Progress on Space

Much progress is being made on a permanent space for St. Silas!  We have a signed lease with the owner of a storefront in North Liberty.  The address is 1295 Jordan St. Ste. 5 North Liberty, IA 52317 (pictured in screenshot above from Google Maps).  Here's a closeup of the facade:

Note: This is not the final sign.  The final sign will have different colored lettering.  And it will say St. Silas Lutheran Church.

The Ladies Workout Express moved out some time ago and the storefront has been sitting vacant.  A nice perk to this place is it's built out in a way that's very convenient for us.  As you can see in the picture below there's a small hall in the back.  There are two rooms on the right and two on the left.  The back right room is a bathroom.  The other room on the right will be converted to one as well.  The back left room is a boiler room, then the closer room on the left is a small office.  The rest is a big open space, perfect for a sanctuary.  The small wall where the mirrors are will be converted to a little kitchenette.  The total space of this storefront is 1,584 square feet and we will be able to fit around 80 people.  The plan as it stands right now is to orient the seating facing the direction of the following picture:

Needless to say, the bicycle will be disappearing, along with the mirrors.  The owner of the storefront gave us charge of contracting the build out, which is nice because it gives us a little more control over timing (or gives us the delusion of control over timing; clearly we haven't been in control of that up to this point and never will be, which is good).  We currently have requests for bids out to contractors and are waiting to hear back from them.  We will then choose a contractor who will complete the build out.  We will be doing a good deal of work ourselves putting in sweat equity, like carpeting.  We have some nice padded chairs ready to go, which have been delivered and are sitting in a member's garage.  They attach to one another in such a way as to make pews.  Jon Rinderknecht from Atkins, IA has built us an altar, pulpit, lectern, and processional cross.  Gary Landhauser, an architect who is a member at Bethany in Cedar Rapids, has completed the architectural drawings for the space.

The above picture was taken facing the other direction in the space.  One of the nice differences between this picture and the way the storefront looks now is that the "for lease" sign is gone.

Bids from the contractors are due back August 30th.  We start paying rent October 6th and are hoping to be in the space by then.  After a lull in progress with acquiring a more permanent location, suddenly things are picking up.  This coincides nicely with the beginning of the school year as schedules settle down from traveling and people return to the comfort of routine.

As we figure out what contractors will build and what we will contribute to the work, we'll have a better idea of how you can help us.  We plan to publish a needs list of items required to furnish the space.  We also plan to have several work days.

While progress on space has been slow, everything else has been great.  We have a small congregation that the Lord has gathered.  We have been hearing the Gospel preached and receiving the Sacrament every Lord's Day.  We have plans in place for outreach into the community.  We have a constitution and bylaws in to Synod, and upon review we will be an official congregation of The LCMS.  We are also beginning catechesis on Wednesday evenings.  My wife, Renae, and I are hosting that at our house until we're in a storefront.  More details on that later.

I want you to know the devil is kicking and screaming like a toddler having a temper tantrum at the news that we're finally moving into a better location.  He's had many deterrents on his side up to this point, many of which will be destroyed.  Anyone who's visited us can tell you of the locked doors, the stuffy room, the metal folding chairs, the inconveniently located bathrooms, and the uncomfortable feeling of being in borrowed space.  Your prayers have succeeded and I am reminded of the words of the Large Catechism on the Third Petition of the Lord's Prayer:

Such prayer must be our protection and defense now to repulse and vanquish all that the devil, bishops, tyrants, and heretics can do against our gospel.  Let them all rage and try their worst, let them plot and plan how to suppress and eliminate us so that their will and scheme may prevail.  Against them a simple Christian or two, armed with this single petition, shall be our bulwark, against which they shall dash themselves to pieces.  We have this comfort and boast: that the will and purpose of the devil and of all our enemies shall and must fail and come to naught, no matter how proud, secure, and powerful they think they are.  For if their will were not broken and frustrated, the kingdom of God could not abide on earth nor his name be hallowed.  Large Catechism III.69-70

Continue to remember us in your prayers.  More news to come as events warrant.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com   

Gifts from St. Paul, Williamsburg VBS

Last Sunday, August 11th, we had visitors from St. Paul in Williamsburg.  Their Vacation Bible School collected money and some gifts for St. Silas this summer.  The above picture is a presentation of the financial gift.

 And this second picture is the presentation of books and craft supplies.

Here's a close up.

Thank you for thinking of us as you chose your mission project for VBS this year, and thank you for the gifts.  Many of the materials you gave us will last for a good long time to come.  Thank you also for journeying eastward to present these to us in person.  We enjoyed having you with us and hope you enjoyed receiving Christ's gifts with us.  Thank you especially to all those we know neither by face nor by name who gave toward this collection during Vacation Bible School.  Remember us in your prayers, especially our children and youth as they learn to confess the faith.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com