The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Church celebrates renovations with service
After extensive renovations came to completion at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4501 Clinton Ave. in Lorain, the church celebrated their upgraded building with a re-dedication service on Sept. 16 at 11 a.m..
New additions to the church over the past few years have included an additional food pantry, parking lot, playground, windows, roofing and siding. In February, the interior was gutted and completely renovated with new flooring, lighting, ceilings and paint jobs.
“We are thrilled with the results,” said the church’s reverend Laurie Miller. “It hasn’t been without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”
Miller estimates that the projects taking place over the past few years have added up to $320,000. Earlier projects that included new roofing and a sanctuary renovation within the past decade cost the church an additional $100,000.
Miller said that the renovation, done in one broad sweep with a capital campaign, was a risk needed to be taken.
“(We decided to) apply for mortgages, put us back into debt, which was really hard because it’s an old Slovak congregation and they save pennies,” she said with a laugh.
A church member for over twenty years, Mark Vitas took it upon himself to demolish and renovate the interior of the church. He worked at the church six days a week, with Sunday reserved for service. The only other help he received was from volunteering church members and the occasional contractor.
“The volunteering at this church is incredible,” said Vitas, a self-employed carpenter.
The church council president Dave Yonkings also provided additional assistance, covering the parking lot, playground, contractors to install the flooring and meetings with the city of Lorain.
“You really see God’s work because it’s being done here,” said Vitas. “It’s not just worship on Sundays.”
Miller’s sermon began with an ode to the
churches that will be lost as Hurricane Florence makes impact with the East Coast.
“What was a tired-looking, well-attended but volunteer-built, no codes cost-cutting that ended up being a functional building is now a very comfortable, safe, well-built, up to code, tastefully-decorated building that offers a pleasant place for members and guests and friends to gather in worship and celebrate and serve,” she said during the sermon. “For that we are truly grateful. We finally got what we wanted, what we’ve hoped for, what we’ve sacrificed for. I can’t imagine losing it now.”
After communion, a litany of re-dedication for the church ended the service. The congregation was led to the new narthex, lounge, playground and fellowship hall while Miller blessed and placed a candle in each room.
A complimentary lunch was served after the service.