ST THOMAS CHURCH, LANCASTER BUILDING FOR MISSION. Renewing St Thomas as a centre for mission to share God s love from the heart of the city

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1 ST THOMAS CHURCH, LANCASTER BUILDING FOR MISSION Renewing St Thomas as a centre for mission to share God s love from the heart of the city

2 the Why After 175 years of faithful Christian ministry, St Thomas Church is bursting at the seams, with nearly 800 adults and children attending our Sunday services every month, and another 450 attending our mid-week groups. Our buildings are also used by a wide variety of inter-church ministries and community groups, such as International Café, Making Place, English Language Classes, Across Cultures, Heart Concern, the Craft Aid shop and others. Our ministry today is made possible by the generosity of the 7 generations who have gone before us. Now the baton has been passed to us - it is our turn to invest in the future of St Thomas Church. Our buildings are in urgent need of upgrading to accommodate our existing ministries, and create space for new ministries to enable us to better reach those most in need in our community with the transforming love of Jesus. After extensive consultation with the church membership, we believe that God is calling us to: Build for the growth of the church, and Build a missional resource for the community. Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54.2 Jon Scamman vicar

3 the What Church building Entrance Link New entrance link will integrate church building with the centre. Reception space will provide clear focal point for our welcome throughout the week. New centre The existing 2-storey centre will be replaced with a newly built 3storey centre, incorporating: Café space / Craft Aid on ground floor Large entrance foyer for social space Large multi-use hall to the rear Changing Places adult disabled toilet 5 additional medium-sized meeting rooms on 1st and 2nd floors Prayer room / counselling room Kitchens on all three levels Platform lift for access to all floors Church office situated on 2nd floor All at once? Will this be done all at once? Full refurbishment throughout, addressing: Lighting, wiring, PA and AV issues Zoned heating system enabling flexible room usage Necessary repairs pointing, glazing, water ingress Soundproofing of upper room Balcony fronts enhanced Re-decoration throughout Potential introduction of solar panels Spire Maintenance and safety issues will be addressed, and windows screened. Car park / Preschool The car park will be resurfaced with parking bays clearly marked Pre-school building will be replaced or refurbished in current location Ramp access improved to allow passing places for 2-way traffic This is a large project with many features, which can either be done all together, or separated into phases if required.

4 Build for Growth N OU R VI N OU ION OUR VI SION OUR VISION O U R We believe God is calling us to have the confidence to build for the growth of the church - to create new and flexible spaces to accommodate a wide variety of new and growing ministries, to enable more people to become life-long followers of Jesus. VISION OUR VISION OUR V I S I O N Mid-sized multi-use meeting rooms which can be used simultaneously for a wider variety of groups. N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V I S I O N N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VIS ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VI ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V R VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OU This makes possible a new Messy Sunday congregation in the centre on Sunday afternoons - based around food and craft. UR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION O Refurbished worship space - seating up to 400, with heating, lighting, wiring, and audio-visual systems improved. Caring for God s creation through better insulated buildings and potential for solar panels Building for the Growth Space additional groups of the Church to meet during Sunday Services e.g. confirmation preparation or All newcomers of our courses. growing junior church and youth groups will be able to meet safely onsite. Tea and coffee can be served in the centre foyer between Sunday services while the band practices for the next service Café space student bible study which has outgrown homes. Making our welcome more inclusive through platform lift to all levels in the centre, and provision of Changing Places adult disabled toilet N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISIO ON OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VIS ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VI OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION R VISION OUR VISION OUR ION OUR VISION O R VISION O N

