Holy Apostles Building Program
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Thanks so much to John Serkland for this beautiful 3D model. The model may be viewed in the Fellowship Hall.
Although our everyday lives changed dramatically in 2020 due to the pandemic, planning for the expansion of our church building did not stop. A dedicated group of volunteers continued to meet virtually throughout the summer and fall to solidify the design and ensure Holy Apostles has a building that will accommodate the physical and spiritual growth of our parish for many years to come.
Key Components of the Building Plan
Growing our Church
We will continue to honor and glorify God by doubling our seating capacity to 250 and expanding our altar. By removing restrictions and distractions caused by our limited seating, we will be able to worship and enter into communion with our Lord in the most respectful and engaging manner possible.
Reconstructing our Classrooms
To support our commitment to the life-long educational and spiritual journey of our parishioners as they grow in their understanding of our Lord and His Church, we are rebuilding and expanding our education wing by building new classrooms and a dedicated youth room.
Expanding our Fellowship Hall & Building a New Kitchen
Church connects people. It provides a place where those seeking to bond and support others can do so. We will rebuild and expand our current fellowship hall along with constructing a new professional kitchen with the capability to support and serve others for many years. This will enable us to expand the current levels of hospitality we are known for at Holy Apostles.
Timing and Next Steps
Capital Campaign
Successfully embarking on this journey of expansion for Holy Apostles requires prayerful and diligent planning, along with generous participation from our entire community. It is anticipated that the expansion plans as drafted will cost $3.75m to complete.
The Capital Campaign Team has developed the necessary materials (pamphlets, donor letters, etc.) along with the workflow to support our fundraising efforts. Although the metaphorical foundation is set for a successful capital campaign, we have not yet kicked off the formal fundraising process. After prayerful consideration, it was determined by the Building Steering Committee, and agreed to by the Parish Council, that it is in the best interest of our parish to wait for the turmoil and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to subside before embarking on the fundraising effort in earnest. This pause is due in part to a recognition that many in our community have been impacted in challenging ways by the pandemic. Furthermore, there are logistical constraints on fundraising while adhering to social distancing and other health and safety guidelines (for example, no fundraising dinners or events are possible right now). We will revisit the timing periodically so that the capital campaign begins at a time that is most likely to ensure a successful outcome. Currently, we expect to re-engage sometime after the first quarter of 2021.
Design
The Design Team has come up with a draft plan that does an excellent job balancing the needs of the parish with our financial reality. In the coming months, the Design Team will be sharing additional details and making time to ensure feedback is heard and questions are answered. The plan as it exists today is not final, but rather a close approximation to the final product for construction cost estimation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When is construction slated to begin?
A. It is anticipated construction could occur in 2022. Progress with Fund Raising and Site Preparation will guide our project calendar.
Q. How long will construction take?
A.If all goes as planned, one calendar year, following ground-breaking.
Q. Will the Fellowship Hall be rented to the general public?
A. At this time, we are not planning to actively encourage public rental of our facilities. We will, however, utilize our facility to support Orthodox and Parish philanthropic causes.
Q. Given the scope and magnitude of the construction project, how will we manage the site as to minimize disruptions to our parish and visitors.
A. Portable buildings will be brought on-site to support our Sunday School and Adult Education programs. Our worship should not experience significant interruptions since expansion will be outward from our current building.
Q. What happens if we do not have enough funds to cover construction costs?
A. Construction will not commence until we have a high level of confidence that we will have enough commitments in-place to complete the project. The balance between donation fulfillment and project cash flow is a delicate process and this will be monitored closely.