The Need

Through the Building for the Future campaign, we will raise the funds needed to build a new parish center and integrate our facilities for optimal service and flexibility. The vision includes:

Welcoming Experience

Our attractive new facility will welcome all who see it, day or night. An accessible drop-off
area leads to an elevated courtyard. From here, visitors
can access the church entry, relocated parish offices, or the
new Parish Center. Inside our facility, an elevator to all floors, clear signage, and flexible space will improve the experience for everyone, whether they are a child in Sunday School, a mid-week volunteer, or a member of the community visiting us for a meal.

Parish Center

The new parish center will accommodate up to 200 people for meals, and our new community kitchen (with its robust, adjoining food pantry) will facilitate both church potlucks and community events. The spaces feature three bright, welcoming classrooms to accommodate current and future Sunday school needs. Designed for flexibility, the rooms can be combined into one to expand gathering space or host larger events. A purpose-built nursery will greet parents and children alike for both Sunday morning and mid-week events. Overall, the number of restroom stalls will triple. All of this will make our facility more capable of meeting our needs and those of the community.

Flexibility and Financial Strength

Through the plan, our parish offices will be consolidated into the rebuilt and expanded old Parish Hall, making them more accessible and freeing up the Hafer House for future lease, sale, or ministry. The new parish center will also be poised to provide rental income to further strengthen our financial position. The new St. Mark’s will be flexible to enable us to adapt to future opportunities and to live into our role as a community center, to feed people in body, mind, and spirit…every day of the week.

The total cost for these plans is $1,785,000. With the funds already in hand, and the anticipated income from the sale of property, the total we must raise is $330,000.

Our plans will benefit St. Mark’s in three ways:

1. We will have space to grow and accommodate new people and ministries as well as space more easily accessible to our current members.

2. We will be able to rent out use of our kitchen, Parish Center, and classrooms and gain income from that rental which will assist in closing our budget deficit.

3. We will have a bright, welcoming, and attractive building that will draw people into our common life and ministry.