Campaign Prayer
God of creation, as we grow in faith together, we give thanks for the gift of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and Preschool, and the opportunity to grow in your grace. Bless us as we embark on a new season, and inspire us to give generously to the future of this place, as an expression of our faith and commitment to your work. May our time together be marked by your love and presence of your Holy Spirit as we are strengthened and renewed for the journey ahead. Amen.
God of creation, as we grow in faith together, we give thanks for the gift of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and Preschool, and the opportunity to grow in your grace. Bless us as we embark on a new season, and inspire us to give generously to the future of this place, as an expression of our faith and commitment to your work. May our time together be marked by your love and presence of your Holy Spirit as we are strengthened and renewed for the journey ahead. Amen.
Online Pledge Form
Future Campus Fly Over Video
Online Pledge Form
Process: The What, When, and How
Q: Why do we need a Capital Campaign?
A: St. Michael's Church and Preschool play a crucial role in our community, actively engaging in ministries for the needs of our community. To meet the growing demands of St. Tammany Parish, we must proactively expand our ministries. By updating our campus now, together, we can faithfully create more space to better serve our members who worship and learn here, while also increasing our impact on current and future needs in our community.
Q: What are the top four projects from the Feasibility Study?
A: Additional Staff & Increased Wages for Church & Preschool, New Sanctuary & Classroom Space, Dedicated Youth Space, and Additional & Renovated Parking with New Covered Pavilion.
Q: Why should we build a sanctuary if the Preschool has a wait-list?
A: A new sanctuary is the gateway for enhancing every ministry at St. Michael’s. Our mission and ministry is rooted in our Episcopal faith. A faith that is the foundation for our souls, transforms the lives of our preschool, and is shared together in worship in our sanctuary. A new sanctuary cannot be built overnight and if we wait until our current space is bursting at the seams, it will be too late. Breaking ground on a new sanctuary will allow the current sanctuary to be renovated into a dedicated youth space, additional preschool classrooms, and new admin and ministry space.
Q: Is the Preschool planning to expand grade levels?
A: Eventually, grade levels will be added to our school. The Growing In Faith Together campaign is focused on addressing the current needs of our faculty and administrators (additional parking, increased salaries, teachers’ lounge, more office space). Between 4-6 classrooms will be created through renovating the current sanctuary. Approximately 40-72 new students will be able to attend St. Michael’s Preschool.
Q: Will Christian Formation classrooms be added as well as new preschool classrooms?
A: We hope to create multipurpose space with the classrooms so they can serve the needs of both the church and preschool as well as space dedicated to older youth.
Q: When will construction begin?
A: Construction is envisioned in four successive phases, based on capital raised and availability of funds for construction. The parking lot renovation and outdoor pavilion is planned for Summer 2023, new sanctuary construction beginning Spring 2024, followed by the current church building’s renovation, and then improvements to the school buildings.
Q: How many seats will be in the new Sanctuary?
A: The rendered sanctuary will be able to seat 450. It is being designed “to grow.” The initial construction will seat 200. It will be designed to add transepts and a balcony without having to move structural walls or other construction limitations.
Q: How will the new Sanctuary benefit the Preschool?
A: When students attend chapel twice a week, they learn that they are in God's house. They are somewhere special where they learn about God, His love for them, and how they are and will always be beautiful children of God. When those same students celebrate the annual milestones of the Christmas Program, Grandparents' Day Program, and graduate from St. Michael's, because of size limitations, those events take place in the windowless, gym-like Parish Life Center. The new Sanctuary, God's house, will be large enough to host all of the students in weekly chapel - including any parents who would like to attend - as well being the location for those memorable, annual milestones.
Q: Who is going to pay for these capital projects?
A: Financial commitments from church parishioners, current as well as former school parents and grandparents, and friends of St. Michael’s are being sought to pay for these projects.
Q: How are our Capital Campaign gifts different from our regular pledges or school tuition?
A: Our church is sustained by weekly pledges and offerings & our preschool is sustained solely by tuition. Theses support our monthly, yearly, and ongoing expenses, such as ministries, staff salaries, and utilities. Capital Campaign gifts are over and above regular giving to the church or tuition and will be used solely for campaign projects and expenses.
Q: How much should I pledge?
