For our work in the coming weeks and months, we will be focusing on two initiatives under consideration during each meeting. Habitat for Humanity Town Houses and Solar Power were the two projects presented during our June 5 meeting. The question of an ongoing tiny home settlement requires a recommendation and congregational action by early October. This project requires the greatest investment of information seeking, and discussion regarding congregation investment of time, money, property and people since it is the most unique of our possibilities. This will utilize about half of our meeting time over the remainder of the summer.
Other possibilities that will get attention based on trying to narrow our focus a bit include: Affordable Housing (discussion led by the Affordable Housing Team); Handicap Accessibility; Community Food Shelf; Child Care and Sprinkler System for the Church facility -These last items may be expanded to consider the possibility of developing our building into a resource center with several services available including food shelf and child care space.
Our next meeting is on Monday, June 19 and as with all our meetings, anyone is welcome. This meeting will address two issues: the Affordable Housing Team will report on recommendations that they have including the development of low income apartments; and, we will begin the discernment process for an ongoing tiny home settlement with a panel discussion about ministry among the homeless. Pastor Peter will report on his visit to the Austin, TX Community First! Village. Mark Weber from Trinity in Stillwater, Deacon Nina Joygaard of Faith Lutheran in Forest Lake, and possibly one of the pastors from Mosaic Christian Community will also be part of the panel.
The following meeting will come up quickly on June 26 (because of the Independence Day weekend) and at that time we hope to have a more complete financial report on our interim settlement and also of the Settled community.
I welcome any questions that may arise and any ideas for communication with the congregation.
-Steve Sveom