Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Hear this from Proverbs 24:3-4 ESV:
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church built their first house in 1958. You can still see the cornerstone in our Narthex. The congregation was formed, a call committee found a pastor, and ground was broken at the corner of Court Street and the new, gravel road, First Avenue.
Subsequent building projects happened. Over the last sixty-seven years, some of these have been lost to time, and we are left with the building project outcomes, but we certainly recall recent building projects.
In 1996, a significant expansion of the building footprint was made by adding numerous classrooms, a nursery, a choir room, and a youth room.
In 2007, the East Wall Project was completed, featuring new windows and an exterior design that matched the overall architecture of the building.
In 2016, we renovated the building’s infrastructure, including asbestos abatement, roof replacement with a new plywood base, and an overhaul of the electrical and HVAC systems. The Sanctuary was remodeled, featuring new flooring, a painted reredos wall, refinished pews, and an expanded communion rail. The AV equipment in the sanctuary was upgraded entirely and replaced with top-of-the-line equipment. The dividing wall between 208 and 210 was opened to create our Adult Education Room. The entire building was refreshed with new paint and flooring, and the Gathering Place was created by opening the library and relocating the chapel to its new location, providing us, as the name implies, with a place to gather. This new space has been beneficial to the ministries at this house of God.
That is the point. Over the many decades, through wisdom, we have improved and expanded the physical building of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for ministry, worship, for the purpose of Instruction, Fellowship, Evangelism, and Service. The pneumonic is WIFES. These are the five areas of the Christian life. These are the pleasant and precious riches that fill the rooms of the house of God.
I promised that Vision 2020 (the 2016 building project) would not be the end. There is never an end to the improvements to the house of God for ministry. We must consistently determine how our facility and its improvements will aid in enhancing and expanding the Christian life through Worship, Instruction, Fellowship, Evangelism, and Service.
You might recall that a committee was formed a couple of years ago called the Cross and Entrance Committee. They have written articles and even had a display at our entrance for a while. After much diligent work, utilizing the expertise of Neumann Monson Architects and receiving a bid from Merit Construction, we have a presentation for the congregation. The first presentation will be at the September Voters’ Meeting on September 21, 2025. Additional presentations will be announced.
It has been almost a decade since our last building project. By wisdom and understanding, let us continue to establish and build this house of God for His ministry.
Blessings,
Pastor Hartwig