Photo by Zachary Kaufman

Reazo Redinger, Old Apostolic Lutheran Church trustee and building project manager, gives a tour of the Woodland church site expected to be complete in March. Redinger, a water well driller, is one of nearly 1,000 church members who volunteered their skills and labor to construct the nearly 41,000-square-foot building.

What is the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church?

The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church has a small but visible presence in Southwest Washington, thanks to the region’s influx of Nordic immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Along with Minnesota and Michigan, the region is recognized as one of three concentrated areas of Old Apostolic Lutheranism in the United States, according to Lutheran scholars.

Church leaders estimate there are more than 5,000 in the Clark County congregation, which has churches in Battle Ground, Brush Prairie and now Woodland. There is no way to ascertain the exact number; the church doesn’t keep a roster of membership, said co-pastor Dale Schlecht.

Old Apostolic Lutheranism is a “sub-sect of a sub-sect” of Lutheranism known as Laestadianism, said K. Marianne Wargelin, a scholar of the Finnish-American experience and history doctoral student at the University of Tampere in Finland. Wargelin lives in Minneapolis, Minn., where there is a concentration of Laestadian sects, and has visited the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Battle Ground as part of her research on that branch of Lutheranism.

The sect is named for founder Lars Levi Laestadius, a pastor in Northern Sweden. He founded the sect in the 1840s, merging tenets of Lutheranism with cultural aspects of the Sami people, Wargelin said. The sect spread throughout Sweden, Finland and Norway. After Laestadius’s death, the sect splintered into several sub-sects, one of which was the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. Nordic immigrants brought those beliefs to North America.

Old Apostolic Lutherans are distinct in their layman approach to the ministry, Wargelin said. Unlike in standard Lutheranism, pastors are not ordained, and no one pastor preaches every Sunday. Instead, the church has a council of pastors, she said. Schlecht said he and other pastors at the Clark County church take turns preaching.

Another distinction is the amount of conversion to Old Apostolic Lutheranism, Wargelin said. Other sub-sects of Laestadianism typically gain converts only through marriage, while many members of the Old Apostolic Lutheran congregation are not of Nordic descent, she said.

The group believes that confession should be made to another member of the congregation, she said. Standard Lutherans may ask God for forgiveness, but they are not expected to confess their sins to another.

Old Apostolic Lutherans’ lifestyle tends to shun secularism and activities such as watching television, she said. For example, the church doesn’t have a website, though church members use technology for other aspects of their life.

“They have huge churches,” Wargelin said. Members frequently have large families, believing that children are gifts from God.

They also have a strong sense of social responsibility.

“They’re kind of insular, but they take care of community,” Wargelin said. “They take care of everybody.”

— Paris Achen

In the 400-some years following the Protestant Reformation in 1517, Lutheran congregations around the world built their own churches. While the custom has faded with the demands of modernity and forces of individualism that drive American life, it lives on in Clark County’s Old Apostolic Lutheran Church.

Using nearly all donated labor and money, nearly 1,000 volunteers from the church recently erected a new church at 1500 Dike Access Road in Woodland just off of Interstate 5.

“Across the country, it’s been a long-standing practice that buildings are funded with donations,” said Dave Halme, chairman of the church’s board of trustees. “Not all of the congregations have all of the experience and skills. We were fortunate here that we had all the architectural, engineering and trade skills to build it ourselves.”

The church building, at nearly 41,000 square feet, will serve as the third location for a congregation that exceeds 5,000. The church already has locations in Brush Prairie and Battle Ground.

Construction took less than a year and 55,000 volunteer hours, Halme said. It’s expected to be completed in March. The church plans to hold an open house at the new site in May.

All of the design, engineering and construction was performed by members of the congregation with the exception of acoustical engineering in the sanctuary. That had to be contracted out, Halme said.

The volunteer hours saved the church about $6.5 million, he said. The total cost of the project with volunteer hours was $4.5 million, he said.

Volunteers organized the project and scheduling by dividing the group up by trade, said Reazo Redinger, project manager and member of the church’s board of trustees. Each trade was assigned a project manager, Redinger said.

