Looking for a memorial or other major gift opportunity to Transfiguration? Here are some possibilities. The options shown are sorted by approximate cost, not by priority or urgency.

Portable Wheelchair Approximately $250
To be used to assist guests who need assistance because of accident, fatigue, illness, or other cause. The wheelchair would be kept in the back of the church for use by ushers as needed. [Example]

Replate ciborium Approximately $300-500
The ciborium is the metal container used to store unconsumed consecrated bread -- the Body of Christ -- remaining in the tabernacle, the large, ornate metal box behind the altar. Our ciborium is silverplated, and requires replating after several years of wear from cleaning. [More info]

Headset microphones Two needed at $300-400 each
These microphones are designed for theatrical or broadcast use to be nearly invisible, but their close and unwavering proximity to the speaker's mouth helps increase the intelligibility and intimacy of the sound and reduce dropouts and variations in sound system volume. Ideal models would include the Countryman E6 (shown here) or the Audio Technica AT892.

Automated External Defibrillator Approximately $1,500-3,000, depending on the unit chosen
Provides an automated external defibrillator for use in case a member or visitor suffers a life threatening cardiac arrhythmia at the church. One of our current members has had two heart attacks in church at previous congregations, and these devices have been demonstrated to save lives in churches. [Examples]

Ice Machine Approximately $1,700
Our kitchen has no ice machine, which is an issue for our daily preschool and day care food service, and limits us at events when meals are served. Space and plumbing access are issues, and it's not clear where this could go. The small unit shown here could be mounted under the cabinets near the kitchen sinks. [Example]

Projector and Screen Approximately $1,000-5,000, depending on the model
A portable projector and screen to be used for making presentations in Leach Hall and/or the church for Christian education, worship, or other special events. This is a portable version of "Television monitors or projector and screen" below, which would be larger displays permanently mounted in the church itself. This option more flexible but less expensive because the portable equipment has a much smaller and dimmer display than the equipment described below.

Assistive Listening Devices Approximately $1,000-5,000, depending on the model and capacity
Some of our members report that they are unable to hear the worship, even with the sound system turned on, and some report that they have begun to stay home as a result. The device would connect to our existing sound system and be unnoticeable to others.  [More info]

Air conditioning and replacement furnace for upstairs classrooms Approximately $5,000
The upstairs classrooms are serviced by a furnace that’s more than 30 years old, and no air conditioning. Church school and Day Care classes are difficult to manage upstairs in warm weather months.

Replace Outside Sign Approximately $2,500-7,500, depending on scope of work
The sign on the corner of 86th Ave. and 123rd St. is wearing out, and needs to be reworked to be simpler and more readable. The landscaping also needs some restoration.

Upgrade Lobby Doors Approximately $2,500-7,500, depending on scope of work
The heavy red doors on either side of the lobby slam loudly during worship, are beginning to rot, and are difficult to manage for wheelchair access. Replacement doors with sturdy dark metal frames would complement the existing architecture, allow more visibility, close more quietly, and can be built with a motorized opener on the side of the building adjacent to the handicap accessible parking spaces.

Television monitors or projector and screen Approximately $5,000-7,000 for two screens
Audio-visual displays for use in contemporary worship and educational and other parish presentations.

High Speed Duplicator Approximately $9,000-12,000, depending on the type
Our existing high speed duplicator is used daily to produce Sunday bulletins, newsletters, posters, and other parish communications. The existing machine is about 10 years old, and no longer is covered under any maintenance plan because it's obsolete. It requires frequent repairs, cannot use large paper, and offers poor image reproduction. [Example]

Lighting projects Approximately $5,000-25,000, depending on the scope of work
The worship space needs improved lighting to improve visibility and reduce glare for offering our best worship in a beautiful room.

Recarpet Leach Hall, hallways, and classrooms Approximately $6,000-10,000
This project must be repeated from time to time due to normal wear and tear. Ideally, Leach Hall would be carpeted with replaceable carpet squares, or using a hard floor with large area rugs so that spills and stains could be corrected more easily.

Kitchen remodeling Approximately $20,000-60,000, depending on scope of work
The church kitchen is used daily to prepare meals for 90-120 children and teachers at the Day Care Center, and for Sunday Coffee Hour and parish food events. The cabinets, counters, floors, and appliances are very worn and in need of upgrading.

Organ replacement Approximately $100,000-125,000
The current instrument is well crafted for its capacity, but lacks sufficient power to fill the worship space adequately. It’s inflexible, having only six stops and one manual, and lacks a swell, the means by which organs regulate volume. The estimated cost would purchase a used instrument from another congregation, and represents the net cost after selling the existing instrument. [Examples]

Air Conditioning Upgrades for Lobby Cost TBD
Currently, the church and day care lobby is heated and air conditioned by the same system that serves the entire south side of the church itself. The only way to provide heating or air conditioning for the main entrance of the church that's used daily by dozens of people is to heat or air condition half the church all day. That's very expensive and inefficient. Furthermore, the day care director's office is serviced by vents that connect from the other direction, but which were crushed during the construction of Leach Hall. This project would involve adding another small HVAC unit to service the lobby and the director's office, together with some rework of the floor or ceiling to bring ventillation to the day care director's office.

Rest room renovation Cost TBD
This is a project that could be very small or very large. Many of the sinks, countertops, mirrors, unirals, and toilets need replacing. Motion sensing flushers would be a real plush, as would replacement stall dividers. A much more ambitious project would include retiling

Other Projects

Many other projects that would enhance congregational life are possible, but have not been investigated fully. Possibilities include those listed here, and many more:

• Landscaping: Upgrades and enhancements to the existing beautiful Transfiguration grounds
• Expand sprinkler system: Currently, only the Memorial Garden and west lawn are served by the sprinkler system. The system draws on the old well that once provided all the building's water, and can be expanded to water all the grounds, which would improve the appearance and enable more ambitious projects
• Endowing staff positions: Major gifts could be used to endow permanent positions in the congregation, including rector, associate rector, musician, church school director, youth minister, parish administrator, sexton, or others
• Perpetual Funds: Transfiguration gratefully receives gifts of any amount to the Endowment Fund, Sharon Louise Irvine Fund, Music Fund, Altar Guild Fund, or Memorial Garden Fund.
• Building Expansion: The building could be expanded in any number of ways, but the most immediately helpful expansion would be to enclose the area around the bell tower to add a reception area with small rest room. Currently, all the rest rooms are within areas that are locked during the week because of Day Care security concerns. That normally doesn't matter, but becomes an issue for funerals and other mid-week services when guests have to be escorted to the rest rooms because of DCFS regulations. The same project could expand the enclosed area all the way to the parking lot, offering a covered drop-off point for bad weather, an inside wheelchair ramp, and gathering/reception space.
• Fire Protection: There are no smoke detectors in the church itself, and no sprinklers anywhere in the building.