If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
1 Corinthians 12:26
Prayer for this Campaign
Lord God, we give you thanks for The Church of the Nativity. We are grateful for the joy, strength, and comfort we receive and share here. Fill our hearts with love for all who enter into this place as we strive to respect the dignity of every person. Enliven us to give generously so that our buildings may be accessible to all who seek and serve you here. Sustain us with the courage to fulfill your vision for your church; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Dear Nativity Family,
As we reflect on the history of our beloved Church of the Nativity, we are filled with gratitude for the generations of faithful stewards who laid the foundation of our church home. Their sacrifices, guided by faith, have made Nativity a beacon of hope and love for over 180 years. Today, it is our time to continue their legacy by addressing the needs of our growing congregation and ensuring that our church is a place of welcome and accessibility for all.
The Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:26 remind us: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” We believe this campaign is about more than updating facilities—it’s about living into our calling as one body in Christ and remembering that all we do here at Nativity is to the glory of God. By improving accessibility through new elevators, restrooms, and pathways, we will remove barriers that prevent full participation in worship, ministry, and fellowship.
This campaign, Becoming One Body, is a sacred opportunity to honor our shared commitment to Christ’s mission. With a goal of $4.5 million, we are confident that, together, we can transform Nativity into a space that better reflects our church family’s dignity, joy, and unity.
As co-chairs of this campaign, we invite you to join us in prayerful discernment. Ask God, “What do You want to do through me?” Let this be a time of reflection on how you can give with gratitude and faith, knowing your sacrificial offering will bless generations to come. We are inspired by how this campaign will allow us to grow as a community and fulfill God’s vision for this church.
Thank you for your prayers, your faith, and your generosity. With God’s help and your support, we will rejoice together as one body, celebrating the work God is doing in and through Nativity.
Yours in Christ,
Lisa & David Hardy and Susy & Josh Hendrickson Co-Chairs, Becoming One Body Campaign
A Growing Need: Making Our Space Our Campaign Vision
The time has come for Nativity to create a future where our church is transformed into a welcoming and accessible space, serving both our congregation and local partners. These changes will be designed with preservation and sustainability in mind and allow us to meet the needs of a diverse range of users, ensuring accessibility and fostering collaboration. The changes include two elevators to provide full access to all floors, additional restrooms, and upgrades to existing restrooms to meet ADA standards. Additionally, spaces that are not currently accessible will see the addition of ramps, walkways and storage solutions that will make them more user friendly. This will ensure that everyone can participate fully in all worship services, parish events and meetings.
A Little History
For many years, Nativity has been working diligently to address the accessibility limitations of our buildings and campus. The ramp to Bibb Chapel, automatic doors on campus, the Sensory Room and improved hearing assist devices in our worship spaces are just a few examples of that work. The possibility of improving the accessibility of Nativity on a larger scale has been discussed several times over the years and in 2020, after a parish wide visioning process the desire for all people to be able to participate fully in the life of this church became clear and we kicked off the One Body Campaign. The response to the initial Campaign was swift and generous! The first design attempt had some challenges that allowed us to pause and take a step back so that we could come up with something that was both functional and fiscally responsible.
ministry group in the church and facilitate growth. While the main goal of this plan is accessibility, there are other changes that will need to occur to facilitate that goal. Please keep in mind that placing an elevator in the middle of Joffrion Hall necessitates the creative movement of existing spaces. Adding ADA compliant restrooms that are proximate to worship spaces and classrooms means the use of some rooms will change. For instance, there is currently not an accessible restroom at Bibb Chapel. Converting the current Flower Guild space, which is adjacent to Bibb Chapel, into an ADA restroom made it necessary to find a new location for the Flower Guild. In the end, all of these changes will make it easier for everyone to be a part of this parish family.
