together to shower our neighbors with love and to live out our mission statement in a practical and meaningful way. We are grateful for those who served from ½ of a day to 5 days sharing their time, labor, and expertise and the delicious lunches prepared by the Hospitality Team.
Because rain was forecast for the week, Dr. Kieffer chose the theme of water for our devotionals as we gathered in the sanctuary with a new appreciation for the symbolism of the lovely wooden ceiling above us shaped like an ark. As it turns out, other than a very hot Monday, we had beautiful weather as well.
Together, we were able to:
- Power wash nine homes
- Paint a picket fence white, the Verizon garage, the transformer, the back addition to our rental home, and miscellaneous doors and porch railings throughout the neighborhood.
- Remove a concrete sidewalk, design and install a brick sidewalk in its stead.
- Install fence panels enclosing a backyard.
- Remove steps to a front porch, design and install new steps and railings in its stead.
- Repair brick foundation of a porch.
- Remove shrubbery and trim trees and bushes for five homes…and haul our shrubbery and additional piles of shrubbery in the neighborhood to the recycle center.
Our intention over the next ten years is to invest $450,000 in our neighborhood. This is 1/3 the cost of the Steadfast Neighbor 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 Application. 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 Application. 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.
dSite 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)