Many volunteers came to work on the church after their day jobs or on weekends, he said.

“It’s been a fun project,” he said. “It hasn’t felt like work.”

Volunteer painter Jeff Muonio of Battle Ground said he’s enjoyed getting to know church members he doesn’t usually see because they attend a different church service.

“It’s been fun,” Muonio said. “It’s been interesting to see it going up.”

Muonio and volunteer painter William Tanninen of Battle Ground helped build the church’s second location in Battle Ground when they were both about 17.

“It’s kind of a satisfied feeling (to see the Woodland church go up),” Tanninen said.

Workers kept track of their hours in order to qualify for workers compensation from the state Department of Labor & In

dustries. The department offers workers compensation at a low rate of 5 cents per project-hour when a project is by a nonprofit group such as a church, Halme said.

The two-story church includes two lobbies, to cut down on congestion as members enter and exit the building; a sanctuary; two multipurpose rooms; an extensive nursery; Sunday school classrooms; and a massive dining hall. The high-ceiling sanctuary offers lower-level and balcony seating for a total of 1,000.

Two multipurpose rooms on each side can be opened to increase capacity by another 160. Two infant rooms in the nursery feature one-way glass so that parents can watch the sermon while calming or nursing babies. Those rooms connect into two toddler rooms with a small kitchen area and bathroom. The dining hall with four serving lines is large enough to accommodate everyone attending a sermon. Once a month, each church hosts a meal cooked by members.

The site was planned about 10 years ago. It took time to launch the project as church members decided where they wanted their third location, a toss-up between Ridgefield and Woodland. A church member donated the property in Woodland. Before construction could start, property had to be added to Woodland’s urban growth boundary in order to connect with water and sewer.

Halme said it’s bittersweet to see the project nearly completed.

“We have so enjoyed it, we hate to see the project come to an end the camaraderie and things,” Halme said. “When it’s an all-volunteer project, it’s a labor of love.”

Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Trends; http://facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.

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Excerpt from:
Raising a Church

It has taken more than 13 years, but a Catholic church in Aurora has completed a journey from ruin to resurrection.

After years of services in the cramped basement of an adjacent former school, Sacred Heart on Sunday moved Masses to a spacious new church on the city's east side.

A fire started by an arsonist destroyed the original century-old church in December 1998, and the predominantly Latino parish slowly raised $500,000 in reconstruction funds, largely through bake sales and post-Mass meals of tacos, tostadas and other treats. 

Those sales, along with insurance proceeds, funded the construction that began in spring on a $1.5 million sanctuary that seats 450 — double the capacity of the old facility — and drew overflow crowds Sunday.

"I'm so excited that we're actually here. It's been such a long time," Adolfo Garcia, a member of the church's building committee said. "A lot of people had lost hope for a while because nothing concrete was being done ... but we couldn't let this disappear."

Sacred Heart, Aurora's oldest Roman Catholic parish, is at Fulton and State streets in a residential neighborhood about a mile east of the Fox River.

Founded by in the late 19th century by residents with ties to France and Luxembourg, the church has faced difficulties throughout its history, including an earlier fire as well as a more recent string of financial woes.

In 1980, the Rockford Diocese considered closing Sacred Heart. In 1987, another proposal to merge the debt-ridden parish with another Aurora church was scuttled when parishioners raised funds and closed the parish's school to save money.

Then came the 1998 fire that gutted the classic brick structure with the tall spire. The blaze was so intense that only one stained-glass window could be salvaged. It's now on display in a hallway in the new building.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested, but the Rockford Diocese declined to press charges.

Today's congregation is multiethnic, though predominantly Mexican-American. About 80 percent of the congregation is Latino and three of Sunday's four Masses were in Spanish.

"It's marvelous. Especially after 13 years our people were longing and waiting for this moment," said Monsignor Arquimedes Vallejo, wearing purple and white vestments to mark the first Sunday of Lent. "They made a lot of sacrifices. This was a field here. Now it's a most beautiful place." 

The new Sacred Heart is a single-story brick structure with a functional design that includes a slanted roof supporting a modest metal spire. The relatively narrow interior is about the length of a half city block with a spacious, open feel. 