In the spring of 2024, the Vestry engaged Matheny Goldmon Architects and Interiors. The single directive was to help us develop a plan that would make all of Nativity accessible for everyone. The plan they presented this past Fall focuses on exactly that and will allow us to move forward on our commitment to truly Become One Body. I hope you have had an opportunity to see the architectural renderings in Ridley Hall. These changes will open access and possibilities for every
As we continue in our commitment to ensuring that all people can worship God, explore more deeply our faith, and find Christian community and purpose here at Nativity the Vestry of Nativity has committed to make all of Nativity accessible to all people. It is truly a great honor for me to serve God through Nativity as the chair of the Accessibility Committee. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns as we continue this work all to the glory of God.
Jerry Nutt, Chair of the Accessibility Committee
The Gift Of Community: We Are Stronger Together
We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually, we are members of one another.
Romans 12:5
Becoming One Body is more than just making our worship and meeting spaces accessible. It is removing barriers so that all people can participate fully in the life and ministry of this parish. Modifying our facilities enables us to share Christ’s love throughout our community, by way of our ministry and outreach programs. Making these changes will ensure that we stand on a firm foundation to carry out our mission to serve all people. This campaign will enable us to live into our Core Values
Nativity’s Core Values
We believe it is important to grow our faith as we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
We believe that Worship is at the center of all that we are and all that we do at Nativity. We believe that Accessibility is essential to respecting the dignity of all who enter our doors. We believe that Christian Formation is vital to the spiritual lives of all our members. We believe in Community Outreach as we strive to serve all of God’s people. We believe the Care of Creation allows us to be good stewards of God’s gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will it cost?
The Vestry, Finance Committee, Accessibility Committee, and our Capital Campaign Consultant, have been working closely with Matheny Goldmon Architects and local construction companies, to establish a responsible, attainable, and sufficient cost estimate to allow us to complete all aspects of this project. These groups agree that $4.5 million will allow us to fully fund the scope of work.
Will the church be left with a long-term debt?
The Vestry and Finance Committee agree that holding long-term debt with annual payments is not in the best interest of our parish. We have confidence that this parish has the capacity and the will to reach our capital campaign goal of $4.5 million.
How will we invite participation in our annual pledge campaign for the 2025 operating budget?
Our annual campaign will run concurrently with our capital campaign. We will invite people to continue their generous and faithful annual giving and consider pledging to the capital campaign over and above their annual giving.
What is the intended timeline for the construction project?
Our current schedule would allow construction to begin in late Spring. We anticipate the project to conclude within 18 months.
Why are we doing this now?
“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:26
Our ministries are severely limited by our facilities. Now is the time for us to set the course for the next generation of ministry as we continue to honor all people. Our church is growing! Every day at Nativity new people are connecting with God, growing spiritually and relationally through our ministries, and serving this church and our larger community. Our staff and volunteer leadership are strong, and we are excited about creating a fully accessible campus.
What are the priorities and objectives of the project?
The priority is to make all spaces at Nativity accessible so that every person may fully participate in the life and ministry of this parish. This includes having a sufficient number of accessible restrooms.
How will we use our renovated facilities to reach and equip people?
Buildings don’t reach people, we do! The building has always been, and will continue to be, the place from where we do God’s work. Our Accessibility Project will allow us to better fulfill our mission to seek and serve all people. The renovations will facilitate easier movement for everyone throughout our campus, improve our ability to welcome and serve people, and allow us to fully utilize all of our buildings. We are a place “where faith holds wide the door.” We need our buildings to express the warmth and welcome of our people.
Our building seems adequate. Shouldn’t we focus our energy and resources for outreach?
We don’t feel it is an either/or between updating our building and fulfilling our mission. Our mission must continue to happen as we utilize our time, our talents, and our money to reach our community. Giving to the Becoming One Body campaign must be above and beyond our normal giving.
How can I participate?
Pray for this project as you discern your role in it. Participate in our conversations and gatherings. Give generously and sacrificially. Ask questions of the people who can answer them.
The leadership of this campaign is excited to answer any questions you have. If you are asked to help with some aspects of the campaign, we hope you will say yes. It will be a great opportunity to make a difference and be part of an historic effort that will strengthen our church for generations to come.
How is the Becoming One Body campaign organized?
Parishioners Lisa and David Hardy, and Suzy and Josh Hendrickson are the co-chairs of the campaign. We also have teams working in areas like prayer, celebration, advance commitments, and communication.
