Bldg Update, from Garrett

Message from Garrett...

Over 35 years, Woodland has sought to figure out how to accommodate our current congregation while considering how to make space for the congregation of the future and discerning the right use of our resources. 

Winston Churchill once said, "We shape our buildings, and afterwards they shape us." Our buildings and grounds have been incredible assets for Woodland's ministry. Buildings present great opportunities for churches, but with every opportunity comes a present risk. 

Since I came to Woodland in 2012, we have sought to maximize the space we have for the congregation. We have moved classes, swapped areas, torn down walls, put up walls, built an atrium, and even put chairs in the sanctuary to make it more adaptable. 

We developed a plan to build a new sanctuary over a long period of time. However, we decided the financial cost was too great, so we sought another way to renew and revive our sacred space. 

The renovation committee was formed last year to work with the architects. They interviewed three general contractors to work alongside the architects. They chose Pugh Constructors (who built the atrium in 2018). 

We now have plans for a renovation that would renew the sanctuary for a new era of worship at Woodland. We would add 60 seats in the congregation and 20 in the choir loft. This year, we have gone from 219 seats in the congregation to 240. We have added seats to provide more space as our attendance has grown. This renovation would create even more space for us to continue to grow. 

The cost of this renovation project is $3.8 million. This would include a new electronic organ, tile on the baptistry wall, and stained-glass windows. 

We have $3.7 million in resources available. The renovation committee, finance committee, and church council believe that a capital campaign of $1 million would allow us to cash flow the project instead of taking an interim construction note. It would also refill our Building Fund for exciting future projects and emergencies.

Several people have asked me how they can participate in this exciting project. A campaign like this will allow each of us to invest in our church's future. 

We will have three informational meetings in the coming weeks to discuss this exciting new venture: April 27, April 28, and May 1. We hope to vote on this project on May 4 after worship.

As a church, we work to cultivate a context where the Spirit of Christ's mission can be accomplished. We shape our imagination for what's possible by our stewardship of the symbols of our faith.  

This project allows us to create a rich context where the Spirit of God meets us to transform us into the disciples God calls us to be. Caring for our buildings makes a statement about what we think is important and what we believe is possible together at Woodland. 

Now is our time. Our church has been richly blessed, and we have the opportunity to invest ourselves in a future that will benefit those who come after us. 

grace and peace, 

Garrett