April 25th was an important day in the life of our church as that Sunday afternoon Consistory approved the signing of an Easement from the NJ Historic Trust for our property. The Easement will protect the historic heritage of our buildings, as well as the surrounding cemetery. It also protects the State’s investment in our heritage.
The Easement requires a corresponding resolution from Classis before it can be recorded with the County. This recording is the presupposition for the NJ Historic Trust to release the first part of our preservation grant to us. The Easement has a duration of 20 years, beginning in 2014.The Easement has some implications for our day-to-day life. Upon completion of our project, we have to file an annual Easement Report. In it, we will give account of all maintenance work of the preceding year. The report will also entail a minimum of twelve photographs, as well as evidence that our buildings and property were sufficiently open to the public during that year.
Another implication of the Easement is that, from now on, we need to inform the NJ Historic Trust before we do repair work or significantly alter the landscaping around the church (for example, by taking down trees). Changes to the buildings will need written approval from the Trust.
Aside from the preservation project, there is no further news on other grants. Our grant request for remediation work in connection with our former oil tank is still waiting for approval from the agency in charge. In April, we filed several additional reports and we hope that something will soon move in this regard. It would enable us to complete the remediation efforts and to replace the temporary sidewalk.
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God is always doing something new as it is declared in the Psalms and elsewhere in our scriptures. We only need to have eyes to see it and hearts to embrace the new things.
With this in mind, on Rally Sunday we will get a chance to start up the new Fall season and the return of regular programming of our church. With the start, we will celebrate newly painted pews, new upholstery on the chancel furniture, and even a new Communion set on the Communion Table. That’s a lot of new-ness! And to add to our celebration and new things list, over the summer we were informed by letter from the Acting Commissioner, Charles A. Richman that Governor Corzine signed into legislation funding for NJ Historic Trust, which includes our state grant for the historic preservation project.
This may sound a bit surprising and scary in these economic times, especially since the grant is a matching one. However, may we continue to remind ourselves of several things: First, that we have four years for this project and the fund-raising; second; we are free to limit our 2010 preservation efforts to a very conservative scope. With that said, it is clear that, at this time, we want and need to address the steeple and the church roof, the beam in the church attic, as well as the soffit of the education building.
As you can imagine, there are still many things on our buildings that will need to be worked on. Let me just mention the worst problem, which is the structural situation beneath our sanctuary floor. These must do building issues seem overwhelming, though. Inevitably, when we look at the big picture, they appear to be impossible. And so we loose hope. But, as my grandmother used to say, “To eat a whole cake, you have to take one bite at a time.” I think that it is the same for our building needs.
How can I respond so hopeful? Well, let me just remind our doubtful minds of how our pew painting project went this summer. At first, it was awful. We started out sanding lightly, then washing it down, then spot-painting it with primer. And, wow, after two weeks it appeared to be done. Then, we noticed that the paint was pealing. OH NO!!! So we had to start all over again, only this time we did it more thoroughly.
Several of us thought that we were doomed, and it would never be finished. “Impossible!” they claimed. Yet, YOU ALL responded to the call for help. In total, there were 13 church members who helped Julius Fekete accomplish the impossible, not counting the numerous helping hands that brought lunches and other support. Yes, we did it together. One day, it was two other volunteers. Another day it was a whole family. A little bit at a time. And now, it is finished.
It is our calling to remain hope filled even in the midst of uncertainty. Likewise, with the grant monies and our fund-raising efforts for our buildings: we have to do it one step at a time – together.
Hopefully yours,
Pastor Susan
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