Richard Rogers, a Senior Vice President with Horizons Stewardship, is our consultant.
What is the schedule for the capital campaign?
We are excited for the Becoming One Body Campaign kick-off party. It will immediately follow our Annual Parish Meeting on January 12th at 4:00 pm. Then, on February 9th during worship services, we will bless and give thanks for your generous gifts.
How long will the financial commitments for the capital campaign be?
The duration of the campaign is three years (2025-2028). Your commitment can be given as a one-time gift or spread out over three years.
Can I give non-cash gifts?
Yes, in addition to cash gifts, we are able to receive gifts of stock, distributions from IRAs or 401(k)s and other options. You can contact Austin Cook in the church office 256-533-2455 ext. 219, to ask other questions about non-cash contributions. We can assist with the transfer and liquidation of securities at no cost so that the process is easy and efficient.
What if I have already given to the One Body Campaign?
Your gift is being held in an interest-bearing account which can only be used for the One Body Campaign.
While the overall campaign goal is set at $4.5 million, because of your generous gifts we only have $3.62 million to go!
Will the church be closed during any phase of the construction?
Construction will certainly limit our use of some spaces and cause us to think creatively about how we will navigate through our facilities at certain times during the process. However, at no point will the entire church be closed, and we do not anticipate having to relocate for Sunday services.
Will the accessibility project be affected by the ongoing termite litigation or subsequent remediation plan?
We expect the accessibility project to begin well before any final decisions can be made regarding the scope and cost of future termite repairs. We are hopeful that the arbitration will result in a financial recovery sufficient to fund any necessary repairs to termite damaged areas.
The Plans
We are the current beneficiaries of past commitments by the saints of our church. Now is our opportunity to make gifts and pursue partnerships that ensure a thriving future at Nativity.
We look forward in joyful anticipation to completing this generation’s vital contribution to the future of our congregation and its faithful outreach to the Huntsville community.
The estimated cost of these improvements is $4.5 million.
These changes will be designed with preservation and sustainability in mind and allow us to meet the needs of a diverse range of users, ensuring accessibility and fostering collaboration. The changes include two elevators to provide full access to all floors, additional restrooms, and upgrades to existing restrooms to meet ADA standards. Additionally, spaces that are not currently accessible will see the addition of ramps, walkways and storage solutions that will make them more user friendly. This will ensure that everyone can participate fully in all worship services, parish events and meetings.
Financial History Becoming One Body-Financial Overview
The accessibility project has progressed a long way over the past few years to find creative solutions to the physical limitations we have with our historic church property and prepare us for the next 50-100 years of serving the Huntsville community. The design and construction committee has done a remarkable job of finding workable/livable solutions that blend with our beautiful church structure. The next logical question is “How do we pay for it?”.
The amount that we need to invest in this project is estimated to be $4,500,000. After our initial plans a few years ago ran into unexpected higher costs, this entire project team has been laser focused on getting the end result that we need at a price that we can afford.
The $4.5 million estimate comes from detailed cost estimates from our local architect, Matheny Goldman. This firm has experience in historic projects such as ours and has long-term working relationships with the construction firms that are capable of doing this type of work. Additionally, the cost estimates were reviewed by another local building firm, Fite Construction, for their accuracy. Your Finance Committee and your vestry believe this amount to be sufficient to complete the project with allowances for unforeseen contingencies.
During the early phase (again, several years ago) of this work, we had pledge commitments exceeding $1 million, which has already been given to the church and held in a designated account for this project. We have also had expenses related specifically to this work such as architectural design, engineering, capital campaign consultants, etc. The expenses that have been paid out so far total $353,232. The donated funds that were earmarked for this project have been invested in FDIC insured CDs and savings vehicles. The church has earned about $90,000 in interest from these funds to date. At this time, we have about $940,000 in our “Becoming One Body” account, after all of the aforementioned expenses and interest income are accounted for.