It's well-lit with track lighting and suspended fixtures salvaged from another church. Twelve stained-glass windows also allow streams of sunlight to brighten the interior. The altar area has separate stained-glass images of Jesus and his mother, Mary, along with a large crucifix and seasonal black and purple draping.

The remaining problem is parking, but the congregation hopes to raise an additional $350,000 to level a nearby property and upgrade existing lots. It also wants to renovate the church's rectory and former convent.

Sunday's early Spanish language Mass drew more than 500 people — a mixed crowd of young and old, including families with children who later adjourned for First Communion classes. 

A midmorning Mass in English filled about 40 percent of the space. The 11:30 a.m. third Mass, also in Spanish, attracted more than 600 people who crowded side aisles and a separate entryway.

The parish is described as the least affluent in the Rockford Diocese.

"Despite the poverty, we are rich in faith and in people giving of themselves, their time and their talent," said Sue Niemiec, a longtime churchgoer active in parish affairs. "Maybe the way we do things isn't the most elegant. But we get it done and a lot of people help and it's wonderful."

Bishop Thomas G. Nolan, the chief of Rockford's Diocese, is expected to join numerous dignitaries for an official consecration Sunday.

In the meantime, Vallejo said he's pleased with the new home but was quick to put the move in perspective.

"It's a different place, but the same Jesus," he told congregants at the second Mass.

More:
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aurora reopens

At least eight persons died Sunday following a suicide bomb attack on the headquarters of Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), Jos, Plateau State, during the church's first service at 7.15am.

Governor David Jonah Jang normally attends the second service which starts at 9am.

An eye witness, Mr. Salvation Goshit, said three of the worshipers and one of the bombers died on the spot, while the other bomber who jumped out of the car before the explosion was lynched by angry youths.

Three motorcyclists (Okada riders) were also reported killed near Hill-Station junction, when they fell into the hands of the angry youths, before the security agents took over the streets.

Furthermore, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, who was worshipping at the church during the attack, was mobbed by the youths when he tried to shield a soldier believed to have aided the bombers to gain entry into the church premises.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, Jang has appealed for calm, saying he knew that the enemies of the state were not happy with the prevailing peace there.

Jang said: "I am not surprised that the church was attacked, because they know that is where I worship."

He said government and security agents were taking every measure to ensure that worship places were adequately protected.

He said: "If we are to riot, against whom would we riot? Let's ensure we sustain the existing peace."

A church security guard at the gate, Mr. John Zafi, said at about 7.15am, he saw a Volkswagen Bora car turning swiftly into the church's compound, and before he could stop it, it rammed into the gate.

"Fortunately, there was a motorcycle parked in the compound," Zafi continued. "The car ran into it, squeezed it, and dragged it along. This and the heaps of sand from the new church building that is under construction prevented the bombers' car from getting very close to the building where the people were worshipping."

Another worshipper said he saw three persons in the car, one in military uniform, and the others in mufti.

He said the one in uniform got out of the car before it rammed into the compound, adding that his presence in the car might have paved the way for the car to get to the church without being searched at the various checkpoints in the town.

According to him, the youths wanted to attack the uniformed man when the commissioner prevented them, leading to an attack on the commissioner, who is now receiving treatment at a hospital.

Reacting to the involvement of a suspected soldier, the member representing Jos South/Jos East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, said if it was true, "then it is a very sad development".

COCIN headquarters church is where most of the bigwigs on the Plateau worship. Apart from the governor, others include former governor of the state, Chief Joshua Dariye, Chief Solomon Lar, Gen. Domkat Bali, Gen. John Timlong, and Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro.

A press statement by the military Special Task Force (STF) in Jos said: "The suspected suicide bombers arrived the premises of the church in a Golf Car. The Improvised Explosive Devices exploded with one of the bombers inside the vehicle, while the other suspect that alighted and attempted to escape was killed in the process."

The statement signed by the STF spokesman, Captain Mdahyelya Markus, said the explosion damaged some vehicles at the premises, but enjoined the citizens not to be lawless in their response.

