Living Our Vision
"Lord, what do you want to do through me?"
- As followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that our mission is to reach all people, making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We, the people of First United Methodist Church, have responded to this mission by opening our hearts, doors,
and minds to those looking for acceptance and love, community groups looking for a welcoming place to meet, ministry programs that serve the needs of people in our community, and our own members who feel a sense of home and family when we step inside.
-Regrettably, due to the many levels in our church that are accessible only by stairs, some people are excluded from experiencing the full array of activities that allow them to be transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.
-For many years we have expressed concerns about the difficulty of reaching various levels of the building, as well as inadequate space needed for gatherings on the main level. Everyone agrees that we need to remove these barriers so all, regardless of physical limitations, can participate in the full life of the church.
Imagine…
· A house of God that is open and accessible to everyone, regardless of physical limitations.
· Inviting spaces where we can meet in fellowship, celebrate joys, and mourn losses with family and friends.
· Engaging classrooms where children experience the love of Jesus Christ.
· A building that is not just good enough for most, but is accessible and welcoming for all.
How Do We Begin Living Our Vision?
Over the last three years, we have been working to determine how to modify our building to give everyone the ability to participate in the life of the church. Following a vote of our congregation, our Trustees have been working with an architect to find ways to address several obstacles to accessibility and to find ways to make our church more inviting. With much planning and prayer, a plan has been developed that will include these features:
· An elevator and ramps will provide access to all levels of the building.
· An addition on the west side of the parlor will provide space for fellowship, small services, overflow for large services, meeting space, and many more uses.
· The wall between the narthex and parlor will be removed to eliminate the bottleneck when people are entering and exiting the sanctuary.
· The church offices will be moved to the first floor, making our church more inviting to those visiting our pastor and staff.
· The sanctuary, classrooms, and other parts of the facility will be updated and brought up to code compliance.
How will We Complete Our Vision?
The projected cost for all of these improvements is $2.8 million. To begin Living Our Vision, we know it will require sacrificial giving. Our success will be determined by everyone contributing not an equal share, but an equal sacrifice. We know the value of a gift is not determined by its amount, but the spirit in which it is given.
Through 2014 – Pledges to the Living Our Vision campaign may be paid over a 3-year period.
How Can I Help?
As a part of the First United Methodist family, you will see several more communications about the Living Our Vision campaign during the coming months. We ask that you begin to pray about how you can contribute to help meet the needs of our congregation and community.
Ask yourself, “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” We hope that your prayerful consideration will guide you in how you can respond to the ministry opportunity before us.
and minds to those looking for acceptance and love, community groups looking for a welcoming place to meet, ministry programs that serve the needs of people in our community, and our own members who feel a sense of home and family when we step inside.
-Regrettably, due to the many levels in our church that are accessible only by stairs, some people are excluded from experiencing the full array of activities that allow them to be transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.
-For many years we have expressed concerns about the difficulty of reaching various levels of the building, as well as inadequate space needed for gatherings on the main level. Everyone agrees that we need to remove these barriers so all, regardless of physical limitations, can participate in the full life of the church.
Imagine…
· A house of God that is open and accessible to everyone, regardless of physical limitations.
· Inviting spaces where we can meet in fellowship, celebrate joys, and mourn losses with family and friends.
· Engaging classrooms where children experience the love of Jesus Christ.
· A building that is not just good enough for most, but is accessible and welcoming for all.
How Do We Begin Living Our Vision?
Over the last three years, we have been working to determine how to modify our building to give everyone the ability to participate in the life of the church. Following a vote of our congregation, our Trustees have been working with an architect to find ways to address several obstacles to accessibility and to find ways to make our church more inviting. With much planning and prayer, a plan has been developed that will include these features:
· An elevator and ramps will provide access to all levels of the building.
· An addition on the west side of the parlor will provide space for fellowship, small services, overflow for large services, meeting space, and many more uses.
· The wall between the narthex and parlor will be removed to eliminate the bottleneck when people are entering and exiting the sanctuary.
· The church offices will be moved to the first floor, making our church more inviting to those visiting our pastor and staff.
· The sanctuary, classrooms, and other parts of the facility will be updated and brought up to code compliance.
How will We Complete Our Vision?
The projected cost for all of these improvements is $2.8 million. To begin Living Our Vision, we know it will require sacrificial giving. Our success will be determined by everyone contributing not an equal share, but an equal sacrifice. We know the value of a gift is not determined by its amount, but the spirit in which it is given.
Through 2014 – Pledges to the Living Our Vision campaign may be paid over a 3-year period.
How Can I Help?
As a part of the First United Methodist family, you will see several more communications about the Living Our Vision campaign during the coming months. We ask that you begin to pray about how you can contribute to help meet the needs of our congregation and community.
Ask yourself, “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” We hope that your prayerful consideration will guide you in how you can respond to the ministry opportunity before us.
