4 Reasons to Make a
Commitment to the 3-year
$3M Opening New Doors
Mission Appeal
1. Just as you don’t
make it anyone else’s
responsibility to pay
your mortgage on
your home or rent
on your apartment, contributing
to the mission appeal makes clear
your decision to take personal
responsibility for the well-being of
your church home as well.
2. As is true with the components
that make up our homes, things
like roofs, mortar, flashing,
carpeting, and the like all have
a shelf life, which is to say that
when they wear out, there are
truly no good options other than
to pay whatever it costs to replace
them. Our acting to do so reflects
both our gratitude for people
having done their part to pass on
the building in good shape, as well
as embracing what needs to be
done during our watch.
3. Pastor Meta Carlson is being
compensated through the mission
appe al (as was Pastor Ben a few
years back in a prior appeal).
We would like to believe all the
support she has received from her
first day translates to generous
financial support from every single
member of the congregation.
4. Bethlehem’s outreach footprint is
large and growing larger through
this appeal. If we reach our lofty
goal, nearly half a million dollars of
additional outreach will favorably
change the lives of countless
people through our support of
Beacon Interfaith Housing locally,
and Lutheran Partners in Global
Ministry and Global Health
Ministries internationally.
Questions about the appeal? Please
contact Pastor Bob Wertz, bwertz@
bethlehem-church.org or 612.312.3368.
YOUR GIVING MAKES A DIFFERENCE
by Pastor Bob Wertz, Pastor of Stewardship and Planned Giving
As gifts and commitments from our members to the Opening New Doors
mission appeal continue to be received (THANK YOU!) and resources
from our loan from the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA are about
to be accessed, behind the scenes work by the Facilities Task Force and
our owner’s representative, Watershed Partners, proceeds at a healthy
pace. Recent developments include:
Minneapolis Campus
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Actual costs for completion of the roof, tuckpointing, masonry, etc. will
be lower than initial estimates. Current forecast is just under $3M, which
includes a $370,000 contingency.
With Watson-Forsberg as our general contractor, a handful of key sub-
contractors have been awarded contracts. Detailed schedule expected by end
of August.
Langemo Lounge renovation completion expected by end of September.
Choir room task force refining plans for renovation in summer of 2018.
Minnetonka Campus:
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The Sanctuary air conditioning installation is now complete.
Offices, bathrooms, Friendship Hall, and the main hallway received fresh
paint in July. Carpet installation began August 21 and new office furniture
arrives by Celebration Sunday,
September 10.
Open House - Minnetonka Campus
Additional remediation roof
work near the Sanctuary
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 11 am-1 pm
skylights has been authorized.
Water damage is being addressed You are invited to an Open House at the
in portions of the building and
Minnetonka campus office on Wednesday,
air quality testing has shown
September 13, 11 am-1 pm. We're excited
great improvement. These
that the office has been reconfigured with
promised "must-do" items,
some new furniture and more flexible
totalling just under $250,000,
work stations. Please stop by for coffee
will enhance the condition
and treats and check out the refreshed
of the building in terms of
water-tightness and the overall space.
hospitality of the current space.
The Facilities Task Force continues conversation about the best long-term
solution for the nearly 5-acre property at Minnetonka. Estimates for major
renovations to the fellowship and education spaces on the current site are almost
identical to the cost of a complete rebuild on the east lawn of the property. A
rebuild on this higher ground would open new possibilities for the stewardship
of the rest of the property. This task force is in preliminary conversation with
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative (our partner through Families Moving
Forward) about the process for establishing an affordable housing option on the
property. We estimate the timeline for these options to be 5+ years thanks to
the capital necessary for major construction and time it takes to navigate the
affordable housing process. Thanks to members of the Facilities Task Force for
their diligent listening, learning, and discernment about our short and long-term
opportunities for cultivating hospitality and growth at the Minnetonka campus.
Please direct questions about any of these items to the members of the Facilities Task
Force: Paul Steen, Iver Iverson, Sandy Whisler, Matt Haakenstad, Pastor Ben Cieslik,
Pastor Meta Carlson, Pastor Bob Wertz.
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