By MADDY VITALE
Melissa Doyle-Waid, who serves as pastor of the United Methodist Church in Sea Isle City, and the roughly 100 parishioners, know they are a small congregation with big plans.
They unveiled a large capital improvement project to beautify the deteriorating church, which is located at 4102 Central Ave., in a grassroots campaign that calls for fundraising efforts and people’s generosity.
The congregation hosted a yard sale outside of the church Sept. 14.
Several small pieces of furniture, antique school desks, collectibles, glassware and china were sold to help offset the costs of a facelift to the 1958 structure.
“Every other building when entering Sea Isle looks so nice,” Doyle-Waid said.
Recently, the church was power-washed. While it helped brighten the faded white exterior, she said they have an idea for the future.
“We want to replace the white with gray siding,” Doyle-Waid said in a recent interview. “The parking lot will also be redone.”
In addition to siding, Doyle-Waid said the hope is to add a new electronic sign at the corner of Central Avenue and JFK Boulevard so the small church won’t be missed.
“Folks tell us a lot of people don’t even know we have a church here,” she said.
New pew cushions and some aesthetic touchups are also part of the project. Waid added that some landscaping would also be done and that an Eagle Scout may be a part of the project.
Doyle-Waid estimated the cost for the beautification would be around $200,000 and it would be completely funded through donations and the generosity of the community.
The pastor said the focus is to showcase the church.
She added, “We just want the church to look as lovely as the other places at the entrance to Sea Isle.”
For more information about the Sea Isle United Methodist Church at 4102 Central Ave. go to www.seaislemethodist.org