Also, the state Police Commis-sioner, Mr. Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni, who was at the scene of the explosion and at the hospital to see the victims, said investigations were on to unravel those behind it.

At the Plateau Specialist Hospital, where the wounded victims were taken, a compound nurse, Mrs. Esther Gwotts, told journalists that two bodies were brought to the mortuary, while 38 persons are on admission.

Other victims were taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for treatment.

Part of the church's new building was badly damaged, and several cars had their windshields shattered.

President Goodluck Jonathan last night expressed sadness over the bomb attack, saying the "indiscriminate bombing of Christians and Muslims is a threat to all peace-loving Nigerians".

"Government is gradually and firmly bringing justice to those behind these attacks and exposing their identities and dismantling their terror infrastructure. Those behind similar acts of terror in recent times have been arrested and are being investigated with a view to prosecuting them accordingly, as a deterrent to others. President Jonathan appeals to all residents of Plateau State to remain calm and be law abiding. As we mourn with today's victims, let it be known that efforts are being redoubled to win the war against terror," a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said.

The Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da'wati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as the Boko Haram sect, yesterday claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Speaking with journalists on the phone, the sect's spokesman, "Abu Qaqa", said the suicide bombing was a reprisal attack against what he described as "Christian terrorist activities against Muslims".

Qaqa warned that the sect would continue to carry out more of such attacks until Christians stopped their alleged atrocities against Muslims.

He also claimed the sect was responsible for the attack on Gombe prison, explaining that the sect launched the attack to free Muslims detained in the prison over their protest against the mutilation of the "Glorious Qur'an" allegedly done by some security men deployed to the city.

Qaqa also said the sect was responsible for the death of some Muslims who were shot while performing a congregational prayer in Kano, justifying the killing on the background that the slain Muslims assisted security men in arresting some of their members.

He also in the interview said the recent burning of a primary school in Maiduguri was the handiwork of the sect, revealing that the sect's action was in reaction to an alleged razing of an Islamiyya school and the mutilation of the "Glorious Qur'an" by some security men in Maiduguri.

He claimed that the attack of the school was not to kill the pupils and their teachers, but rather to warn the government that the sect would frustrate the progress of Western education if Islamiyya schools and Muslim's Holy Books were attacked again.

He, however, called on the members of the public to continue to bear the hardship brought about by the sect's war on the government and security agencies, insisting that the end justify the means.

Copyright © 2012 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

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Nigeria: Suicide Bombers Attacked Governor's Church

Members of First Baptist Church downtown Nashville today voted to accept a master plan that includes the construction of a three-story building on Broadway that will house a Christian music venue and allow for an expansion of its ministries.

The plan also includes a coffee cafe, a larger fellowship hall and additional parking.

The building, which will border Bridgestone Arena, will allow for more overnight sleeping capacity for Room in the Inn, a shelter for the homeless that also offers computer classes, job training and rehabilitation. It will make room for a larger Clothing Closet, which gives clothes to people in need.
Joe Fitzpatrick, the church's worship and music pastor, declined to put a dollar figure on the project, but said the master plan will be rolled out between now and the next 25 years.
"We're hoping to accomplish as much as we can afford, as early as possible," Fitzpatrick said. "It's a matter of securing financing and working through the process."
An implementation committee will work with designers and architects and put the plan in motion, he said.
"We seek to serve as a lighthouse for those who are hurting and in need," Fitzpatrick said. "We are excited about the prospect of being a stronger voice in the community to meet the needs of people and do what churches are supposed to do."

Originally posted here:
First Baptist Church Nashville announces major expansion project

FORT MYERS — The Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) construction team has achieved LEED Silver Certification for construction of the St. Leo the Great Catholic Church Parish Life & Education Center located at 28290 Beaumont Road in Bonita Springs.

According to public records, the project is the first LEED certified project in Bonita Springs and the first LEED certified church facility in Florida. The project involved the utilization of best practices in green building technologies to construct a 14,500-square-foot Life Center and 18,000-square-foot Education Center.

