May 9, 2025
Dear church,
I am writing this week with wonderful news about two generous gifts that have been given to Grace recently, making possible the completion of two important projects. The first is gratitude to Helen R., who gave $8,000 for the curb project that took place last week. This project added a sloped curb to the south end of the sidewalk, making our main entrance much more accessible and safe. When asked what moved Helen to give this gift, she shared:
"This need for the curb replacement has been on my mind for several years. One Sunday after the church service, my husband and I were going to our car and, ahead of us, was an elderly gentleman that was walking down the sidewalk. I just had a feeling that he was going to fall and he did. Thankfully a couple fellows were near him to help him get up and make it to his car. I know that, as we get older, our legs stiffen and it’s harder to go from the curb to the asphalt and up again. It truly gives me a wonderful feeling that it’ll be easier to walk up the sidewalk by foot or by wheelchair. When I was at church today, I parked at the south end so I could walk up the new sidewalk."
Thank you, Helen, for helping us continue to grow our commitment to accessibility and welcome at Grace!
And secondly, we are grateful to a member of Grace who wishes to remain anonymous who donated $25,000 to cover the cost of resurfacing our parking lot. This was a project that we anticipated having to cover through our upcoming Capital Campaign, but this member stepped up and offered to cover the cost so that the campaign funds can go toward other needs. When asked what motivated them to contribute this gift, the member responded:
“We hear over and over again how welcoming Grace is, from the greeters to the church building itself. First impressions cannot be overlooked, and the condition of our parking lot does not seem welcoming or safe. When looking at the initial list of capital projects, this one was smaller in dollar cost but visible to the community. I believe we are in an exciting period at Grace, with new energy and focus. We can't stand around with our hands shoved in our pockets and hope that things are going to happen. I hope my gift will inspire others to contribute to the projects on the capital list.”
Thank you to this member for their generosity! We are so grateful for this gift and for the ability to repair the parking lot this week. Please note: our parking lot will be closed off Monday-Wednesday of next week, May 12-14. Please park on nearby streets or in the Savers parking lot.
With gratitude for the ongoing generosity of this community,
Pastor Sarah
Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.