Phase I
Matthew 13: 52
He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
People are lonely. George Gallup says, "Americans are among the loneliest people in the world." In our community we are seeing rapid growth as people move in to the Silver Creek area to plant their dreams and raise their families. The reality for many, however, is that they are finding themselves in a brand new environment next to people they have never met, in a community that is unfamiliar. Most live and work in another city while merely sleeping in their new neighborhood. Their children go to local schools but the family struggles to find their place of belonging. Our church has an incredible opportunity to be a source of connection and Christian community to this new wave of "pioneers".
Silver Creek United Methodist Church has always been a place where community happens. In the early days of settlement our church was a meeting place for many in the area, serving to help form the identity, culture, and spirit that came to be called Silver Creek. Today, we have that opportunity again. God continues to call this Church to be a place where community happens. The faces are different, but the opportunity to be a place of Christ-centered transformation is greater than ever.
Phase 1 of our master plan is a major component of our response to God's call. We are building because we have real and immediate needs that must be addressed as soon as possible. Our children's programming has more than doubled in the past eighteen months. Currently, we do not have enough physical space to provide education and spiritual formation opportunities for the children we have in worship, must less in the community around us. In addition, we are out of adult Sunday School classrooms. We currently have one class meeting in the fellowship hall, and no available rooms to house additional classes. Our restrooms are inaccessible to those with disabilities. People visiting our church have a difficult time finding our entrances. Once inside, many also have difficulty finding their way to the nursery and restrooms. Currently, it is necessary to walk outside or in front of the chancel area in order to access these areas during the worship hour.
In order to address the above issues, your church is planning to build a new front entrance that will lead people in from the main parking lot, as well as a large hallway leading to two large restroom facilities, the nursery, and a newly remodeled and expanded education wing. Space is planned for a choir robbing area, storage for equipment, and a nursery restroom. Rough floor plans for phase 1 can be seen on the display board located in the foyer.
Total project cost is estimated at this time to be $300,000.00. Included in this price is approximately 3,000 square feet of new construction as well as a septic system designed to handle future growth. We plan to finance this project through a pledge campaign that will raise $175,000 over three years. The balance will be financed through a lending institution.
Much prayer, thought, and effort has already been put into this project. Ed Schairbaum and twenty other individuals are serving on the building team and have worked with the architect to put together the drawings and needs analysis. Sam Merck is leading the financial campaign team. Fourteen other leaders are currently serving with him.
God has already blessed this church with wonderful, generous people, solid leadership, monetary resources, a proud heritage, and now a bold vision for the future. Please, pray about this project and your participation in the future of Silver Creek United Methodist Church. You are needed to make this effort a success. There are many treasures here at Silver Creek - let us join together in building on the old while we welcome in the new as Christ calls us forward!
