Dear Friends in Christ,
In January 2015, we began a listening process with you and our larger community to discern where God is calling us next as a community of faith. Part of what we heard was the need to look at our current St. Peter’s campus to see how we might better use it to live out our purpose statement: Together, BOLDLY living and sharing God’s grace with all.
In 2017, a Facilities Planning Committee was formed to explore what an updated campus might look like and present their findings to the congregation. On February 25, 2018, the congregation voted with overwhelming support to move forward with our building expansion and improvements with a project cost not to exceed 1,350,000.
We set a BOLD campaign goal of $750,000, and a stretch goal of $900,000, over the next three years. By June 2018, we had exceeded both goals with over a $1,000,000 in commitments, and the amount continues to grow with your support. In the summer, we installed our Building Committee to finalize building drawings in anticipation of an early 2019 groundbreaking. Thank you all for your generous commitments to our life together as St. Peter’s. We are on our way, Building to Bless!
For St. Peter’s to build on its great legacy of nearly 60 years, and continue to shape a future with hope for our community, improvements to our facility are being addressed. This plan creates:
- A campus that is hospitable and welcoming to visitors, members, and friends
- A worship space that enhances our praise and thanksgiving while also helping us share God’s grace more diversely
- A facility that makes more space to gather and grow, share gifts and talents, and better serve our larger community
- A fellowship area that allows us generous space to spend time together so that spiritual relationships are deepened and faith is taught and caught
In a world where many build to exclude and divide, as Christians we are Building to Bless. We are Building to Bless our neighbors, our congregational ministries, and our world. In a world that builds fear, distrust, and isolation, God calls us to build peace, hope, and community by building places to gather, pray, worship, and serve.
At this pivotal time in the life of St. Peter’s, God is blessing us with the opportunity to make a difference, to bless as we have already been blessed. If you have not already done so, I invite you to consider ways God has blessed you and give according to that blessing. I invite you to consider the ways St. Peter’s ministry has blessed you and join us in building upon that blessing. Because together, we are Building to Bless!
In Christ,
Pastor Vanicek
St. Peter's Lutheran Church 