Charting Growth: Calvary’s Capital Campaign Journey

Our Faith Formation class at Calvary embarked on a creative mission to visually capture the essence of our church’s Capital Campaign. With a monumental goal of raising $6 million to Preserve, Sustain, and Share, we wanted our chart to be more than just numbers; we wanted it to be a vibrant testament to faith and God’s creation. So, with colorful markers and big sheets of paper spread out, we began brainstorming how to bring this vision to life.

The idea blossomed like the very sunflowers we plant each spring in our garden. We decided to draw a tall, flourishing tree with a large, radiant sun at its center, mirroring the sunflowers that reach toward the sky in our garden. These sunflowers are special to us; they start as tiny seeds but grow into something magnificent and bountiful, a miracle we witness year after year. This growth from a small beginning to something grand became the perfect symbol for our campaign's journey.
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At the heart of our tree, we placed the sun, not just any sun, but one that embodies the warmth and brightness of God’s love. This sun also holds a deeper meaning for us—it reminds us of the Body of Christ that we celebrate during the Eucharist. Just as the sunflowers turn towards the sun, we are drawn to the light of Christ, nurturing our faith and community.

Around the tree, we added flowers, bees, and birds, and even a life-giving river winding its way through the landscape. These elements represent the interconnectedness of all life in God’s creation. Each creature, each plant, relies on the others, just as we depend on one another in our faith community.
Fluttering among the branches, a butterfly catches the eye. To us, it’s a powerful symbol of Christ’s resurrection and our own hope for renewal. This theme of renewal is echoed in the very structure of our chart. Within the tree, we carefully outlined the shape of Calvary church, signifying the ongoing growth and blossoming of our faith and community under God’s nurturing care.

As for tracking our progress towards the $6 million goal, we chose to use lights—each one representing a step closer to our target. These lights are not just markers; they symbolize bringing more of God’s light into our church and community, both literally and figuratively.

Creating this chart was more than an art project for us. It was a way to express our faith, our hopes, and our commitment to the campaign. We see it not just as a tracker of funds, but as a living representation of our journey together, growing in God’s love and light, just like the sunflowers in our garden. Through this chart, we hope to inspire our church community to see the beauty and potential in each contribution, no matter how small, toward achieving something truly glorious.