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WHERE WE'RE AT
Project Mason Update for March
Hello Mason Friends! Here’s an update about Project Mason since Admin Council on March 5. The team met on March 19 and March 26 for close to two hours each time.
We remain committed to transparency. As the Project unfolds, we’ll have rounds of discussion, more surveys, more chances to talk. Voting on Project Mason is months away. Stay with us. We’re all in this together. All will be well.
For the March 26 meeting, each team member presented their vision of our whole block based on congregation feedback. We each shared hard copies of our vision as well as the reasons why we envision each item. At first, only clarifying questions could be asked. We listened intently and then discussed what we heard. We compared plans. Where is there consensus? Where are the areas of difference? Below, you’ll see the consensus areas followed by areas where we currently differ.
Areas of consensus: Overarching themes: Faith in Action. Loving God. Loving our Neighbors. Everything on our block helps to create a cohesive whole. Worshiping. Serving. Living. Loving. Celebrating God’s creation of the natural world.
· Worship space: adaptable, multi-purpose, keep our stained glass, keep our organ.
· Connect with the community in multiple ways: have space for a food bank, daycare/preschool, classrooms, large fellowship hall with a commercial kitchen and dining area open to the community and for our use. Places for music and the arts.
· Partner with non-profits: partner in providing ways to serve, have a community resource space on our block.
Use natural elements: playground, community garden, seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building certification.
· Create multiple ways to worship: in addition to a worship space, have an outdoor worship area (also serves as an area for music, gatherings, fun); have a labyrinth.
· Build housing which focuses on low-income persons and families, including senior housing, housing marginalized people; housing is multi-generational.
· Parking is included, of course.
Areas of difference/Things we don’t yet know and/or need more information:
· Sanctuary—
o Keep our current sanctuary (with the stained glass and organ) and remodel the space significantly (make it adaptable and multi-purpose) OR
o Remove the current sanctuary. Build a new worship space and bring the stained glass and organ into the new space.
o Location of the sanctuary if a new one is built.
· Keep the current parsonage and do needed work or build a new one.
· New construction—one big building or smaller buildings on the lot.
We have learned from multiple sources that we need to come up with general ideas about our project and then take the general “wish list” to several project consultants for them to develop these ideas into proposals. We’ll keep you posted on this process.
We will be doing another survey. The first survey was very focused. The next will be more open-ended. Throughout this project, you will have multiple opportunities for you to give your input. Please share your story of Mason and your own vision about Mason’s future story. (Instructions were sent out via US postal.)
Please come to the next Admin Council meeting on April 2 after worship and during fellowship time. Part of the meeting will be devoted to Project Mason. We’ll have a chance to talk together.
Project Mason is a spiritual exercise. Since we are connected as a body in Christ, let’s keep talking and listening. Mason can thrive. Together.
In Christ's service,
Pat Roundy, Project Mason chair; Del Permann, David Wilson, Dana Led, Jane Hallstrom, Gary Grindley, Pastor Susan Boegli - March 28, 2023
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