As reported at the recent Church Meeting, the Project Team is now working on the design, cost, fundraising, procedure and construction of the community meeting point.
Funds available so far total about £92,000 specifically gifted for this project, and not taken from church funds, but as yet we do not know the estimated cost. The general turmoil in anything to do with money in the UK is also affecting the charity sector, and it might take quite some time to raise even a shortfall of a few thousand pounds. Please note, we are stepping out of line with today’s parlance by not talking about deficits of millions, billions of even trillions!
Apart from providing extra, flexible, space, the main feature of the meeting point is that it will make the main entry to the church visible from Broadway. Thus, for the first time, members of the community will be able to see some of the community activities that take place in our church.
We have to give a lot of thought to this new opportunity. For instance, we might consider moving the Friday soup and sandwich lunches which, for over thirteen years, have taken place in the cloistered obscurity of our hall, to the meeting place, where friends in the community might see the fun and be moved to join in. This would have the added benefit of freeing up space in the hall, which is currently much in demand for community activities.
We must also consider whether we could introduce new activities that might move from the meeting place to the sanctuary.
Please, give some thought about how best to capitalise on the opportunities that the community meeting space will bring, and pass your ideas to any member of the Project Team.
In terms of timing, early in 2009, we hope to be able to bring the complete plan for the creation of the meeting place to a special discussion with the church membership on the subject of this project. This would be followed by a formal church meeting for its approval.
Colin Scott on behalf of the project team
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