Ascension Today & Tomorrow

An Appeal for Our Church

The Church of the Ascension stands as a holy place and as a witness to the gospel. We are a community of individuals dedicated to the worship of God in Jesus Christ. We are people of many different backgrounds and walks of life, but what unites us is our love of Jesus and our desire to proclaim his resurrection to the world. We are more than a building, but our building is one of our greatest assets and evangelical tools. It stands as a symbol of our faith.

Like many churches, we have an aging building that was built in stages. It is beautiful, and we have many reasons to give thanks. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have made significant donations or bequests to the parish in the past that have allowed us to do the work we have done on it. But the work continues.

Our property requires constant maintenance and upkeep. There are a number of issues that simply MUST be addressed in the near future if our building is going to be safe, accessible and fit-for-purpose for the next generation. We cannot as a church simply rest on our laurels or on the achievements and gifts of previous generations. We are strong as a parish, but if we want to continue to be strong, then we have to continue to address problems as they arise, adjust to the world around us, and make strategic plans and investments for the future.

Three Key Projects

  • This entrance is the main office or business entrance to the church, although nothing about its current appearance would suggest that. The renovation of this entrance, along with the replacement of the doors on the Southwest entrance, would address many issues, including:

    • Fix the dangerous exterior steps

    • Replace the rotting doors with doors that are code compliant

    • Allow for a second ramp which would provide basic handicap access into the parish hall building

    • Fix the interior stairs into the parish hall and allow for a vertical platform lift, both for wheelchair access and to assist anyone that has trouble with the stairs.

    • Replace the ceiling and door.

    • Provide a beautiful, visible entrance into the parish hall both for business and social functions.

    • Allow for an extra ADA compliant bathroom near the worship space.

    Estimated cost: $200-250,000

  • We are a social parish and the kitchen is the heart of our community life, but the kitchen in its present state is unsafe. The kitchen must be completely renovated to bring it up to both food safety and fire codes and to allow it to function properly. Some of the existing appliances would be retained to reduce expenses, but this will largely be a new kitchen designed to be more efficient and open to a variety of uses.

    Estimated cost: $225,000

  • The exterior siding of the church needs to be repainted. In the worship space there are many areas where the paint is peeling and the plaster is starting to crumble. The interior walls of the worship space need to be replastered and repainted.

    Estimated cost: $42,500

The Benefits to Our Church

• A revitalized interior and exterior of the church that will demonstrate to our community our commitment to the mission and ministry of this parish.

• Improved code compliance and safety.

• Repair of several deteriorating structural issues.

• Additional revenue opportunities from the rental of the parish hall and/or kitchen.

• Leaving the next generation of parishioners more blessings than liabilities.

Our Goal

$500,000

While the vestry of the church may need to secure a loan or line of credit through the Episcopal Church Building Fund to have the immediate capital needed to begin construction, our goal is to leave the next generation of parishioners with neither unmanageable property issues nor unmanageable debt. We are confident that with the support of our dedicated parishioners and with assistance from our family, friends, and the wider community, that we can meet this goal. If we exceed it, we might even be able to put away a little extra for the future. But we need your help.

We are asking everyone to prayerfully consider making a significant one-time gift to the Ascension Today & Tomorrow campaign. Your pledged gift may be paid over three years if that is more convenient for you. These gifts would be additional and separate from your ordinary pledge. Ordinary pledges are for the annual operations of the church. A gift to the Ascension Today & Tomorrow campaign is an investment in the future of the church. Thank you for helping us to ensure that the Church of the Ascension stands as a holy place and a witness to the gospel for many years to come.

Mark Your Calendars

May 29

Youth-Led Ascension Thursday Evensong with prayers for our Capital Campaign. 7pm

May 30

Capital Campaign Celebration Party 6:30pm

Are You Ready to Make a Pledge?

As you are considering supporting the Ascension Today & Tomorrow Campaign, please remember that a capital gift of this sort may be paid out over three years. For example, if you are thinking to yourself “I would love to give more, but the most I can afford this year is $5,000,” then ask yourself what you could give next year and the year after that. Someone who could afford $5,000 a year could possibly make a pledge of $15,000. If you can afford $1,000 a year, you could make a pledge of $3,000. It is not necessary to pay the entire pledge all at once. It may be paid over three years. Gifts of any amount are gratefully received.

Pledges may be paid by check, wire transfer, credit card, stock transfer or a Charitable Gift Annuity. Donors are also encouraged to enquire whether their employers participate in any matching gift programs.

Check out our progress

Online Pledge Form