Preserving Our Heritage . . . Preparing for our Future
What to Do?
The building needs so much work. The congregation is too small. Every time we turn around there’s another expense.
We just can’t afford this building. What should we do first - repair the roof, paint the exterior, fix the furnaces - or just stop putting good money after bad? Maybe we should just walk away and let the Presbytery deal with it.
In the Fall of 2010 the elders began addressing these concerns in earnest. Aware that they simply did not have enough information about the structural soundness of the building or the extent of repairs necessary, the elders commissioned an architectural and engineering study of the Sanctuary.
At the same time they enlisted the help of a coach from the presbytery to help them discern what to do - with the building, with the decline in the congregation, with the desire to see the church thrive as it once did. Walking through the buildings they asked what might God want to do in here? How has God used this space in our lives?
Each step of the way the elders sought the insights of the congregation in leadership meetings and appraised the congregation of their progress through newsletter reports, bulletin inserts and regular updates.
The Reports are In!
Jeff Goldstone, a Cambridge architect did a thorough study of the building, crawling around in the the cellar, and the rafters. He inspected the roof and chimneys on a lift. He accessed the furnaces and ductwork. When all was said and done his report noted that the building is indeed structurally sound. Some repairs are urgent and others can wait. He estimated that the cost of repairs will be somewhere around $350,000.
In the conversations, prayer and study with our coach the Rev. Stu Pattison, the elders identified possible next steps. There was no energy or support for walking away from the building. The building and campus are gifts from previous generations and they continue to have a part to play in the spiritual health of the community and congregation.
The growing vision of CUPC is to be a Center of Hospitality and Service as we seek to love God and others in Jesus’ Name. The campus is a ready made mission center. It can become a community center that houses a food ministry and outreach, a vibrant senior center, new worshiping communities, and social service organizations. It can become a safe place for the Cambridge community to gather, grow, and work together, to share the burden and joy together, to learn of God’s great love
. . . together.
The building needs so much work. The congregation is too small. Every time we turn around there’s another expense.
We just can’t afford this building. What should we do first - repair the roof, paint the exterior, fix the furnaces - or just stop putting good money after bad? Maybe we should just walk away and let the Presbytery deal with it.
In the Fall of 2010 the elders began addressing these concerns in earnest. Aware that they simply did not have enough information about the structural soundness of the building or the extent of repairs necessary, the elders commissioned an architectural and engineering study of the Sanctuary.
At the same time they enlisted the help of a coach from the presbytery to help them discern what to do - with the building, with the decline in the congregation, with the desire to see the church thrive as it once did. Walking through the buildings they asked what might God want to do in here? How has God used this space in our lives?
Each step of the way the elders sought the insights of the congregation in leadership meetings and appraised the congregation of their progress through newsletter reports, bulletin inserts and regular updates.
The Reports are In!
Jeff Goldstone, a Cambridge architect did a thorough study of the building, crawling around in the the cellar, and the rafters. He inspected the roof and chimneys on a lift. He accessed the furnaces and ductwork. When all was said and done his report noted that the building is indeed structurally sound. Some repairs are urgent and others can wait. He estimated that the cost of repairs will be somewhere around $350,000.
In the conversations, prayer and study with our coach the Rev. Stu Pattison, the elders identified possible next steps. There was no energy or support for walking away from the building. The building and campus are gifts from previous generations and they continue to have a part to play in the spiritual health of the community and congregation.
The growing vision of CUPC is to be a Center of Hospitality and Service as we seek to love God and others in Jesus’ Name. The campus is a ready made mission center. It can become a community center that houses a food ministry and outreach, a vibrant senior center, new worshiping communities, and social service organizations. It can become a safe place for the Cambridge community to gather, grow, and work together, to share the burden and joy together, to learn of God’s great love
. . . together.