5 As a relative newcomer to the church, I am excited about this building project because I have seen the transforming impact of church building projects elsewhere, and I know that our God is faithful and will provide. OUR VISION OUR OUR VISION OUR VISIO N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION SION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V Suni Arputharaj I am excited about having enough suitable spaces on site for our current youth groups, with room for new ventures such as a youth drop-in café. Ian Sarginson Youth Co-ordinator An attractive café space will enhance our outreach to those on our Alpha courses and in our student groups, which are now too large for our existing spaces. Michael Hutchinson The plans for the new building will enable us to offer a wider range of activities to share God's love with a growing number of children, which is very exciting. ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR R VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OU R VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION O UR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION Sarah Evans and Emma Dixon, Children s and Families Pastors N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISIO N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VIS ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VI ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR R VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OU VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION O OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION UR VISION OUR VISIO ION OUR VIS R VI

6 UR V OUR VISI N OUR Build for Community courses - I'll definitely be hiring rooms! Naomi Parsons I love the idea about the community hub, I m always looking for places to see people for therapy sessions and ISION OUR VISI I find it highly significant that we are considering widening our tent. I felt really moved when you read the list of amazing possibilities that more space would facilitate. At St Thomas' Pre-school we show God's love in a very practical way: fresh pre-school premises will give us a real boost, and linking with other exciting ministries such as a Family Life Centre will enable us to work with some of the most disadvantaged families in our city. ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V I S VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISIO ON OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISI ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OU R VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION O UR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISIO N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISI Jessica Fitton Pre-school Supervisor Rachel rickhuss Our previous Church had a similar building project and it was wonderful to see the congregation s faith and commitment grow as we saw God work miracles. John and Katie Schad ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VIS SION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V UR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR R VISION OUR VISION OU N OUR VISION O VISION

7 UR VI OUR VISION O OUR VISION OUR VISI N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR ON OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION SION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR Ability to expand Holiday Club which is capped by our building capacity ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR Rooms hire to community groups and local businesses and charities Parish Nursing Clinic, re-uniting healthcare with Christian spirituality Multi-use hall sports hire, e.g. table tennis, indoor bowls entrefamily Life Centre VISION OUR VISION OUR VIS SION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V Family Life Centre a church-based Sure-start equivalent for community families We believe God is calling us to create a building which can serve as a hub of Christian resources for the city, so that St Thomas Church, and its buildings, can be like an oasis in the desert. This would give us space to develop outreach opportunities such as ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION Family Life Centre Building a missional resource for the community Space to expand our Little Fishes toddler group which is constantly at capacity OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISIO Pre-school ministry Attractive enhanced with café space in improved which to share facilities the Christian faith with Café enquirers space / Craft Room Aid open to the community, support groups, e.g. Lunch including option Families with special club for for youth dropin centre needs, bereavement seniors after support, those living mid-week with anxiety or communion depression service N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISI ION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VIS CAP Life Skills centre, offering cooking skills, money advice, and relationship support. SION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR V ISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR R VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OU VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION O VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISIO SION OUR VIS UR VI N OUR VISION OUR VISION OUR VISION

8 How Can I Contribute? We believe that this building project will be transformative for the mission and ministry of St Thomas Church. We also believe that we can do it if we all get involved and play our part. We know that where God calls he also provides. But he often starts by asking us what is in our hand. He invites us into partnership with him, and he takes the little we have to offer and multiplies it to achieve his purposes (John ). There are three ways we can all be involved: Pray Give Raise For God to provide for all our needs, and to speak to us about what part we can each play in meeting these needs. We can all make a financial contribution, great or small. Financial giving, and tithing in particular (giving 10% of our income back to God), is the only area of our lives in which we are told to test God (Malachi 3.10). Those who embark on the adventure of giving have many stories to tell of God s incredible faithfulness. Some of us may not have much money but may have time and talents to offer, which could help with fundraising. This might take the form of grant applications or fund-raising activities. We will be sharing lots of fun and creative ideas to help with fundraising throughout the project. If you have ideas to share, or can help with completing grant applications, get in touch via office@st.tees.org.uk. 10% - Something to consider If we each tithed our gross income c (gave 10%) to the building project for 3 years, this could pay for the project in full. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians For full details of the proposed plans and latest updates, visit