Following the project completion in January 2011, O-A-K submitted the project for LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED, short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. To achieve LEED certification, the design team and the construction manager work together to accomplish design and construction practices and guidelines provided by the USGBC. Certain criteria must be met and points are assigned in the following categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design Process.

The O-A-K project team included Rick Gutknecht, job site superintendent; Abel Natali, LEED AP as the LEED coordinator; Abrie Spies, project manager; Patrick Conran, vice president of operations/general superintendent; Steve Richards, chief estimator and Dave Dale, principal in charge. Lou Ann Kapcin with Architecture Inc. was the project architect and Ted Sottong, formerly with Architecture Inc., now Studio+, was the principal in charge for the architectural design. Joe Broughton, P.E. with Burgess Engineering provided the mechanical/electrical/plumbing design.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.

Continue reading here:
Owen-Ames-Kimball Company earns LEED Silver Certification for Bonita Springs church

25-02-2012 10:34 amazing church construction in nazareth tuticorin district-tamilnadu-india up load by Er.V.Ranjan nazareth

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Nazareth amazing church construction - Video

Noise, dust, detours ... and now drainage. Storm water management in the Grand Marais Drain is the latest concern to surface in the construction of the Windsor-Essex Parkway — a section of which crosses over the drain at Huron Church Road and Grand Marais Road West.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority and the city of Windsor are worried the construction — which requires a section of the drain to be narrowed and diverted temporarily — will affect the drain’s ability to handle rain water and protect the houses downstream from a risk of flooding this spring.

This week, both ERCA and the city said the Ontario Ministry of Transporation and the parkway construction consortium have yet to provide them with any information showing the drain’s capacity will not be affected, nor have they provided a satisfactory emergency plan in case of heavy rainfall in the next few months.

“It’s irresponsible on the part of those giving instructions to proceed with this work,” said Tim Byrne, who oversees flood and erosion control for ERCA.

Byrne said ERCA has been asking for the information for a month now but has gotten the runaround from the ministry and the parkway construction group.

The Grand Marais Drain, which runs through the south part of the city, funnels stormwater for about a third of Windsor, starting around Central Avenue and feeding west into Turkey Creek.

As part of the parkway construction process, a 200-foot section of the drain under Huron Church Road has been narrowed to about one-fifth its width, and the water has been diverted by a temporary steel sheet dam, in order to accommodate the construction of three culverts that will support a section of parkway.

Byrne said construction over the drain began in mid-January.

The drain is partly blocked by wooden scaffolding, boards and framework where the three new concrete culverts are being poured.

With the drain temporarily narrowed, a flash rainfall could cause the drain to overflow, Byrne said.

Already, with a small rainfall earlier this week, there was a noticeable increase in the surface water elevation, Byrne said.

“That’s surprising for such a small rainfall,” he said.

In a strongly worded letter to the Ministry of Transportation and members of the construction group, the chief administrative officer of the city Helga Reidel informed them that the city will take “whatever action is available” to protect the interests of residents and “will hold the relevant parties financially responsible for any loss or damage that may occur as a result of the negligent blockage.”

While the drain is built to withstand a one-in-100-year storm, the section of drain under Huron Church Road can now only handle a one-in-two-year storm, Reidel said in the letter.

The diversion caused by the construction is a “blantant contravention” of section 80 of the Drainage Act, Reidel wrote, and an offence under section 82(2).

“Please take immediate steps to ensure that flooding does not occur,” the letter concluded.

In an email statement Friday night, Heather Grondin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, said the Parkway Infrastructure Constructors conducted the necessary studies and determined the construction along the Grand Marais drain would not pose a flooding risk.

"We're committed to an open process throughout construction of the parkway," Grondin said.

"We've been in contact with stakeholders and discussed our risk assessment of this project."

bfantoni@windsorstar.com or Twitter.com/bfantoni

© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

Original post:
DRIC construction could cause flooding, ERCA warns

Article updated: 2/24/2012 4:32 PM

COURTESY LIGHT OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH A conceptual drawing of the new Light of Christ Lutheran Church planned at Sleepy Hollow Road and Longmeadow Parkway in Algonquin. The church has to sell its current building at 100 Hanson Road before moving forward with the new construction.

