St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

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St. Bart's Blog

Honoring Our Faith and Building for the Future

Posted by Judy Macemon on

The promise of our campus redevelopment campaign becomes reality with the completion of Phase 1 this summer. Over 70 people celebrated the first Celtic Eucharist service in our new Chapel at 5 p.m. on September 7, and St. Bart’s Preschoolers started visiting the Chapel on Wednesday and Thursday that same week for Children’s Chapel. St. Bart’s Youth Group and multiple parish and community groups are meeting in the Youth/Multi-purpose Room and using the new kitchenette and ADA bathrooms.

These previously under-utilized rooms are now vibrant worship and meeting spaces that support ministries today and for the future.

For almost 60 years St. Bart’s Church has served the community and its members. We are grateful for this legacy of faith and commitment that brought us to where we are today. And yet we know that honoring our history and traditions alone cannot prevent the decline so pervasive in all sacramental churches today. Our Strategic Plan (link) prioritizes a roadmap that challenges our parish to grow into the church for the future, serving God’s people seven days a week.

This roadmap provides a comprehensive master campus plan developed with extensive feedback from our members. Our input identified clear priorities to support ministry today and the future: (1) improve campus accessibility, (2) improve safety and increase (handicapped) parking, (3) provide flexible meeting and worship space. Updates on the plan and listening to feedback continue as we take each step forward together.

Our next step is Phase 2 in summer 2020: a new Upper Parking Area and expanded playground will be built where the Parish Hall and Columbarium ramp are currently located. New walkways will be constructed to the Columbarium and the Chapel Courtyard from the lower parking area.

This phase of our campus redevelopment provides “game-changing” upper-level access to the courtyard level providing safe drop-off for Preschool, disabled parking and access for Chapel and sanctuary worship, and improved access for parish ministries and community meetings seven days a week. The new low slope walkway will provide more comfortable access to the Columbarium, and a second new walkway makes safe access to the Chapel courtyard from the lower parking area. 

As we complete our redevelopment campaign to raise $8M, we will begin Phase 3A, building the ground level of the new Parish Community Center with target start summer 2022/2023. This phase features multi-purpose meeting rooms, industrial kitchen and ADA restrooms with a covered roof terrace above. Phase 3B will require an additional later campaign to complete the Parish Community Center with the large upper-level meeting and worship area, commercial kitchen and additional ADA restrooms.

Together we have raised $6.8 million towards our $8 million campaign goal with over 200 families making sacrificial gifts to ensure the future of St. Bart’s today and for generations to come. These gifts are in addition to our annual pledge, and gifts of all sizes are important and a blessing. If your family already made a pledge to this campaign thank you. If you are new to the parish or are still praying about how to support the campaign, we look forward to meeting with you to get to know you and to answer questions about campus redevelopment. Join us to provide a campus that enhances our worship and ministry experience, is easily accessible and serves the mission of the church.

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