On Sunday February 10th, 17th & 24th the St. Thomas’ community was invited to attend meetings to determine whether or not the parish was “of a mind” to move forward in our discernment journey, which included the hiring of a financial (fund-raising) consultant and an architect.  Of those who attended the meetings and voted, the final tally was 68 people who voted “Yes” to move forward; 2 persons voted “No”.  The financial consultant will guide us in determining how much money we will be able to raise from within the parish membership for a building campaign, which could include a renovation as well as new construction.  Our architects will conduct an investigation of our current support systems and building structures as well as render some simple architectural drafts of possibility in response to the discernment meetings.  These next two steps will help us determine if St. Thomas’ is in a position to move forward with either a renovation and/or a building campaign.

Loving God, we gather today to tend to the business of this your church family. We ask that you preside over the heart and mind of this meeting. Be close to us as we ponder our future together. Direct our insights to be your insights, our intentions to be your intentions, so that what we do this year will make for a parish that strengthens, equips, and supports us all in our ministry and mission of loving service to the world about us. We call upon the Christ within us to grant us courage, to set us free, to cheer us and to move in Christ’s direction, under his direction. Amen

The entire congregation is requested to be present for three crucial conversations from 12:30-2:00 p.m. following Sunday worship on February 10, 17, and 24, with your vestry and rectors to explore concretely:

• The specific needs for more and/or different sorts of physical space at St. Thomas’ Parish that a building-campaign could provide.
• Your visions of what such space for worship, meetings, hosting outside groups, community social gatherings, and offices might look like.