In the late 1990's we held our last campaign to build the Celebration wing of the church. Celebration Hall's purpose was a community hall, but was pressed into service as a worship space in a short span of time. Some retrofit for that purpose began. Now almost 25 years later, it is time to recognize that Celebration Hall is a worship space and to own its function as one.

With our great natural beauty here in Simsbury, CelebrationHall has little ability to remind us of the beauty of God's creation. With a permanent stage, bringing in more of the natural beauty around us with strategically poised windows, and an upgrade in seating, we will honor the worship use of the space. This will enhance our awe of God and our integration of His creativity and glory. Acoustically the space has always been incredibly challenging. We hope to work

in partnership with the University of Hartford and their acoustical specialists to design an attractive solution to the problems our octagonal space presents. It is troubling that there are spots in the room where the sound nearly disappears. How can someone hear the news of the freedom we have in Christ without pinpointing and correcting the sound issues? How will they be swept into joyful worship if they cannot sense the energy around the room?

There are other unseen updates that need to be made to the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical that will go far in providing those who are looking for a church home and place to encounter Jesus a warm welcome- or a cool place to take a breath and escape the rat race.

Over time we have prioritized the mission of the church but we have failed to keep up with the regular and timely maintenance of our large property. There are a number of projects growing more costly and more urgent as time marches on. It is time to get our arms around these before we no longer have the opportunity to determine when they are prioritized and how much it will cost to make them happen.

With more than 37 acres and nine buildings, we have been blessed with an abundance of stewardship opportunities.

Stewardship is caring for what God has given for God's purposes. God has given us a clear purpose as Christians. We are called to make disciples of Jesus in this place that God has for us to live, work, and play. We are inviting you to imagine a place renewed in its purpose, and renewed in its call.

The land either enhances or detracts from the work of the church. Our objective is to align all of the property to enhance our vision. This work is not inexpensive. We need to raise 1.6 million dollars to revitalize the entire property. We will prioritize projects in accordance with the call God has for Covenant Presbyterian Church to persevere in the hope of Jesus. A small team will update the congregation about those priorities.

It might be bathrooms or children's space or parking lot? They will finish this work at the same time that we complete our campaign.

The time is now to engage these opportunities. None of them will be more affordable next year or the year after. Can you imagine what it would be like to have that transcending feeling of God's presence echoed in the architecture of Celebration Hall? Can you imagine what it would be like for visitors to our space to feel that elevating sense of awe? How satisfying would it be to know we were the ones to put our property in the right place to build for the future?

It's time for us to take action and address the needs of our church property, particularly Celebration Hall, which will still be multipurpose-capable. By envisioning a renewed and

purposeful space, we create an environment that reflects God's presence and inspires awe in all who visit. This endeavor will require sacrifice, and it is essential in fulfilling our call to make Jesus known, loved, and followed in Simsbury. Let's embark on this journey of stewardship, prioritize our projects, and work towards building a future where our property truly reflects our faith and mission.