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Subject: Preservation & Expansion Project

Season’s Greetings!

This letter is a follow-up to the brief announcement made on Sunday regarding the grant approved by the Diocese for needed landscaping and upkeep of St. Thomas church. Even though we begin a new year liturgically with Advent, we close the 2025 fiscal year on Dec 31st. With this in mind St. Thomas leadership have launched a Preservation & Expansion Project for consideration of your financial support in time for the end of the year.

A few things to note and to ponder about as you consider participating:

  • Care for the church and yard are needed so we reached out to the Diocese for assistance.
  • The Diocese of New Westminster has approved a grant (not a loan!) for up to $40,000 to St. Thomas.
  • This is a matching grant so we are asked to contribute dollar for dollar (which will give us $80,000 as it is needed).
  • We have up to 3 years to contribute our donations for the full $40,000. However, if we show commitments to give over 3 years, they can offer the 40K up-front to complete a few needed things sooner. Our goal for year one is $13,333 (1/3 of $40K).
  • On the Preservation & Expansion Project cards you can indicate how much you would like to give now (2025) and how much you plan to give in 2026 and 2027 (as best as you know). Cards can be placed in the offering plate.
  • The growing total will be posted regularly in the Narthex to see how much has come in and which projects we can accomplish. As of today we have $3,050.00 given (which when matched is $6,100!) That’s almost the full budget for the fireproof landscaping!! Way to go St Thomas  That is nearly 1/4 of the way to our year 1 fundraising goal of $13,333 (1/3 of $40k).  
  • To assist with your giving, the church offers PAD – a pre-authorized donation program where you approve certain amounts to come out weekly/monthly. Giving this way also helps us to plan and budget our next steps financially. 

The wonderful things planned to accomplish as we are able:

  • Landscaping around the church building (fire-safe)
  • A historical building inspection/report before we move on.
  • Paint and exterior mold control of the church
  • Add a washroom to the main floor
  • A cover for the wheelchair ramp
  • A meditation garden in the front

Information on the payment options. 

  • 1) Write a cheque with Preservation & Expansion Project or PEP in the memo line.
  • 2) Make a one time (or multiple) Interac e-transfers to accounts@stthomaschilliwack.org with Preservation & Expansion Project, PEP in the message area.
  • 3) Set up a weekly or monthly recurring PAD donation for the amount designated. PAD forms are available in the Narthex. If the funds are for PEP, please indicate on the project card or let the office know, otherwise we assume the donation is to go to the regular General Fund, which is fine.

Note: In the Narthex are details of the

Preservation & Expansion Project for the church

and the

Re-development Planning for the hall

Any questions or ideas… please check in with Lorie, Jeff Tisdale our Treasurer, or one of the Wardens; Deb, Jan, Lesley, Irene.

Grace upon grace,

Lorie

 the Reverend Lorie Martin

St. Thomas Anglican Church  Chilliwack, BC.

The Centre for Spiritual Renewal

604.217.6966  lorie@loriemartin.com

“All shall be well, all shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.” Lady Julian of Norwich

I acknowledge that I live, work, love, and pray on the unceeded ancestral land of the Sto:lo Nation.