With our total campaign goal of $4,500,000, less the $940,000 on hand, our remaining campaign goal is $3,560,000. With our recent relaunch of the “Becoming One Body” campaign, we have secured additional pledge commitments of $1,312,000, giving us cash on hand plus commitments of $2,252,000. This means we need to raise an additional $2,248,000 to reach our goal of $4,500,000.
This is a fantastic start and we are so grateful to everyone who has made a donation or commitment. We have more work to do here, but we are all confident that together, and with God’s help, we will get to our stated goal.
The finance committee and your vestry also want to be very clear that while this project and campaign are a high priority for us, we do not want to have any negative impact on any existing church ministry. Your commitment to both the ongoing support of the church through the stewardship campaign and the support of this capital campaign are both important. We hope you can be a part of the capital campaign while maintaining your commitment to annual giving. Your participation in the Becoming One Body campaign can be structured from one to three years to allow you more flexibility in your commitment.
While most donations are cash payments, there may be other solutions for some parishioners. Donations of appreciated stock or mutual funds may provide tax advantages. For senior parishioners with IRAs, qualified charitable donations (QCDs) may make sense. If you would like assistance with this, please contact our Director of Finance Austin Cook.
As we begin to move forward with the construction phase of the project in parallel with the capital campaign, it may be necessary to secure a short-term construction loan to keep work progressing while the campaign completes its cycle. The vestry and the finance committee have no expectation of incurring any long-term debt.
Thank you to everyone that has participated in bringing this project to its current state. We are excited to see the next phase begin and hope everyone can participate in seeing this through by supporting it with your prayers and your pledges.
Grant Thomson, Becoming One Body Finance Committee
Sacrificial Giving in the Midst of a Campaign
Our church has been a source of stability, comfort, and joy for generations as we seek and serve Christ together here at Nativity. We all benefit from the legacy of those who have gone before us, and we share in all that this parish offers us day in and day out. Our Becoming One Body capital campaign is a truly significant way for us to demonstrate our commitment to improving the sacred spaces we all enjoy.
While planning and preparing for the future is very important, we cannot neglect the essential annual pledge campaign. Your generous annual pledge sustains the ministries and daily work of our church and serves as clear indication of your faithful gratitude for all that God has given. On behalf of the Stewardship Committee, I want to thank you for all you do to help Nativity thrive. Thanks be to God.
Patrick Robbins, Stewardship Committee Chair
I am committed to the mission and ministry of Church of the Nativity. Therefore,
I/we plan to pledge $________________ for 2025.
I/we plan to give this pledge (please check one): ______weekly _____monthly ______semiannually _____annually
Name _________________________________
Address________________________________
City______________ State___ Zip___________
Phone__________________________________
Email __________________________________
I would like to receive pledge envelopes __yes __no
To make your 2025 pledge please use one of the following options:
Complete this card, place in envelope provided and return by mail or place in the collection plate during any service.
Visit nativity-hsv.org and click on GIVING.
Scan the QR code and complete the online pledge form.
Please make your financial pledge on or before February 9, 2025
What to look for.
Pictured on the left is the 2025 Annual Stewardship Card. Pictured below is the Becoming One Body commitment card.
After prayerful discernment I/we are joyful to respond to God’s call to give to the Becoming One Body Campaign.
The Episcopal Church of the Nativity
Capital Campaign Contributions
Giving Schedule Amount
Per week for 156 weeks $
Per month for 36 months $
Per year for 3 years $
Total for 3 years $
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Suzy Hendrickson, Campaign Chair
Josh Hendrickson, Campaign Chair
Lisa Hardy, Campaign Chair
David Hardy, Campaign Chair
Kay Tate, Prayer & Spiritual Formation
Patrick Robbins, Follow-up & Fulfillment
Madi Bell Colpack, Student & Children
Emily Cantrell, Student & Children
Austin Cook, Finance
Mem Bryant, Advance Commitments
Kana Goldsmith, Advance Commitments
Michael Goldsmith, Rector
Vicky Hinton, Coordinator/Celebration
The Episcopal Church of the Nativity
Photos courtesy of Rachel Carter Photography. Front cover photo by Miles Parsons