A: Prayerfully consider giving 3% of your annual household income for each year of the 3-year campaign or a one-time gift of 3% of assets. Some may be able to do more while others may need to consider a different amount. Know that all gifts are important and will be needed for the success of this campaign and to further the mission of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and Preschool.
Q: When does the 3-year campaign officially begin?
A: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026 is the 3-year period. May 7, 2023 is our Commitment Sunday.
Q: Why do we need a Capital Campaign?
A: St. Michael's Church and Preschool play a crucial role in our community, actively engaging in ministries for the needs of our community. To meet the growing demands of St. Tammany Parish, we must proactively expand our ministries. By updating our campus now, together, we can faithfully create more space to better serve our members who worship and learn here, while also increasing our impact on current and future needs in our community.
Q: What are the top four projects from the Feasibility Study?
A: Additional Staff & Increased Wages for Church & Preschool, New Sanctuary & Classroom Space, Dedicated Youth Space, and Additional & Renovated Parking with New Covered Pavilion.
Q: Why should we build a sanctuary if the Preschool has a wait-list?
A: A new sanctuary is the gateway for enhancing every ministry at St. Michael’s. Our mission and ministry is rooted in our Episcopal faith. A faith that is the foundation for our souls, transforms the lives of our preschool, and is shared together in worship in our sanctuary. A new sanctuary cannot be built overnight and if we wait until our current space is bursting at the seams, it will be too late. Breaking ground on a new sanctuary will allow the current sanctuary to be renovated into a dedicated youth space, additional preschool classrooms, and new admin and ministry space.
Q: Is the Preschool planning to expand grade levels?
A: Eventually, grade levels will be added to our school. The Growing In Faith Together campaign is focused on addressing the current needs of our faculty and administrators (additional parking, increased salaries, teachers’ lounge, more office space). Between 4-6 classrooms will be created through renovating the current sanctuary. Approximately 40-72 new students will be able to attend St. Michael’s Preschool.
Q: Will Christian Formation classrooms be added as well as new preschool classrooms?
A: We hope to create multipurpose space with the classrooms so they can serve the needs of both the church and preschool as well as space dedicated to older youth.
Q: When will construction begin?
A: Construction is envisioned in four successive phases, based on capital raised and availability of funds for construction. The parking lot renovation and outdoor pavilion is planned for Summer 2023, new sanctuary construction beginning Spring 2024, followed by the current church building’s renovation, and then improvements to the school buildings.
Q: How many seats will be in the new Sanctuary?
A: The rendered sanctuary will be able to seat 450. It is being designed “to grow.” The initial construction will seat 200. It will be designed to add transepts and a balcony without having to move structural walls or other construction limitations.
Q: How will the new Sanctuary benefit the Preschool?
A: When students attend chapel twice a week, they learn that they are in God's house. They are somewhere special where they learn about God, His love for them, and how they are and will always be beautiful children of God. When those same students celebrate the annual milestones of the Christmas Program, Grandparents' Day Program, and graduate from St. Michael's, because of size limitations, those events take place in the windowless, gym-like Parish Life Center. The new Sanctuary, God's house, will be large enough to host all of the students in weekly chapel - including any parents who would like to attend - as well being the location for those memorable, annual milestones.
Q: Who is going to pay for these capital projects?
A: Financial commitments from church parishioners, current as well as former school parents and grandparents, and friends of St. Michael’s are being sought to pay for these projects.
Q: How are our Capital Campaign gifts different from our regular pledges or school tuition?
A: Our church is sustained by weekly pledges and offerings & our preschool is sustained solely by tuition. Theses support our monthly, yearly, and ongoing expenses, such as ministries, staff salaries, and utilities. Capital Campaign gifts are over and above regular giving to the church or tuition and will be used solely for campaign projects and expenses.
Q: How much should I pledge?
A: Prayerfully consider giving 3% of your annual household income for each year of the 3-year campaign or a one-time gift of 3% of assets. Some may be able to do more while others may need to consider a different amount. Know that all gifts are important and will be needed for the success of this campaign and to further the mission of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and Preschool.
Q: When does the 3-year campaign officially begin?
A: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026 is the 3-year period. May 7, 2023 is our Commitment Sunday.
