St. Stephen’s Parish Hall
Building Committee
Meeting March 6, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m. by Chair, David Campbell.
Present: Wayne Hall, The Reverend Martha Honaker, David Campbell, Martha Raske and guests, Steven Pugh and Jacob Harper of Hafer & Associates.
Absent: Janet Rice and Gary Gerard
Mr. Pugh distributed working plans for the proposed renovation of the Parish Hall. He noted the current Parish Hall is four feet lower than the church building. He distributed the proposed cost estimate for the project and noted it did not include costs associated with the Prayer Garden, nor Hafer & Associates 7% of cost fee. He suggested, in addition, that the budget include a 10% additional contingency expense.
The committee discussed not raising the current Parish Hall, eliminating the connection between the church and the new building and eliminating the proposed basement as ways to reduce costs. Mr. Pugh agreed to reconsider all those aspects of the plan. It was noted that Granary Street does not have storm sewers.
Mr. Pugh asked the committee to arrange for a site survey to mark lot lines and document grades and elevations, and locate sewer lines. Paul Breeze was suggested as surveyor who would coordinate his efforts with Mr. Pugh. The survey is needed as soon as possible in order to finish up the site plan and the plumbing plan. St. Stephen’s will pay the survey expense.
In addition, Mr. Pugh asked the committee to provide a kitchen equipment and appliance list as soon as possible to determine electrical and exhaust needs.
There being no additional business the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. to attend the New Harmony Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall in order to present the plan to the Commission.
Next meeting: Sunday, March 9 at 11:20 a.m. in Parish Hall to discuss fund raising.
Additional meetings already planned:
Wednesday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. in Parish Hall with architects
Wednesday, April 9 at 3:30 p.m. in Parish Hall with architects
Submitted by Martha Raske, Committee secretary
St. Stephen’s Parish Hall Building Committee
Meeting March 26, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m. by Chair, David Campbell.
Present: Wayne Hall, David Campbell, Gary Gerard, Martha Raske and guests from Hafer & Associates, Steven Pugh, Jacob Harper, and Stephen Porter, PE.
Absent: Janet Rice and The Reverend Martha Honaker
Steve Pugh, team leader for Hafer & Assoc. reported that surveyor, Paul Breeze, has agreed to complete the survey.
The Committee reviewed construction documents brought by Hafer and Associates. The basement and connection between the Parish Hall and Church have been removed. However, the plans provide for the future possibility of connecting the two buildings.
The Committee discussed kitchen plans, and overall plans for lighting, electrical service, fire alarm and security.
The approximate cost of the project, not including the 7% architect fee, but including a 10% contingency fee ($50,000.00) and funds for kitchen appliance and furnishings: $650,000.00.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Next committee meeting is Sunday, March 30, 2008, at 7 p.m. with the candidate for professional fundraiser.
Submitted by Martha Raske
Chalice and Paten
We would like to have a Chalice and Paten made out of old silver. If you have old silver you would like to donate for this contact Martha H. or Glenda. Thank you
Food Pantry
The New Harmony Food Pantry will continue to take donations of chili thru out the winter. The food pantry meets the third Thursday of the month at 4:30 at the Baptist Church. All volunteers welcome.
Vestry Sets Goals for the Future of St. Stephen’s
The Vestry of St. Stephen’s met on Saturday, March 15 for a daylong retreat. The Vestry meets each year for a planning event to organize ministries for the year ahead and make plans for their work together. This year the Vestry was challenged by Martha Honaker to begin charting a course for the next five years of our ministry. Martha drew attention to her desire to retire at some point in the next several years and asked that the Vestry begin a process of overall planning for the
Parish by setting goals to work towards.
The Vestry set the following goals:
Goal # 1: Growth of the Parish – to add 5 new families each year over the next five years.
Ways to accomplish this goal were discussed – they include: advertising, concerts in the Church, a Benefit Bank (a group of parishioners who would learn how to help others fill out forms for Medicaid, Medicare, Utility and healthcare assistance, etc), refurbishing / repairing (hands on) for a local homeowner, a soup kitchen, cooking classes in the Parish House (perhaps focusing these on cooking for Diabetics, etc.). All these (and other ideas from parishioners) would be ways to reach out and let others know who we are and what we are about.
