It has been a blessing to celebrate our 250th anniversary this year, and to look back at some

1. It has been a blessing to celebrate our 250th anniversary this year, and to look back at some of the traditions and people that have served as the foundation for our church family.

2. Simultaneously, the Visioning Committee has been meeting for over two years to determine: what’s next? • 94% of churches are losing ground in the communities they serve.* • * Church researcher and author, Thom Rainer

3. So what are the 6% doing? • According to Darrell Pursiful in his article “Churches That Get It Right”, “Healthy churches know how to spot a risk worth taking.” • “They are not locked into self-preservation mode where no risk is acceptable.” • Stephen Gray of churchplanting.com tells us that the answer to, “What defines a successful church?” is engaging in the community.

4. Commentary by Scott Gunn, Executive of Forward Day by Day • You may have read reports of decline in the Episcopal Church. The numbers are sobering. Thousands of congregations are in financial peril. In many places, attendance dwindles. And yet, as I travel around The Episcopal Church, I see much to celebrate. • There are hundreds of examples of thriving congregations, large and small. In places, attendance is growing, and abundance has conquered scarcity. What is the difference? Change.

5. So what changes do we need? • June 8, 2011, any interested parishioners were asked to discuss the addition of a handicapped bathroom. • The addition of the bathroom meant other changes to the Hawkins Room. • Dave D’Amore was asked to visualize changes.

6. Dave identified changes that needed to be made to accommodate the bathroom, and noted other areas that might be worthy of consideration. • So programs were evaluated. • It was determined that programs had been retrofitted into space, and not visa versa.

7. Objectives were created. • 1. We need a bathroom that everyone can get to and use easily, including those in wheelchairs, and those with young children.

8. 2. We need safe, accessible offices for our Administrative Assistant, our Rector, and our Director of Music. In addition, we need space where confidential conversations can occur. 3. We need a safe, clean nursery where a parent would feel comfortable leaving their child or children.

9. 4. We need a larger area for our growing Sunday Schools for all ages, including adult Bible Study.

10. 5. Our NOAH program and Food Pantry need to be accessible to all, and to maintain the dignity of our guests. The stairway leading to these programs is not safe.

11. 6. Our current facility needs work: • bell tower repair • foundation repair • new carpet/new entry replacement • sound system upgrade

12. Plan 1 is created – Hawkins Room renovations.

13. Hawkins Room renovations meet our first objective. Hawkins room renovations address our first objective – creating a long awaited handicapped accessible and family-friendly bathroom -- as well as creating more comfortable meeting space. These renovations are scheduled to begin by the end of January.

14. Building an addition is considered. • To meet our other five objectives, an addition to the building was considered. • To add to the challenges of complementing a historic building, we only own a very small piece of a land to the west of our church. • The addition, which would only partially meet our remaining objectives, would cost $1.2 million.

15. Given the cost of an addition which would not meet all of our objectives, the purchase of the Y was examined. The YMCA becomes available.

16. Cons The YMCA needs rehabilitation. It was built about 1910. Best guesses can be estimated for rehab figures, but as an old building, it could require unseen work. Maintenance costs are also unknown. The current configuration would have to be modified to meet our needs. No elevator. Pros The building has been deemed sound by experts. The purchase price, in addition to the renovations will be substantially less than building an addition to St. John’s. The space in the Y on the first floor, would allow us to meet all of our objectives. Rehabilitating this building would benefit downtown Johnstown The additional space would provide room for outreach, or a number of other potential ideas. Pros and Cons were considered.

17. What would happen to other two floors? • Half of the second floor – though the installation of a bathroom is needed -- is in excellent shape • The other half is a gymnasium can be useful for youth and other activities.

18. The third floor can be rented out to another entity, if we find a good fit.

19. It was deemed by the Vestry that purchasing the YMCA building, within the spending cap of $80,000, was a risk worth taking.

20. Why? • The finances of St. John’s are stronger than they have been in a number of years. • We have Mother Laurie for a our leader. • We are committed to helping more people develop and nurture a relationship with God.

21. Hawkins Room project - $160,000 Building rehabiliation – $290,000 including: - bell tower - $130,000 - foundation/water- proofing - $85,000 - entrance/floor/carpet replacement - $35,000 - sound system upgrade – $40,000 YMCA - Purchase price – up to $80k Renovations to first floor $220 Total: $750k Projected Budget

22. Where would money come from? • A capital campaign for $750,000. • As some of renovations benefit NOAH and the Food Pantry, this will become a community project which allows us to apply for grants such as NYS Consolidated Funding Grants, and Episcopal Church UTO grants. • Parishioners like yourself, making a pledge that would be paid over five years.

23. Inspiration from 2 Corinthians 9: • But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: • “He has dispersed abroad,He has given to the poor;His righteousness endures forever.”

24. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  Inspiration from Timothy 6: