Repair. Renovate. Renew.
Capital Campaign 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Do you remember what year Our Saviour’s moved to its "new" location? It was in 1990. It’s been 34 years!
In that time, we have hosted thousands of weekly services and at least hundreds of gatherings of church friends and community groups. We have offered services to uplift the community we serve through our children’s and youth programs and outreach efforts. It has been a pleasure serving the needs of our church members and the surrounding community for so many decades. We have used our building greatly and generously. On a recent Sunday morning, we heard an announcement about how many Scouts and family members pass through our church each quarter. The number was several hundred people. The same is said about Septemberfest. Thousands of people come through our building facility to freshen up, get some water or just simply to relax and cool off. Those of you who are homeowners know that a house needs regular maintenance. Our church is thirty+ years old, and it needs some work. We need to keep our facilities in good condition, updated, and beautiful so that Our Saviour’s can continue the ministries and programs that so many have come to rely on over the years. We want to Repair-Renovate- Renew our church to be in the best shape for the ministries it's called to host in the future.
Let's consider the 3 R’s of the job ahead of us: Repair - Renovate - Renew. Do the 3 R's catch your attention?
Here is what we would like to accomplish in the immediate future:
1. Replace the storm windows that protect the large Stained-Glass windows in the sanctuary. They are the original windows, when the church was first built. The wood frame behind the aluminum-clad exterior is deteriorating. It is important to replace windows so that the weather stays out. The stained glass remains, but we need new storm windows to provide years of protection (sounds like a home improvements project many of us have faced).
Projected cost: $65,000
2.Update the narthex between the church main entry and the back of the sanctuary. It is the first interior space that all visitors experience. The completion of the “Gathering Place” formerly known as the Library, has turned out to be a warm and comfortable space. It is our vision to modernize and open up the area to include a Welcoming Station.
Projected cost: $25,000
3. Sanctuary improvements. Replace the floor covering in the step-up chancel area, from the pulpit to the organ/Grand piano, and Bell Tower. Tile beneath the piano is broken. The plan is to lay a durable and beautiful contemporary-style porcelain tile floor for the entire upper area. The new tile will give this area an attractive and uniform look and it will be easy to maintain. No more stains, wax drippings or crackling floor tiles. Also, replace ceiling fans. The original set has become noisy.
Projected cost: $16,000
4. Replace the floor covering in the classrooms used by the Sunday School nursery and youth group. Original flooring is showing age and difficult to maintain. Proposing new floating vinyl plank flooring (similar to Fellowship Hall) . This renovation will make the classrooms an inviting and welcoming space for families with children and youth.
Projected cost: $12,000
5. Replace the sign along Schaumburg Road with a Digital Electronic Sign. Able to update more rapidly with activities and events hosted by Our Saviour’s.
Projected cost: $35,000
6. Ladies Washroom. Update and freshen up with new countertops, faucets and sinks. Replace and improve ceiling lighting. Install electrical outlets and an exhaust fan! Remove the wallpaper border and repaint. Steam-clean floor and wall tiles.
Projected cost: $8,000
Today we start a special fundraising campaign in order to tackle these important renovations and repairs. We are very fortunate to have already some funds to get these projects started and, in some cases, completed. We would like to raise $80,000, to pay for half of the cost of these projects. The other half of the cost will be paid by the Faith in the Future Fund. And the good news is that we have already received an amazing gift of $10,000 matching gifts to start this campaign. (Praise be to God!). So, in reality, we need $70,000 to complete all the projects. That sounds like a great deal, yes? Notice that some of the projects have already begun due to their priority (Ladies’ washroom renovation, classroom floors replaced, sanctuary fans replaced.) And some of them are almost finished. We hope you will be able to participate in this campaign, with joy from all we have been able to accomplish through these thirty years in our current location. We are grateful for all and any support you can provide to meet our campaign’s objectives. No amount is too small, and every contribution helps us continue our important work. Every donation is tax-deductible and will be used to further the mission of our church.
We understand that everyone may not be able to contribute financially, and that’s okay. We appreciate any support you can give, whether it’s through monetary donations, time in prayer for a successful outcome, volunteering your time, or using your talents to help promote the campaign. Every effort counts and helps us reach our goal. If you would like to donate, you can do so in the following ways:
1. ON OUR WEBSITE
Use our church’s online giving option. Click on the “GIVE” button at the top and follow the super simple instructions on how to give online. Our platform is called Tithe.ly. It is very easy to use. This option comes with a small 2.9% processing fee for credit/debit cards and 1% for ACH deposits plus approx. $0.30/transaction. You can select to pay the fee separately or have it come out of your donation. If you’ve ever bought anything online, you can give online!
2. BY MAIL
Send your donation or gift weekly/monthly through the U.S. Postal Service. Submit checks to:
OUR SAVIOUR’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
701 East Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL 60194
This may be the option of choice for you who are not comfortable accessing the internet. You may also place donation in the offering plate on Sunday mornings during Worship.
3. BANK DRAFT
Give through your personal banking online donation service. I heard someone say recently, “I rarely write a check anymore.” This is because most people donate online these days. Simply fill out the information regarding your church and add it as one of the organizations you “pay/donate” or in this case “give” to. This method does not cost the church or the giver any additional fee.
We thank you in advance for your gracious support to the REPAIR - RENOVATE - RENEW CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of others and bring glory to God through this campaign.
In God’s service and yours
Capital Campaign Steering Committee
Philip Prather, Steve Schray, and Pastor David