Goal # 2: Explore joint ministry with St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Vernon.
This goal can be accomplished by having social / music events together, information sharing between the wardens and vestry of the respective churches and looking at ways to share youth events and education. We also looked at ways to continue sharing ministry with Peace Episcopal Church in Rockport, IN.
Goal # 3: Make plans so that St. Stephen’s is ready to engage in the process of calling a new priest.
Calling a new priest in the future will involve defining who we are as a parish and having a strategic plan in place that will move with us into our future need for a priest.
Goal # 4: Construction of Parish House to meet our growing needs.
The Vestry supports the Building Committee’s desire to hire a professional fund raiser who has experience with churches. Doing this will enable the Vestry to secure more information regarding the financial resources available to build / renovate a Parish House for St. Stephen’s.
Goal # 5 Continuing a strong Stewardship Program.
This will include continuing and increasing our personal stewardship through the
current stewardship program, providing information on Planned Giving so that our resources for ministry continue to grow, and educating the parish about the current state of the endowment. We will also look toward the resources of the Diocese of Indianapolis for support and education by utilizing the Stewardship Officer of the diocese John Vernon Oakes.
Goal # 6: Providing an education program for our children and youth.
Beginning a Christian education program we will contact parents of our children and youth and other interested parishioners who wish to be involved in this goal. The Vestry is aware that beginning this education program may necessitate a change of worship time to accommodate our families with younger children. Careful evaluation of this and space requirements will be looked at.
Martha and the Vestry are anxious to hear your thoughts and ideas about these goals. The Vestry also wants to begin the process of educating the parish about St. Stephen’s endowment; the way that money is currently used and how the parish can creatively utilize our resources for the future. We solicit your input into the work already done so that it will be an exciting plan for everyone to embrace. We are hosting a “Rector’s Forum” on Sunday, April 20 at 5:30pm in the Church. At 6:30 we will move to the Parish House for dessert and coffee and informal discussion together. Please make your plans to be a part of planning our future.
St. Paul’s, Evansville-Pastoral Care
St. Paul’s Evansville, will have four sessions to train pastoral care visitors on Sunday nights in April. Sessions will from 6pm-8pm. On April 6, the topic will be “Active Listening” with Carol Havens. April 13, will be “Confidentiality in Maintaining Boundaries” with Jo Olson. April 20, session is “Spiritual Presence Rule of Life” with Janis Sbrocchi. The final session, on April 27, is “Grief, Death, and Dying: Issues of Isolation” by Deacon Mike Phillips and the Rev. Richard Godbold. Sessions are open to anyone. For more information, contact St. Paul’s at
812-422-9009 or office@stpaulsevv.org
Christian Education Meeting
Sunday School at St. Stephen’s
We are planning to begin Sunday School classes at St. Stephen’s in the fall! We will begin with classes for younger children, but, in the future, we are looking forward to teen and adult classes also.
On Saturday morning, April 26 at 10am, Hope Staubitz, Katherine Hein, Vickie Harris, Audrey Riddell, Monteen Elliott and The Rev. Martha Honaker will meet at the Parish House to begin planning for the fall opening. If you are interested in participating in the planning meeting and/or teaching, please plan to attend.
Also, you may call Monteen Elliott at
812-781-9156
Summer Youth Program
Again this year on Mother’s Day (May 11) we will take up an offering for the New Harmony Ministerial Association’s Summer Youth Program (SYP). This year the SYP will be extended in two ways. The program will be offered this year for the entire summer as a once a week opportunity for the youth of New Harmony to gather around fun activities and spiritual teaching. The Rev. Jason Farrar, who has done the youth program for the past 2 years will be joined by The Rev. Steve Kochenberger from the Harmonie Chapel Nazarene Church. Steve and Jason will be wonderful leaders for these youth events. The Blaffer Foundation in New Harmony offers a grant each year to help provide this important program to our youth. Each of the New Harmony churches also makes an offering towards the activities. On May 11 please give generously to this important ministry in New Harmony for our youth.
Thank You
Thank you to all who donated so generously to the flower fund and to everyone who helped during the Easter Season. We could not do it without you.