NEW SANCTUARY UPDATE

We are now in the final stage of the Town's approval process for our new Sanctuary!

Since our original application submittal in 2000, this has been a long and exhausting effort that none of us envisioned. As the Scriptures tell us it is not an uncommon experience for the People of God. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed” (II Corinthians 4:7-9)

Larry Yaw and Janet Leverson, our architects, and Doug Dotson, our planner, have now submitted our final plans to the Town Council, and we will be before them for final approval sometime this summer. Our most optimistic hope is that we could do some site work this fall, and start construction in the summer of 2008 with a dedication date of December 2009.

Currently, we are in an intense fundraising period and need to raise $8 million dollars before we start construction. The total project has risen to $12.5 million due to increases in material and building costs in our Village. We have spent about $1.2 million on the approval process, and have about $1 million in our construction account.

Our original vision six years ago, was to build a Sanctuary that would also be a Performing Arts Center with a Fisk Concert Hall Organ. The Town Council and some local citizens were resistant to the height variance needed to accomplish this vision. In a spirit of compromise and in conversation with our loudest opponents, in 2006 we lowered the building to 42 feet above grade, only 2 feet above the Code height restriction. Our opponents supported this direction before Town Council.

We have designed a beautiful Sanctuary and are collaborating with the architects to build a Chapel Organ that will be an outstanding pipe organ. We are working to create a space that will facilitate an aesthetic environment, and will feature state-of-the-art audio, visual and lighting equipment sufficient to serve our expanding worship and musical programs.

In the near future, you will receive a letter asking for your prayerful financial support of this wonderful new Sanctuary. We believe this building, which will seat 300, will serve the spiritual needs of our Village for a hundred years and give glory to God in this beautiful part of His Creation.

Blessings,
Sanctuary Council