On Sunday, October 5, 2015, the late John Pearson answered the question what is one hope you have for Church of the Redeemer this way:
That we complete our proposed solar project.
As of early May 2015, the project is almost completed using the money that was left to Church of the Redeemer by John Pearson for this purpose. All 90 solar panels have been installed on the roof of Church of Redeemer. The array fills all the usable surface on the roof.
Solar panels seen from 182nd Street.
At this point, the solar panel array is not connected to the grid. Before turning on the meter and connecting the array to the grid, there has to be an electrical inspection of the installation. When approved, Puget Sound Energy will install the meter and connect the array to the grid.
There is the possibility of a widget to display on the website power generation and consumption from the solar panel array. This is being researched.
Here are some facts about the solar panel installation:
It is the largest array on a noncommercial building in northern King County, Washington.
The potential solar power this installation generates could provide three homes all their electrical power for a year.
The cost of the installation was over $60,000. It was a gift from John Pearson arranged for before he died.
Church of the Redeemer should receive a $5,000 a year credit until 2020.
There will be a dedication event in June 2015 for the solar panel array. There will be a plaque remembering John Pearson. There will also be great food and stories about the solar installation and about the donor.
Solar panels and inverter used in this installation
Each panel, manufactured by SolarWorld at it’s plant in Hillsboro, Oregon, produces 280 watts at peak. This gives our system total of about 26 kilowatts at peak sun times. View the type of solar panels to be installed.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Vestry at Church of the Redeemer has received news on April 16, 2015, from the company installing the solar panels. We have our permits. This means that the solar panel project will move forward in the near future.
As you may recall, John Pearson made a generous donation to Church of the Redeemer to cover the cost of the installation of the solar panels. Before he died the funds for the project were put in an escrow account. These dedicated funds can be used only for the installation of the solar panels.
We do not yet have a firm date for the installation. Installing the solar panels will require cranes lifting the panels onto the roof and then affixing them. We do not anticipate any change to the profile of the church building. After the panels are in place, there will be extensive wiring to enable us to generate electricity and to sell the excess back to the Puget Sound Energy.
We will keep you up to date as we know more.
—The Rector and the Vestry of Church of the Redeemer
Solar Panel Project
The Vestry of Church of the Redeemer has approved plans for a 90-panel solar panel system on the huge, flat roof. This will generate at least 26,000 kilowatt hours per year, much of which will help supply the local community grid.
Installation by West Seattle Natural Energy will begin as soon as final preparations finish. This includes permitting from the City of Kenmore.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
First, thank you to everyone who has pledged. We appreciate your generosity and commitment to the Church of the Redeemer. We have received a total of $208,000 in pledges. However, our projected need is $287,000. The 2015 expenses are about $60,000 more than last year.
Our expenses have increased because in 2014 we had a fulltime priest for only half a year. The office staff also left last year. So we did not have the full cost of these expenses. This year
We are paying the salary and benefits for our full time rector this year.
We paid for the moving expenses.
We plan on hiring an administrative assistant to replace Tim who left last year.
We have done some small upgrades to the building including the rector’s office, the nursery and maintenance for our sacred space
At this time our pledges do not meet our expenses. If you have not yet pledged we urge you to do so. If you have already pledged, please consider increasing your pledge.
Grace and Peace,
The Rector and Wardens of the Church of the Redeemer
The requiem Eucharist for our brother John Pearson was Saturday, January 24, 2015, at 3:00 pm. His death was December 27, 2014.
Deliver your servant, John, O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set him free from every bond; that John may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
This is the homily from Fr. Jed Fox at the requiem.
These are remembrances from the reception held after the requiem.
The following are ways in which John Pearson added to life at Church of the Redeemer, in the local community, and in the wider community. This will be amended as more information is known.
How John Pearson added to our life at Church of the Redeemer
The Rev. Steve Garratt, who recently ended being the interim rector of Church of the Redeemer, had this to say about John Pearson:
I have been thinking whether I have much to add about John, but truthfully, outside of exchanging the Peace with him and perhaps a couple of brief passing exchanges at coffee hour, I really didn’t know John that well. The only thing I could really say is that he was a regular communicant who clearly loved the parish (which is probably not a bad tribute).
We have several things at Church of the Redeemer through the generosity of John Pearson.
