It used to be that approaching our church, you could enjoy the view and not worry about cars blocking your path or steering clear of potholes and, worse, sinkholes! We're going to reclaim that space for seating, fellowship, outdoor events, and return it to its beautiful and also more functional condition. This picture comes from the October 1939 edition of the Parish Messenger, set next to a rendering from our 2021 Landscape Master Plan.

Also, DID YOU KNOW? The door you see in the picture above, our main red door into the church, was not original to the building. It was added when the parking lot was added. It used to be that people brought their carriages to church up the driveway, swung right to the south side door (then the only door), got dropped off, while their carriage driver continued around the back of the church to the stables, which were located around where the current Great Hall stands. An early memory of a parishioner recalls how one of the unruly boys of the parish used to sneak out of church and taunt the horses as they approached! 

Hello Parishioners!

This is the second-to-last weekly update before I take some time off in July. Next week's message will contain news from the next Task Force meeting (Monday July 1), so stay tuned for that. Meantime, a few updates plus some reminders from last week's email. 

NEW GIFTS

Did I mention: we're always happy to receive new pledges and increases! We totally understand busy schedules, so if for any reason you didn't get to make your pledge and/or speak with someone, please reply to this email and we'll reach out. 

-In the past two weeks we brought in an additional $23,500.00 towards making our campus more functional and beautiful. Plus more of us are involved! While the public phase of the Capital Campaign has ended, we continue to work behind the scenes to inspire new gifts for this important work.

NEW TASK FORCE MEMBER

A big welcome to our newest Task Force Volunteer, Lisa Wolfe. Lisa will be helping us with project management. We're super grateful to Lisa and all our volunteers. Sign up to join us at the link below.

REVISED ORDER OF TOP PROJECTS

At the last "Renew and Revitalize Task Force" meeting, the following ordering of projects was agreed on. This is based on several factors: grant money disbursements, level of importance to the parish, longevity and safety of current equipment/conditions. Projects will now be planned for and pursued in the following order:

1. Parking Lot and Arrival Court,

2. Exterior masonry work,

3. Replacement of the heating and cooling systems,

4. Great Hall renovations, and

5. Other (other projects to be prioritized as we proceed).

IN OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT

Early this year we set up a separate Merrill Lynch account for our capital campaign contributions. Keeping capital and operating funds totally separate will guarantee that pledged money (for both operating and capital expenses) goes where it's supposed to. At this point, we have received donations totalling $550,209 into our capital campaign account. Total expenses to date are $151,998 (on consultant fees, kick-off events, publicity and materials), with a remaining balance of $398,031.

GRANT UPDATES

We have submitted a grant for $53,000 to the Diocese of New York for our exterior masonry work. They are working with us to make sure our application includes everything it needs to for our bid to be successful. We expect to hear news in the early fall. 

HVAC SUBGROUP UPDATES

The team exploring heating and cooling systems continues to meet, make calls and visits, and do loads of research on what the right system is for us at St. James. Last Tuesday, a couple members met with our current heating company to discussion common pitfalls he's experienced when installing energy efficient systems in old buildings like ours. Importantly, he also informed us that the current boiler, with the repairs we made in 2021, could extend 3 more years. This was an important data point for setting the priorities and project order, listed above.

THE RENEW AND REVITALIZE TASK FORCE

(Sign up to join our efforts below!) Bill Haffner, Mark Trager, Linda Killian, Ocean Mills, Tom Finlan, Monica Sganga, Gina Taglieri, Ray Joseph, Christopher Burrows, Pat Wynne, Omaira Crane, James Fawcett, Toni Lewis, Lisa Wolfe, Rob Fath and Nathan Gallup. 

Join us as we prepare to begin work. All welcome to join in!

Irvin and Sandy Atkinson, Joan Ballantyne, Uma and Ajit Banerjee, John Battiloro and Natalie Carey, Ken Bohringer, Lyn Boreland, Susan Bourhill, Peter and Anna Liza Brady/Arguelles, Chris and Kristin Burrows/Kohler, Richard and Pip Cacciato, Melissa Caramanica, Phillina Cartwright, Phyllis and Eddie Chang, Dan and Sarah Cline, Brendan and Benay Contant, Russell and Omaira Crane, Marcus D’Silva. Janet Darlington and Family, The Rev. Eliza Davies. Warren and Lisa Dodge*, Misook Doolittle*, Alice Dunn ,James and Shirley Dugan/Salmeron, Robert Fath and Ruth Boser, James and Katherine Fawcett, Ocean and Tom Finlan*, William and Rebecca Foley, Samuel and Sherin Frank, Barbara Frenkel, Nathan Gallup, John and Tina Gerraughty, Christopher and Rowena Giattino/Chao, Charles Gibson, Russell and Pedro Grant/Ladislau, Tracy and Bill Haffner*, the Hallowell Family*, Dawn Hankin, Mark and Lorraine Hansen, Douglass and Lisa Marie Hatcher, Pam Heldman, Judith Henry, Alice Herman*, Silas and Mary Jean Howland, Tsutomu and Priscilla Ishiguri John and Lynn Johnson, Ray and Tricia Joseph, Christopher and Leah Keeney/Zennario, Rob and Angela Kenney, Linda Killian, Thomas Lacalamita, Jan Lamb, Antoinette Lewis, Geoff and Margy Loftus, Margaret and Raymond Lopez, Patricia Mahon, Phillip Martin, Bryan and Amanda Martoken*, Marc and Tracy McCarthy, Ellen McNally, John and Liz McNally, Doug and Hadley Miller, Michael and Diana Mitchell, Francia Morhardt-Smith, Maureen Moser, Karen Otten, John and Barbara Palmer, Karl and Barrie Panthen, Karen Preiser. Gretchen Reuter, Rick Reuter, Donna and Raymond Robertson/Chow, Jennifer Sabia, Pam Savarese, Thomas and Natalie Schroeter, Pam Schwer, Miriam and Peter Seeley, Lisa and Bob Selvaggio, Monica Sganga, Cheryl Smith, Peter Smith, Sarah and Roger Storm, Jose and Sarah Tabb/Garza, Gina Taglieri, Brian and Angela Thompson, Mark and Kathy Trager/Formisano, Mark and Janelle Walhout, Donna and Roberto Webster/Hunter, James and Andrea West, Shana Westhoff, Ken and Liz Whitney*, Valerie Wiggan, David and Yan Wiles/Qin, Neil and June Winward, Tom and Lisa Wolfe, Andrew and (the Rev.) Astrid Wood/Storm, Deidre and Patrick Wynne*, Rick and Dorothy Young, Dan and Jane Zimmerman

* denotes memorial level gifts

Since it will take a while to get all the pieces in place to break ground, let's keep before us what we're working towards. Imagine how lovely it will be to drive into St. James the Less--lovelier still, because you'll be able to park without hassle!