 

Although much has to happen before Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Algonquin can move into a new building, this week a major milestone for its congregation was reached.

The village board Tuesday night approved the annexation of the church?s proposed new location, an 18-acre property on the northeast corner of Sleepy Hollow Road and Longmeadow Parkway, formerly in unincorporated Kane County, Algonquin Senior Planner Katie Parkhurst said. The board also approved preliminary plans for a two-story building with a footprint of 32,000 square feet.

?There are lots of email shouts for joy that are going back and forth,? Rev. Kendall Koenig said.

The church was first built at 100 Hanson Road in 1998, but its 1,400-member congregation has long outgrown that space, Koenig said. In September, the church began renting additional space for Sunday morning worship at Westfield Community School.

The congregation so far has raised about $2.1 million for the construction of the new building, with ?a miracle goal? of $3 million, Koenig said.

Still, the church first needs to sell its current facility, listed at $2.85 million, before construction of the new building can begin, Koenig said. ?The real estate downturn affected not only home sales, but church sales, too,? he said.

Church officials petitioned for annexation to Algonquin knowing current village board members are supportive of the project.

?We didn?t know what could happen with a different leadership. Also, it cemented in everyone?s minds that we are moving forward with the plan,? Koenig said.

Under the plans approved by the village, the new church will have entrances on Creeks Crossing Drive and Richmond Drive; the church will take on the project of extending Richmond Drive to curve south and meet Longmeadow Parkway, Parkhurst said.

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Algonquin church has to sell current building before moving

by Allie Seligman - Feb. 24, 2012 09:01 AM
The Republic | azcentral.com

For 15 years, Mountain Park Community Church has been caught in limbo.

The church, at 24th Street and Pecos Road, is in the proposed path of the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway extension. It, along with more than 100 homes, would be destroyed during construction.

With a growing membership and a need for more space, Senior Pastor Allan Fuller said it's time for a decision.

"We have to do something in terms of space," Fuller said. "We can't be in standstill mode."

Church leaders are working on plans for a $40,000 parking-lot improvement and a children's wing that would add at least 5,000 square feet to the 30,000-square-foot facility.

But they can't implement those plans if the church is headed for destruction in the next few years, Fuller said.

"All of these things are on hold while we wait for a decision to be made," he said.

The Maricopa Association of Governments has said construction could start in 2015 at the earliest. It is likely that the Pecos Road alignment is the only option.

Mountain Park, a Christian church, has been at its location for 15 years. Fuller has been at the church for six years.

He was told early that they could lose the building to freeway construction, he said.

"It was something to keep in mind, but it wasn't a big deal," he said. "It had been dormant for so long. You just can't wait forever."

Fuller and his wife, Tami, even bought a home a mile and a half away. They wouldn't lose the house if the freeway is built down Pecos Road, but they would be within three houses of it, he said.

In 2006, about 1,300 people attended Sunday services. Now, about 2,000 people attend the two Sunday "celebrations," Fuller said. He estimates that Mountain Park has about 4,000 active members.

Of those 4,000 members, about 70 percent live in Ahwatukee, Fuller said. The rest come primarily from Tempe, Chandler and Maricopa.

Mountain Park also attracts people who aren't Christians, he said, with community-outreach programs focused on marriage and family. They hold free yoga classes that about 600 people attend regularly.

"We are a Christian church, and we recognize that not everyone is interested in Jesus Christ," Fuller said. "We want to be relevant to the community regardless of their faith background."

Mike Paschke, a member of the Mountain Park board of directors, said that growth and relevance are part of what makes waiting for the freeway decision so difficult.

"If we were a stagnant, meandering church, it would be less of an issue," the Ahwatukee man said. "We are just growing so much. ... The vibe here is as strong as it's ever been."

And that growth is "embryonic compared to what it's going to look like a couple years from now," he said. "It's about to explode in a really good way for us, we believe."

Still, Fuller said, the hesitance about what will happen to the building can be distracting. There isn't much suitable space in Ahwatukee for a new home for Mountain Park, he said.

"Where we are is really ideal," he said, in terms of space, facilities and accessibility.

