Update on the Memorial Garden and Columbarium Expansion

In early May, we introduced the plans for an expansion to our beautiful Memorial Garden to include two additional memorial walls as well as a new columbarium with 100 niches. Included in those plans are newly renovated patios, a water feature, and paved pathways to improve accessibility to the garden space. In-person gatherings were held in mid-May to introduce the new plans for the Memorial Garden to our congregation.

Our Memorial Garden committee had worked for a year on the plans making sure that the current space would be improved while maintaining the ethos of our campus as well as ensuring the cost of the project would be reasonable. The committee grew as needs were discovered and included Robin Savage, Wally and Angelika Evans, Russ and SuAnn Vandevelde, Lois and Van Chaplin, Todd Dorlon, Steve Smith, Jane Pounds, Anne Oliver, Chris Boles, Katherine Owens, and our architect John Wilson. The committee members were carefully selected to include members of the Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Garden and Grounds Committee, Finance Committee, Vestry, as well as leaders in our business community including the construction industry. A comprehensive plan was created that required raising $806,000 to complete the project.

The profound tragedy we experienced in June shook our parish. We have come face to face with the urgency to have an improved sacred space to honor and remember our families and members of our community. And, we have realized the necessity of beginning construction sooner than later due to the rising prices of construction materials and labor.

Because of the extravagant generosity of the members of our congregation, we write today to share the good news that we are close to our goal. To date, we have received pledges for $691,000 including a gift with a matching component. We need to raise an additional $115,000 to reach our goal, fully realize the matching gift, and begin construction. Remember that when you purchase a niche in the columbarium or a plaque for one of the memorial walls, your payment will be included in the funds raised.

Our goal is to have the remaining $115,000 raised or pledged and the project funded by the end of September. It is important to the vitality of Saint Stephen’s that gifts do not negatively impact our fall Stewardship Campaign as we look to the future of our congregation. We are so grateful to our committee, the Vestry, the donors, and to all of you for the support given to this important and beautiful addition to our Saint Stephen’s campus.

If you would like to pledge or donate to the Memorial Garden Fund, please contact Pat Bills or Ann Hunt. Additionally, if you would like to discuss purchasing a niche in the columbarium or a plaque on one of the memorial walls, we can assist you as well. (Niches and plaques are not tax-deductible.) You can learn more about the project by visiting www.ssechurch.org/memorial-garden.

Faithfully,

The Rev. John Burruss, Rector

Pat Bills, Minister for Stewardship and Development