Major Gift Announcement

Dear Convent Family,

Our hearts rejoiced on Sunday, January 24, with the announcement of Sister Lavinia Reese’s bequest of $91,000 to help fund our Capital Campaign’s elevator project. Those of us who knew Lavinia know how much this project meant to her. As Chair of our Trustee Board, she envisioned having an elevator so that our senior saints would not have to struggle up the front steps to enter the Sanctuary. When the Trustees and Deacons authorized a feasibility study for the elevator, Lavinia wrote the $10,000 check to fund it. When her illness befell her and she herself was not able to climb those steps, the elevator became even more important to her. So we rejoiced, but we were not surprised when we heard that she had left the church 10% of her estate for the elevator.

We are grateful for Lavinia’s generosity to her beloved church. Moreover we hope it will inspire us to do our part for the Capital Campaign. With Lavinia’s gift our pledges stand at [$1, 115,000] and our received gifts at [$364,000]. We are more than half way to our goal of $2,000,000 in pledges. What’s more those $1,115,000 in pledges came from just 390 members. Twenty four percent of our regular givers got us more than 50% of the way to our goal. We need the remaining 74% of the membership who have not pledged, to get us to our goal of $2,000,000.

There is no more fitting tribute to Lavinia Reese’s generosity but to add to her gift by pledging today. Let’s not let Lavinia and all the other saints of Convent including Rev. John W. Sanders, Rev. M.L. Wilson and Rev. Clarence P. Grant, who dreamed of this elevator, down. Pastor Williams’ vision is to make their dreams a reality. Convent, it’s time to COME TOGETHER and make it happen. Pledge today.

Capital Campaign Committee members will be in the vestibule today at the close of service to give you a campaign pledge form. Take one, fill it out and return it to a committee member, a trustee or a deacon. Let’s Come Together!

God bless you and keep you.
The Capital Campaign Committee