The gymnasium in St. John’s Lutheran Church’s parish building looks much like any other aging gym: dimly lit by mesh-protected windows, a slightly tired paint job, an unused stage, with a cramped church kitchen connected to it by two narrow doors.
That isn’t surprising, given the age of the building at 1235 Wilmette Ave.; although it’s newer than the 91-year-old church, it is still a respectable – and creaky – 63 years of age.
“As you can see, it’s really not a friendly space for fellowship,” the Rev. Joe McInnis said May 22, as he entered the space from his downtown Wilmette church’s tiny front foyer. “It served a purpose at one time, but we’re ready to turn it into something brighter and warmer – friendlier and more accessible in every way.
“This is really all about community, and providing a space where everyone feels welcome.”
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To effect that change, McInnis and his congregants have embarked on a $1.5 million capital campaign to transform not just the gymnasium, but improve the entire parish building, and thus the entire church.
The “Pride in Our Past, Faith in Our Future” campaign kicked off on the last weekend in April and is set to end in June, said McInnis, the lead pastor at St. John’s, whose congregation knows him as Pastor Joe. Already members and supporters have pledged $660,000 toward the goal.
“Now we’re hoping for some larger angel gifts to move us along,” McInnis said.
Alan Swanson, co-chair of the campaign’s fundraising effort, said May 18 he is confident of campaign support from St. John’s members, a group that includes about 125 families.
That includes young families, empty nesters, singles, and people from throughout Wilmette and the surrounding area, he said.
“Our church goes back a long way. I’d say we’re pushing 120 years. The church facilities were what appealed to my parents, and they appealed to us as we raised our family, and it’s what will welcome new generations,” he said.
St. John’s members have known for several years that they wanted to transform their parish building, McInnis and Swanson said. Planning began with a review of the current facilities, “to see what would and wouldn’t work,” Swanson said.
Once that group completed its work, St. John’s brought in the Wisconsin-based Groth Design Group of architects.
The team’s overall renewal blueprint would cost an estimated $4.5 million to execute, but the congregation didn’t recoil from the large price tag, Swanson said. Instead, with Groth’s help and with fundraising advice from Minnesota-based Walsh and Associates, St. John’s members broke the long-term plan into realistic phases, of which the current campaign is the first.
On the to-do list:
* Enlarging the lobby to encourage a sense of community;
* Installing two wheelchair-accessible restrooms at one end of the former gym, then reclaiming most of that room by eliminating the stage;
* Turning the resulting space into an acoustically agreeable multi-purpose room with both carpeted and hardwood floor, making space for everything from square dances to church dinners and meetings, as well as usable space for outside rentals;
* Upgrading the next-door kitchen to full commercial code, improving its awkward floor plan and adding modern cooking equipment;
* Updating the lower level of the building by moving the existing church nursery from the rear of the building to the front, where it will be more accessible by families arriving for church, and modernizing the space as well;
* Resurfacing and striping the parking lot to add more spaces.
Campaign organizers also hope to reach their challenge goal of $1.7 million, Swanson said. With that, St. John’s would be able to add outdoor lighting to make both the lot and the building more visible at night.
“Pride in our Past, Faith in Our Future” has involved the entire church, right down to Sunday School members who are donating money raised through plant sales and penny drives, McInnis said.
“We wanted this to be a campaign for our whole community, young and old, so that everyone could learn and grow along with the church, he said May 22, pointing to a campaign display created by youngsters in St. John’s youth program.
The final push will be marked first by a June 6 prayer vigil and a “Commitment Sunday” service on June 7, then a celebration service on June 28.
The successful completion should allow work to begin within as little as 12 months, possibly in the spring of 2016, McInnis said.
“We say about St. John’s that it is a caring place where everyone can live, learn and growth together in Christ,” he said. “That’s what this is all about.”
Building buzz
Where: St. John’s Lutheran Church parish, 1235 Wilmette Ave.
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What: “Pride in Our Past, Faith in Our Future” campaign
Goal: $1.5 million to $1.7 million to renovate parish building
Information: http://www.stjohnslc.com