Friends,

I am very pleased to announce that soon you will see new solar panels on the roof of St. Luke’s! This is probably a surprise for most. I find the story about how this came about to be quite compelling. I imagine you might have quite a few questions about this, and I thought I would try to address a few of them.

What is the story behind this, and why the secrecy?

About ten years ago a group of St. Lukers tried to get solar panels at St. Luke’s, but it didn’t work out due to an aging roof and some other variables. This was a disappointing experience for those who were dedicated to make it happen.

The same core group of people that championed the solar panels ten years ago have been researching and working with the vestry for about a year to see if it could be possible now. There was a very really chance that this project would not materialize due to a whole host of potential issues. Due to the complexity of the project, we decided to keep things subtle until we were certain to would pan out. Now that we have the green light from all of the inspectors, we feel good about letting you know!

It would be impossible to tell this story without mentioning Carlo Uchello. Carlo pushed for solar panels ten years ago, and he was instrumental in making this project possible now. He got competitive quotes, did his research and did a phenomenal job communicating with the leadership of the Church.

Why is this good for the Church from a practical point of view?

Purely from a practical point of view, and to be blunt, it is going to save us a lot of money. The solar panels will save us about six thousand dollars a year in energy costs. During times that are particularly sunny, and the building is not being used as much, we will be able to sell energy back to the grid and further off-set our energy costs. This means more money for other ministries in the Church. Solar panels have no moving parts, and need extremely little maintenance compared to other infrastructure, so this is a gift to the Church that will continue to give for a long time.

Why would the Church do this?

This is the big part for me. A group of people led by Carlo Uchello did this because they care. We are not an organization to provides a product for people to consume, or a company working toward a bigger profit. We exist because people care enough to will St. Luke’s into existence. Every single one of our ministries exists because someone cares enough to make it happen. If no one cared about broadcasting our worship service, then we wouldn’t have a robust AV team. If no one cared about flowers, then there wouldn’t be flowers behind the altar. Regardless of whether or not you care or like flowers, live streaming worship, or solar panels, you can at least see that someone cares enough about them to will them into existence. Considering we are a church, I think it is safe to say that desire to do these ministries comes from a Christian desire to serve and to do good.

For many, myself included, the state of the environment is deeply concerning, and reason to look for ways to do something to help. Our solar panels are not going to reverse global warming, but they will offset our contribution to increasing temperatures. One of the reasons Carlo and others felt called to bring the solar panels to St. Luke’s is that it will be a sign to our greater community that we are a Church that does care enough to do something.

The simple answer to this question is, “A group of people cared enough to make it happen.” This just isn’t fund raising and planning, but working with the vestry, the decision-making body that the congregation has elected, to make sure we are all on board.

How did we pay for this?

We have quite a few big projects in the pipeline that you will be hearing about in the next year or so. These aren’t ascetic improvements, but things that need to be done that are quite expensive. The vestry and I felt that this was a worthy project from the beginning, but we were hesitant to proceed with these projects looming over us. So, we made a deal. If Carlo and I could raise enough funds to pay for the project (with the help of federal grants) just by contacting those who already said they were interested in supporting the project, then the vestry would support bring solar panels to St. Luke’s. To my shock, funds came in so quickly that it was immediately clear that money would not be a barrier. This means that due to the dedication and generosity of a small group of people, St. Luke’s will be able to offset our power bill significantly at no cost to the Church. This group of people raised nearly fifty thousand dollars to make this happen, for which we are very grateful.

Can I help support this?

Good news, yes! We just got the final contract, and we are just under one thousand dollars short of being completely even. This is not a significant barrier; however, if you want to be part of this project, we would enthusiastically welcome your contribution. If anything is raised over the amount needed, it will be earmarked for future projects that will increase our energy efficiency. To make a contribution you can send in a check with “solar and energy” in the memo, and we’ll make sure it goes to the right place!

In the very near future, we will be creating a “creation care” committee that will help with environmental projects at St. Luke’s. This could be increasing our energy efficiency, or creating native gardens or a whole host of other things to support the world that God has made for us.

Conclusion:

One of the many reasons I love St. Luke’s is that this is a place where people care, and care enough to do something about it. Carlo has been talking about the solar project since I have been here, and his drive, along with the support of many other people, made this possible. This is a perfect example of what is possible at St. Luke’s. We all have faith in Christian and are called to serve God and our neighbor, but what that looks like can vary tremendously. A small group of people felt called to do this project and through persistence, patience and hard work were able to make it possible.

Blessings,

Nick