Canvas
What is Canvas?
Over the next few weeks we will be entering into a special season of prayer regarding our own personal involvement in – and commitment to – renewing and expanding our church home. This church-wide season of prayer and commitment we are calling Canvas.
But why “Canvas?”
While many churches commonly choose titles like “Together We Build” or “Changing Tomorrow By CommittingToday;” we believe that our church and our community are not common. This is a special place and Canvas – with all of its meanings and imagery – captures this unique season.
Is this the right time for a capital funding campaign?
In a word: “yes.” As many of you know, we have been waiting on the city for 14 years to move forward. For the past two years a team of people have been diligently working on the plans. Last spring we invited the entire congregation to give their input on the project (the Charettes – which resulted in some wonderful changes and improvements to the design). Now, finally, in what can only be described as an act of God, we have our approval from the city to move forward!
So, yes, we believe it is the right time to move forward for a number of reasons:
Reason #1: We seek to be wise and faithful stewards; faithful to the opportunities God places before us. After 14 years of waiting, God has granted us this “window of opportunity.” And, like most windows, this one won’t be open forever. In fact, this window closes out before the end of the year and, in all likelihood, will not reopen.
Reason #2: If anything, the current economic outlook should confirm for us one thing: we don’t have full control of the future. There is no certainty to either “good” or “bad” economic times. To use the current economic situation as our primary indicator in moving forward is dangerous. As Christians, we need to acknowledge that our future, our foundation and our financial security is found only in Jesus Christ.
Reason #3: The current economy is not a surprise to God; it “didn’t catch God off guard.” Just as God has opened the door for us, so too will He move in our midst, so too will He provide for us. Like the Israelites standing on the shore of the Red Sea, our role is to step forward, trusting in God’s faithfulness and provision.
Reason #4: It’s not all “doom and gloom.” Not only has God opened this door, but there are a number of upsides: primarily construction costs (labor and materials) are lower than they have been in years. This current economy is a perfect time to move forward with our project. We will get the best value and quality for the best price.
What will it take for this endeavor to be considered
a success?
Our vision – to be “A Caring Community, Alive in Christ”
– is not simply a phrase posted on our website or printed in our bulletins. It’s a question we need to constantly ask ourselves: Do we really strive to be a caring community?
Raising the required funds to expand and remodel our church home will be a challenging (and wonderful) litmus test for all of us. Each of us will have to evaluate what it means to care, really care, for one another.
We will need to examine what it means to care for the people right outside our doors, the people of the greater Monterey Peninsula who don’t know Jesus Christ.
In other words, success – for all of us as a church body – will not be measured only by the amount of money we see committed. Success will be measured by our desire to unite around this opportunity, to strive to move forward (knowing that there will always be nay-sayers and detractors). Success will be measured by our commitment to open our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit.
What can we do to help?
First and foremost – make prayer your priority.
Pray by yourself and with others. Pray that God will
continue to use the people and ministries of Carmel Presbyterian Church to impact others; both around the peninsula and around the world.
Pray for unity. God has granted us this season of opportunity, now we need to be willing to “do our part;” we need to be willing to step forward, in faith, knowing that God does provide.
Finally, pray for these next few weeks – they are key – where we will have the opportunity to examine our attitudes and actions. Over these next weeks we will pray together and we will seek God together as we continue to answer questions and share plans for our expansion and renovation project.
