Unity of Fairfax renovated the Atrium, Bookstore and Kitchen in Spring 2014 and is raising funds to replace the septic system this summer
Sincere Thanks
Sincere thanks to the congregants and friends who donated to KISS Phase 1.
click here to give a Kiss donation
Fulfilling Our Dreams 2014
As our community continues to expand and change, we join together as one heart and one spirit to express our gratitude for everyone who has supported and nurtured Unity of Fairfax since its inception, all who are doing so now, and all who will be joining us in the future.
We are now renovating our Sacred Space in response to Spirit’s call to fulfill our Mission and Vision in ever increasing ways. As we do so we move forward in peace, love and harmony. We know that as we trust in this divinely inspired process, we will manifest a beautiful, peaceful, inspirational environment.
As we continue to experience and express our unity through our core values of Peace, Integrity, Inclusiveness, Love in Action, and Spirit-Centeredness, we open our hearts and minds to divine wisdom and guidance.
Thank you, God, for this sacred community and for the opportunity to become a brighter light to one another, to this community, and to the world. We give thanks for your loving guidance to do the things that are ours to do.
This we pray in the consciousness of the living, loving Christ Spirit.
Amen
-co-created by Rev. Russell Heiland & Rev. Jane St. John, March 14, 2014
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is KISS 2?
It’s the second (and final) phase of our 2014 capital fundraising campaign.
2. Didn’t we just have a capital campaign?
Yep. KISS 1 was a successful campaign completed this spring to partially fund creation of a kitchen, beautification of our atrium, and several other improvements to the space just outside our sanctuary.
3. What’s KISS 2 for?
The primary purpose of KISS 2 is to fund replacement of the failed septic system for the Mildred Park building, our former sanctuary and currently a classroom building for the younger grades of Pinnacle Academy, the school that rents our classroom space during the school year. See point 8 below for details on what is involved; we’re actually improving the arrangement by connecting to the county sewer system.
4. Was KISS 2 always going to fund this?
No. When we first conceived of KISS, our plan was to conduct this capital campaign in two phases. We originally envisioned that KISS 1 would fund the improvements described above that have been planned for some time and that KISS 2 might fund improvements to other parts of our sacred space. Our vision has been that we would initiate the fundraising when we had a clear idea of what capital improvements were most important for the congregation. The Sacred Space Ministry had begun the discernment process related to our sanctuary. But, um, life happens. Within the last month, this septic system failed. We cannot continue to use the Mildred Park center until we get the system fixed. Also, we’re really trying to stick to the notion that we have a clear idea of need before we ask for capital contributions, and we aren’t ready yet. In fact, we want to hear more from the congregation about what space needs we have now and in the future, which depends on our vision for the future. So we’re beginning a process of engagement to address that question.
5. When does this need to happen?
We need to replace the septic system prior to the start of the new school year in September.
6. When does the campaign start?
Mid-July. Our goal is to make this a “summer” campaign. And like those PBS campaigns, we hope to get the bulk of contributions soon so that we don’t need to prolong the campaign. Also, since the system needs to be fixed right away we want to have our finances in order quickly.
7. Couldn’t someone have anticipated that this would happen, and don’t we have contingency funds for this kind of thing?
Well, one reason we’ve been referring to the KISS campaign overall as the “12 year tune-up” is because we have been anticipating the need to spruce up the place and to catch up on some past maintenance. Unfortunately, we had several other unexpected costs related to the building and grounds earlier this year that exhausted our contingency funds. We’re engaged in a comprehensive process now to help us anticipate future needs like this. This one was not on anyone’s radar; the Mildred Park Center is very old.
8. How much do we need and what will it go for?
Our current best guess is approximately $50,000. We evaluated two options for the actual system. One was to simply replace the current septic system. But a better long-term solution is to attach the Mildred Park Center plumbing to the county sewage system. Accomplishing this second option requires both going through the process of requesting and obtaining permission to get it included, and the actual construction/plumbing expense of attaching the system. Happily, with leadership from our staff and the assistance of our advisors we have just learned that we can be approved to make this connection. This is in good part due to the work in 2002 by our church construction team, who had obtained a variance to get the main church building into the county’s plumbing system. Because of that, the system’s zone was expanded to include the land around the Mildred Park Center. We currently are soliciting bids from plumbers to do the connection work. We’ll keep everyone posted on our progress.
9. That seems like a lot of money for us to contribute.
Well, it is. But consider these two points. First, when we combine the capital requests in KISS 1 and 2 it adds up to about 8% of our 2014 operating budget. That doesn’t seem unreasonable, and it keeps us from dipping into operating or reserve funds for capital expenses. Second, we already have received a very generous anonymous contribution for KISS 2 to get us started and to ease the pain on the rest of the congregation. Tune in to our subsequent announcements to learn about this and some other activities designed to help us reach the KISS 2 goal.
10. Couldn’t you have thought of a more appropriate name?
Something like “Flush”, for example? Ewww! We thought about it, but we like KISS. And since we consider all of our internal and external space to be sacred, Kampaign to Improve Our Sacred Space (forgive our spelling) still seems appropriate.
11. How do I contribute?
Several ways. There will be KISS 2 envelopes available at Sunday services. You can contribute directly online. Find a Board or staff member and give them your check or cash designated to KISS 2. We take credit cards too.
12. You’re sure this is it?
This is all we have in mind for 2014. But we’re thinking about what makes sense in 2015. We’ve already heard some suggestions and we expect that our visioning process will help us further. We pledge to be prudent, to make this a congregation-driven activity and to do the work to establish specific needs and plans prior to any further capital campaign efforts.
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Last updated on July 10 2014