In past negotiations, the Arizona Department of Transportation suggested a plot of land on the northwestern corner of Interstate 10 and Pecos Road. That location would be harder to get to, Fuller said.

Still, he's not worried about losing members.

"I'm certain that the church is going to survive," he said. "My concern is that we'd be distracted in the process. Relocation, we could handle that. Sitting in limbo, that's distracting."

Money is another concern. Mountain Park and ADOT will negotiate a price for relocating,+ if necessary, and the department would either look at the church's current value or what it would cost to build a comparable facility.

"Those are likely two very different numbers," Fuller said. "If we are forced to relocate and are compensated for the current value, we will take a multimillion-dollar hit."

Building a facility would take about two years, he said, and ADOT has said they would give Mountain Park time to complete the building before cutting off access to the Pecos Road location.

Fuller said he isn't strongly in favor of or strongly against the freeway, but he does hope for a decision soon.

"Five years ago when we were growing, we could have just stayed and waited," Fuller said.

"Now we have decisions to make, and we want to be responsible when we make those decisions."

Continued here:
Ahwatukee church in limbo over South Mountain freeway fight

The new St. John the Apostle Catholic Church breaks tradition to make a statement to Leesburg residents, said the Rev. John Mosimann.

The new church, under construction at the intersection of North King Street and Oakcrest Manor Drive, points north-to-south, instead of the customary east-to-west facing of Catholic churches, Mosimann said. When completed this fall, the church’s front doors will face the Town of Leesburg.

“We wanted to open our doors to Leesburg,” Mosimann said.

The community has not always welcomed Catholics in return.

“A History of Saint John the Apostle Church, Leesburg, and the Catholic Faith in Loudoun County, Virginia,” a research paper made from historical records by St. John’s parishioners, highlights a negative stigma against the faithful. Colonial laws in the 17th century forbade Catholics to worship openly or seek public office. Even after those laws ended, Virginians were slow to thaw their opinions over the next 200 years.

Where Leesburg Protestants flourished, the Catholics worshiped in private. They relied on itinerant priests on horseback, riding in circuits to give rites to the faithful, according to the research paper. Missionaries did not make sufficient inroads to warrant a Catholic church until after the Civil War. In 1878, Norris & Sons, the firm responsible for much of Leesburg’s post-war construction, built what parishioners now call “the little church” on the corner of North King Street and Union Street for the sum of $2,000, according to the research paper.

That church, the first Catholic church in Northern Virginia, suited the parish’s needs for the next century, but the completion of the Washington Dulles International Airport in 1962 catalyzed Loudoun’s population boom, said Liz Whiting, president of the Loudoun Museum Board of Trustees. Sixty-thousand people lived in the county in 1970, she said. The 2010 U.S. Census listed Loudoun’s population at 310,000. And with more people came more Catholics.

Ken Tschida, the parish’s development director, remembers seeing Union Street lined with cars, bumper-to-bumper, on Sundays in the 2970s. The parish built their Worship Center in 1992, with a seating capacity of about 400, but now the parish has grown to about 2,500 families, Tschida said.

“The little church fits 180 people,” Mosimann said, pausing for effect, “packed like sardines.”

The new church, clad in red brick to match the character of Leesburg’s historic downtown district, will seat 1,100 people, Mosimann said. His parishioners wanted a traditional design, some of them fondly recalling large churches from their hometowns. The new church is certainly large: the vaulted ceiling above the nave reaches 50 feet high, while the bell tower, when finished, will be 120 feet high.

“Height and light are critical in church architecture. They lift the spirit toward God,” Mosimann said.

The height and light come at a price. Tschida estimates the church’s cost at $15.8 million. The parish spent 12 years raising funds, and will take on a loan between $5 million and $6 million to meet the difference, he said. But Tschida is confident the growing parish will meet the financial challenge, and grateful to them for making the church possible.

Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd called the new church a beautiful and dramatic example of the expansion that many other area faiths have seen in recent years.

“ I hope that Leesburg is viewed as a haven for our faith-based community and I hope we will continue to be just that,” Umstattd said.

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St. John’s new church set to be a worship haven