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On September 7, 2025, after the 10:30 am service, we had a community potluck to kick off Emmanuel’s Congregational Envisioning.

Our expenses and building needs have left us with enough in our accounts to remain in our building doing ministry as we have for approximately two more years. We need to put our heads together to come up with ideas to sustain and grow our wonderfully rich and vibrant community.

The Church Council has established Sustainability as one of its goals for the last two years.  We have been exploring different options.

Some actions we have taken in the past to move toward sustainability:

*Reduce staff and staff hours over the years.

*Volunteers have been involved in program development, and in building and grounds maintenance. 

*We sought to use our building for increased revenue through a variety of rentals; including meetings, classes, and weddings/funerals. 

We have sought a balance between being a resource for the community, and rental fees. These actions provided some shifts toward sustainability, but not enough revenue to offset our costs.

We have been increasingly attentive to opportunities to use the building for major increases in our revenue. There were two major proposals which we pursued.

*About three years ago, we were approached by someone who wanted to start a hands-on school in our lower level for solar power installation. This venture involved applying for state grants and interaction with city and county. In addition to the school, the grants would have funded upgrading Emmanuel’s mechanical systems to solar powered. However, the grants for both the school and the mechanical improvements did not materialize.

*For over a year, we met regularly with KG Development in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Gorman Development in Rockford, to see if part of the Emmanuel building could be reconfigured and additions made that would provide much needed affordable housing and community services to our area. We even invited another church in a similar situation to join in our efforts to increase the likelihood of success with “scattered- site” housing. Feasibility studies showed that we could not raise enough money for construction cost. Also, even if we could have raised sufficient funds for construction, the return on would not be enough to offset our budget deficit.

In the meantime, Emmanuel’s ministries have remained strong; younger members have joined; our energy is still positive and our ministries needed and appreciated. Simply, our expenses to maintain and use our building with outdated and non-functioning parts are greater than our income. We need to find a way to continue our ministries and community in a more economical form.

We are the church! We are rich in Spirit, Talent and Ideas. There is a vibrant energy that cannot be held back.

We will use our challenges to discern our new path.

We have had meetings in people’s homes and some on Zoom to further explore creative possibilities. The meetings have been very worthwhile and each has its own “personality.”  We are thankful to all who have participated.

The congregation Council will met on October 7 to review the notes from all the meetings and pull together what has been shared to establish possible next steps. 

We will all gather again after the 10:30am service on Sunday, November 2, for prayer, potluck, and a presentation of what we have learned.

If you have not been able to attend a small group and have thoughts to share, please call Pastor

309-509-5241, email karenvanhowe@gmail.com or call 815-519-9937 so we make sure you are heard.

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Yours in Christ,

Karen Van Howe,

Congregation President

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Frank Langholf

Pastor

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