First Phase Building Expansion Plans

Since the completion of a comprehensive master architectural plan for St. Paul United Church of Christ, the Building Our Future (BOF) Committee has worked with the architect to identify a "right-sized" first phase for our building expansion that will offer something for everyone in our congregation.  Our first phase building program will include:

╬  A large pantry addition to the church kitchen that will better store utensils and equipment, enhancing our ability to host church suppers and events in Fellowship Hall and the West Room.

╬   The construction of a multi-purpose "family room" along the east side entrance to the church narthex and sanctuary that will provide valuable space for use on Sunday mornings by young families with infants and toddlers.  This will eliminate the need for an upstairs nursery, freeing that room for other Christian education classroom use.  On weekends and weekdays, the "family room" near the front entrance to our church would also be used by brides who are getting married in our sanctuary or by families who are awaiting the start of funeral and memorial services.

╬  The addition of a highly accessible lavatory adjoining the "family room" that will increase comfort and reduce embarrassment for worshippers who briefly need to leave our sanctuary service.  It will be equally useful for those participating in wedding or funeral services at our church.

╬  The installation of air conditioning for the sanctuary that will eliminate noise from Goddard Road, reduce exposure to pollen for church members dealing with allergies, and increase the general comfort of all worshippers, particularly on hot, humid summer Sundays.

╬  An updating of electrical wiring and connections to our church building, protecting our church against power outages and reducing the hazard of a fire.

Through energetic discussions with city planning officials, our BOF team has also been able to pare back costly utility and infrastructure upgrades to our entire property that the city was previously requiring up front as a part of any first phase construction.  This will approximately halve first phase construction costs from $1 million to a more manageable $500,000.  Given the fact that all architectural drawings are already prepared and that our congregation currently has $100,000 set aside in a building fund, only $400,000 remains to be funded for our first phase building expansion.

For most of us, building a home or adding on to it involves a financial stretch.   Expanding God's house poses the same challenge.  Fortunately, however, as we do God's work we have God's blessing too.  While staying pragmatic and realistic about our church building expansion, it's important to move ahead in faith, not by sight alone.  In the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, Jesus uses the story of a tiny mustard seed growing up into a mighty tree to remind us how God works in our lives.  In God's grace extraordinary things can and do happen, no matter how humble the source or beginning.  The mustard seed provides a wonderful symbol for the spirit of what we are seeking to accomplish here at St. Paul United Church of Christ as we look ahead to a new three-year capital fund campaign with the goal of breaking ground on our first phase church expansion.  Church members and friends who have not already made pledges for the building expansion are encouraged to do so.  Pledge cards are available through the church office.

Please pray for the success of the new capital campaign for our church.  As Jesus said: "I assure you that if you have the faith the size of a mustard seed...you can do anything." (Matthew 17:20). 

Let us all work together to do something wonderful for God and a ministry here at St. Paul United Church that strives to serve his purposes."