“A Time To Build Up”
Welcome to the first official issue of our “A Time to Build Up” quarterly newsletter! This publication is designed to bring you all the current news and developments regarding our building expansion and renovation at Atonement over the next few years. We hope you find this information timely, enlightening and genuinely exciting as we journey together through this Christ-centered process of growth and renovation. Please read on to catch up on the latest appeal happenings…..
Giving to Date
# of Commitments Received: 145
Total Commitments Received: $2.66 Million
What’s Been Happening?
March was a big month for our appeal at Atonement. Commitment Sunday was March 9th and the financial response from our members was wonderful. God has indeed led our hearts to respond to the need for expansion of our building and ministries. Additional commitments continue to arrive and we hope all have had an opportunity to understand the vision and participate both spiritually and financially.
A neighborhood meeting was held to educate the community about our building plans.
Soil boring tests were completed and submitted to the engineers for analysis.
A meeting was held with the Barrington Village Board to discuss our initial concepts, time frames and to solicit feedback on the next steps. The Board was unanimously in favor of moving forward with the permit process.
Atonement has hired the firm of W.B. Olson to be the General Contractor for our project, the same GC used by Holy Family School in Chicago for their new building. The leadership of Holy Family has reported that W.B. Olson has proved to be accurate in both cost and time estimations throughout the process and is pleased with the quality of work and materials. We hope to have some detailed cost estimates and timeline scenarios from them shortly.
A meeting has been held with the village Architectural Review Commission to present our building plans and discuss possible material choices.
Preliminary discussions have been held with leaders from District 220 who are currently in the early stages of planning renovations at Barrington Middle School – Station Campus, which is adjacent to Atonement. The goal is to work cooperatively with BMS – Station in improving storm water management that will lead to a better and more economically attractive solution to this issue for all concerned.
Upcoming Events
April 8th - Meeting with the Barrington Planning Commission. We have not heard anything project-hindering thus far and request your continued prayers for a smooth process through this phase with the Village.
April 10th – Meeting with the village Architectural Review Commission.
Late April, 2008 – Meeting with W.B.Olson to more finely define the scope of the project. Current thinking suggests the project will consist of 2 phases with the 1st phase being dependent on the amount of financial commitments received combined with an appropriate level of debt sustainable by the church’s operating and capital budgets. Hopefully, detailed costs will be known by April month-end and the 2 phases can be more accurately identified. However, the more that can be completed in Phase 1, the lower our total project costs are expected to be and the sooner our ministries can expand and improve.
Late Summer, 2008 – Expected Groundbreaking!
From the Appeal Advisory Team
Detailed information regarding our “A Time to Build Up” capital appeal can be found on Atonement’s website at www.churchofatonement.org. Just click on the link “A Time to Build Up” to view all the plans, vision and updates of our capital appeal and building expansion progress. As always, please contact any member of the AAT with your questions and comments about this process at any time. God’s continued guidance, your prayerful support and generous financial contributions will allow us to continue to build up Christ’s kingdom through expanded ministries and updated building facilities.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our first quarterly newsletter for “A Time to Build Up” and encourage you to provide feedback to any of the AAT members. We are so proud to have you as a partner as this congregation continues to Reach Together for Jesus. Until next quarter, please ask God to bless and guide us on our challenging journey of growth at Atonement!
“A Time to Build Up” Appeal Advisory Team
Tom Clarkson Kathy & Jim Murphy
Jean & Steve Gallo Carol Sandmeier
Sandy Hasse Mary Taylor
Pastor Don Wink
