by Steve Ogata

The senior staff came to me in mid-September - when temperatures were consistently in the triple digits - with a proposal to purchase and install canopies to shade worshippers during the outdoor Sunday Services, as well as for future church activities.  A quick proposal for six 40-foot equilateral triangular sunshades from Amazon.com for $1700 each with hardware and labor totaled over $13,000. I brought forth this plan to the Board of Trustees for their approval. Extensive discussion ensued regarding various issues. Was this a good investment? Did the shades fit the overall aesthetics of the church? What were the long term goals for ministry utilization? How long will the shades last? Are there any maintenance concerns?

I called for an onsite PAATT meeting after the outdoor Sunday Service on Sept. 20. I shared that a few days before, Yets Saguchi had called and said that Atherton had just installed sunshades over a small outdoor dining area. Jerry, Irene, Yets and I went over to the patio and spent an hour checking out the look and feel of the space. Yets, in her infinite wisdom, had obtained a copy of the invoice for the canopies. Based upon this report, the PAATT decided to check out the vendor, ColourTree, and possibly purchase a few sunshades, install them and see how they looked.

Jerry (my go-to guy) and I made an appointment a couple of days later with ColourTree. We were able to obtain sample color fabrics, and get prices on different size shades as well as the necessary hardware. ColourTree had four 32-foot triangular shades in stock. Normally $900 each, we were quoted at $229 each (75% off). Seriously. And they were green, as in Evergreen.

We decided to buy three of the four canopies and install them. This was on a Monday morning, and while the shades were being installed, I believe Jesus told me to buy the last shade that was in stock. I called ColourTree and the guy said that he had just found FIVE more green shades the same size as ours. And for the same discounted price. I told him I would call him back immediately.

We had to make a quick, executive decision. Ultimately, we purchased them all. I told Jerry this is like the boy with the five loaves and two fish. 

Long story short, the cost of eight 32-foot canopies, hardware and installation came out to $4,000. As David Miyahara said at the last Trustees meeting when this whole saga was reported, “Praise God!” Yes indeed.