New organ console
The long over-due project to replace our organ console was started with a substantial donation from John Pearson. The dedication of the new console will take place on January 31 and February 1, 2015.
Assistive listening devices
John Pearson donated the assistive listening devices for use during worship services.
Solar panels
At this time, solar panels are being made for installation on the roof of Church of the Redeemer. Along his financial assistance, John Pearson did much of the research to make this happen. This project will be completed in the coming months.
John Pearson replaced one of the toilets in the men’s room.
How John Pearson added to the lives of others through Church of the Redeemer
John Pearson added in other ways to life and ministry of Church of the Redeemer in service to others.
Resurrección Day Camp in Mount Vernon
This past summer, John Pearson taught campers in the sixth grade for all weeks of the camp, from July 21 through August 15, 2014.
In 2013, John worked for at least two weeks of the camp. That year he did one-on-one reading with campers in the first and second grade.
Deacon Mark Blindheim from Emmanuel Church on Mercer Island had this to say about John Pearson:
I first met John Pearson at the second Resurrección daycamp in 2013. He was a tireless volunteer who engaged the children he worked with in a profound way. His volunteer efforts for those four weeks were foundational in establishing the camp as an entity which could attract additional grant funding. This enabled the camp to pay certified teachers and have curriculum consistent with that being taught in the Mount Vernon School District.
This summer he taught 5th and 6th graders. Each morning he set up class outdoors in the tent and taught his students, stowing everything away at the end of each day. He set a high standard for future camp teachers. He lived out his Christian faith fully, passionately, and with his whole heart. He will be dearly remembered and deeply missed.
Read about the evolution of this camp. It was originally a two-week effort hosted primarily by people from Church of the Redeemer. It has grown to be a major month-long event in the Skagit River Valley. View pictures from the 2014 camp taken by John Pearson.
Food donations to Hopelink
Food drives at Church of the Redeemer for Hopelink included John Pearson going beyond the grocery bag or two of items. He would find major quantities of food to be donated from an area grocery store. Read about one of those food drives.
Washing the feet of those experiencing homelessness
On at least one occasion, John Pearson participated in washing the feet of those experiencing homelessness at a United Way Day of Caring in Seattle.
A few weeks later, when asked the one thing he hoped for Redeemer, John Pearson said that he wanted us to finish the solar panel project.
What others thought about John Pearson
Friends of North Creek Forest reported how John Pearson worked to restore habitat in the area. The obituary on their web page said that John had worked in journalism, a substitute teacher, and in a hardware store.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Vestry of Church of the Redeemer has approved plans for a 90-panel solar panel system on the huge, flat roof. This will generate at least 26,000 kilowatt hours per year, much of which will help supply the local community grid.
Installation by West Seattle Natural Energy will begin as soon as final preparations finish. This includes permitting from the City of Kenmore.
Cost to install the solar panel system
The cost is an estimated $80,000, plus some building electrical modifications.
Each panel, manufactured by SolarWorld at it’s plant in Hillsboro, Oregon, produces 280 watts at peak. This gives our system total of about 26 kilowatts at peak sun times. View the type of solar panels to be installed.
A publicly visible readerboard, showing energy production and carbon offset numbers, also is planned.
Redeemer will also receive a $1,000 rebate for the project from an IBEW local.
Current electricity use by Church of the Redeemer
Puget Sound Energy charges $.0856 per kilowatthour. Roughly, the church uses about the following in power:
125 kilowatthours daily, which costs $11
3,750 kilowatthours monthly, which costs $321
4,500 kWhrs. annually, which costs $3,852
How the solar panels will affect the electric bills
The solar panel system is expected to shave about $3,000 off the annual energy bill for Church of the Redeemer.
The expected annual energy production credit from Puget Sound Energy is currently estimated at $4,300. This payment will revert to Church of the Redeemer when the funder, a congregation member, is rembursed. After that, the total annual savings for Church of the Redeemer will be an estimated $7,100.
Pictures of solar panel installations
Click these pictures to see larger versions.
This picture is of a 1-megawatt rooftop system of SolarWorld panels. This installation is the largest in the southeast United States. It is at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This has many more panels than the 90 to be installed at Redeemer.
This picture is of a solar panel system installed as part of the parking garage at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, Washington.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
Church of the Redeemer was touched in many meaningful ways by John Pearson, who died on December 27, 2014. Read how 
