“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” is how Ecclesiastes put it. We are indeed, at a point where it is time… time to gather stones together and build: it is time because of our careful discernment of God’s will for us; it is time because we are running out of space with our expanding ministry; it is time because our present building is groaning with age and frail systems like the boiler; it is time because the Minnesota Annual Conference has invested in us by providing such a wonderful new location; it is time because the economy is improving, interest rates and construction costs are at record lows; it is time because we have vision, passion, and energy to make our ministry even more excellent at this pivotal time in our history.

It is time. “Preserving a heritage ~ Providing a future” is in essence what we are doing in this effort. First Church has a rich heritage of service, social justice, progressive theology, rich music and art, and active engagement in mission locally and world-wide. This 157 year-long heritage guides, undergirds, and strengthens us in this move. As the Israelite carried the bones of their ancestors with them out of Egypt, we carry our heritage and its symbols, the windows, art, and artifacts with us. All that past propels us into the future. This effort is our passage into the future in that sustains our spiritual DNA, enables us to thrive and extend the gift of FUMC to more and more people, who are in need of the spirit of God in our fellowship. This new location and building—removing the limitations we now face—will indeed enable us to make our ministry even more excellent.

Linda and I are pleased to offer our gifts to this effort and to the ministry. We’ve done so prayerfully, discerning what God is inviting us to experience in this spiritual discipline. We sense that this is going to be one of the most enriching experiences of our lives—a challenge to be sure, but anything worthwhile is hardly ever easy.

Everyone is going to be needed in this challenging effort. I encourage you to seek ways to be involved in this campaign. It is going to be meaningful and fun work together. The leadership that has already offered themselves to this work is impressive, as is the initial pledges we’ve received totaling over $500,000 towards our goal of $1.3 million. With the good spirit, generosity, and creative gift-making I sense in our congregation we can perhaps meet our “stretch” goal of $1.5 million!

“A Time To Build” accurately describes our situation. We do this while preserving our heritage, our identity, and making way into the future. All this…that our ministry may find itself even more excellent and available to all. I’m looking forward to the spiritual growth that we all will witness in our midst.

I will look for you in worship and how you will be involved in this great effort!