January is here and the annual signal to the coming of a new year. 2015 has arrived and as we learned in the Children's sermon on Sunday, most adults will keep their New Year's resolutions until roughly January 15th. Oh, we have the best of intentions and always want to hope to do better this year, but when the work begins and we have to commit to being faithful to the task, we let interruptions and excuses get in the way. We could always hope to lose a few more pounds, watch a little less television, and get up off the couch to go for a walk, but what about on the spiritual side of the equation.

Would you like to be more faithful in reading your Bible this year? Would you be able to be more sacrificial in your charitable giving this year? Would you be more open to sharing your faith with a friend during the coming year? We could ask a thousand questions that all have the same positive answer.

What about your time around the church? Do you simply show up at the designated hour and leave when the service is over? If God were to open the right door of ministry for you, what would it look like? When it comes to ministry in the church, we tend to see the same faces doing the same tasks year in and year out. Trust me when I say we are thankful for their faithfulness, but even the faithful few would appreciate a helping hand from time to time. Some of us play the "I've served my time" card. Trust me again when I say, no one can serve too much. It is our prayer that in 2015 you will find a new place of service; one that you have never considered and plug into the body of Christ in this place.

Let me end with an old story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. So Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Josh Felix, our representative from Dan Cook's Building God's Way office, met with Town of Tiburon early last month. Overall the meeting went well and the concept plans did not raise any immediate red flags. However, this project based on its location, is going to have a great deal of scrutiny through the entitlement process. We will need to be prepared to patiently jump through all the necessary hoops. It will be essential to meet with neighbors to remove or lessen any opposition as soon as we can.

As we knew, the project will require a conditional use permit (CUP). The Project will require an additional Environmental Review called a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This is a surprise, since the project does not entail the usual CEQA triggers like creek beds, watersheds, critical habitats, historical structures, environmental hazards, etc. Unlike some other municipalities in the Bay Area, Tiburon will utilize their own environmental specialist for this review, at our cost. Also, TBC will be required to provide studies and reports required by the CEQA reviewer, such as surveys, soils reports, hydrology reports, traffic and noise studies, etc.

The CUP process in Tiburon does not include design review (DR). It simply approves the proposed use on the site. DR will encompass the details of the approved use. This would include building massing, elevations, materials, and colors. The DR process will be worked out at the staff level and then be presented to the town Design Review Board for actual approval.

After design approval, we may submit our building plans to obtain a building permit.

Overall CUP/DR/Permit process timeline is 11-18 months. We will plan on the full 18 months and be pleasantly surprised if permits are issued earlier. We should plan to be ready to start construction as soon as the permit issues, whenever that may be.

We are seeking an estimate of costs expected to be incurred up to the date the permit issues and will report on that when received. Please feel free to direct any questions or comments to Dan McLennon, building committee chair.

On the weekend of Mar 6-8, you are invited to join several women from TBC at the Mount Hermon Women's Spring Reflective retreat.

As the winter season gives way into spring, new life begins to push it's way into view. Paying attention to what is growing beneath the cover of winter and nurturing it's growth often takes time; time to be quiet, time to listen, time to rest. The Mount Hermon Spring Reflective Retreat offers you the opportunity to spend time paying attention to your soul. Unlike other women's retreats, the Mount Hermon reflective retreats are designed to provide a quantity of time alone with the Lord. 

While this retreat is designed to provide the space and quiet to nurture the soul, there are also ample opportunities for fellowship with like-minded women around great meals and free time. Mount Hermon's adventure facilities and popular recreation options like ocean kayaking are an option as part of your program.

For more details and to register, click here. If you have questions, contact Susan Butler.