RENEWED JOY. renewed vessels.

RENEWED JOY. renewed vessels.

CENTRAL S HISTORY God called a group of visionary leaders to found Central Lutheran Church in 1919. These founders responded to God s call to begin a congregation so that the faith of their parents would be shared in the language of their children. Every generation since at Central Lutheran Church has lived into this vision. By 1928 Central Lutheran Church completed the historic sanctuary, a faithful landmark in downtown Minneapolis. Countless Luther Seminary graduates have graduated, and many nurses have been pinned at Central Lutheran Church each spring. Gatherings for Lutheran World Federation, Women of the ELCA, Festival of Homiletics, American Guild of Organists, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and many others, have met to plan, vision and grow at Central Lutheran Church. Performances have been offered by Augsburg College, the National Lutheran Choir, the Minnesota Orchestra, VocalEssense, Cantus, the St. Olaf Choir, world-renowned organists, musicians and guest choirs from Tanzania to Slovakia. Central Lutheran Church has been the gathering place for the pastoral ministerium of both the Minneapolis Area Synod and the Saint Paul Area Synod. In times of crisis or great loss, Central has opened its hearts and doors to the whole community for worship and for the funerals of elected officials and community leaders. In times of joy, Central has been the place for the installation of newly elected bishops and for community celebration. As a worshipping community, Central Lutheran is a home for rich, Lutheran, choral Eucharist celebration. The Cassavant organ leads congregational singing that fills the historic space. In other worship settings piano, instrument and voice draw worshippers into contemplative encounters with God as evening falls or morning s first light illuminates the irreplaceable stained glass windows. As a congregation in the city, Central Lutheran Church has sought to care for people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Central Lutheran Church has worked for justice and worked for change so that the rights of all are lifted up and the God-given dignity of all people is restored. For nearly 100 years Central has called pastors to preach, teach, administer the sacraments, visit the sick and stand in solidarity with the poor and oppressed. Nine senior pastors served Central Lutheran Church from 1919 to 2012. The tenth senior pastor in Central s history, Peter Nycklemoe, was called in November 2014. There have been challenges with pastoral leadership. Since Pastor Hoover Grimsby s retirement in 1987 the next four senior pastors had to step down because of a variety of problems. Interim senior pastors had to step in so often that the congregation has been served by interim leadership for almost half of the years since 1987. These challenges have had profound impacts on the ministry, mission and the facility. Yet, through all the challenges with pastoral leadership, the members and staff of Central Lutheran Church have remained faithful. The commitment to a life of faith in Jesus Christ, a life of worship, formation, community care for the poor and generosity is evident. The congregation, even in the midst of the complex challenges these past 25 years, continues to share the faith of their parents in the language of the children. Re-imagined for today, the congregation s mission statement now is to explore the promise of God for all. Today, renewal is happening. God is at work. There is renewal in worship, renewal in lifelong faith formation, renewal in all the ways the community cares for one another, and renewal in the generosity of our Godgiven time, talents and finances. The pastors, cantors and staff speak about the renewal, the elected leadership and ministry teams speak of the renewal, the choirs and hand bell choir speak of the renewal, the families and youth speak of the renewal. God is at work, renewing our joy as the baptized children of God who celebrate the gift of faith as Central Lutheran Church....no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins... Luke 5:37-38

GOD S INVITATION Renewed joy is a gift from God. Renewed joy opens us to God, deepens the way we listen for God and how we respond to God s call. Renewed joy shapes the way we love. Renewed joy has the power to change who we are, how we relate and how we connect. Renewed joy shapes how we live in our neighborhoods. Renewed joy guides how we work and why we work in the first place. Renewed joy needs renewed vessels. Jesus taught, you cannot put new wine into old wineskins New wine needs new wineskins, renewed joy needs renewed vessels. First, we are the renewed vessels. As the baptized children of God we are renewed by God s amazing grace. We carry God s love, mercy and grace in our very bodies. As Paul taught in 2 Corinthians, we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God. Renewed by God, we look at our lives, our neighborhoods and our church with a sense of hope, looking for ways to be a part of the change and to participate in what God is doing. We do not lose hope, Paul teaches, we don t judge by what we see, but by how God may be at work. Renewed by God we are joyful people, carrying in vessels, our very lives, the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Second, our congregation is a renewed vessel. We are the body of Christ, together. We embody the commission given at our baptism: to let our light so shine before others that they may see our good works and give glory to God in heaven. All that we do, all that we say, all that we pray for, all that we work for as a congregation is to embody the life of Jesus Christ. We are renewed to let our light shine so that all can see that we are different as a congregation. Third, God s gift of renewal needs a renewed facility. As a congregation, we need a renewed vessel. The building that we call our church home and God s house, is in need of renewal, desperate renewal. It is an old, faithful wineskin that will burst if we continue to pour the renewed joy into its well worn frame. Without a renewed vessel, without a building renewal, it will be nearly impossible to live into God s preferred future for Central Lutheran Church. Renewed Joy The vision is clear. God is at work. Renewed joy is at hand. The call to live as renewed vessels is ours as the children of God. The invitation to renew this church home is ours, right now, in this moment in Central Lutheran s history. You are invited into this renewed life and to prayerfully consider your financial support at this turning point in the life of this congregation.

RENEWED VESSEL Great room looking toward historic church KEY ELEMENTS OF THE RENEWAL: Central Lutheran Church Increased fellowship space adjacent to the sanctuary - a new great room 09 - Interior Great Room Perspective, West October 2, 2016 Congregational Presentation 2015 KODET ARCHITECTURAL GROUP, LTD. Upgraded kitchen to support all the ministries of the congregation BUDGET Phase One: $9,500,000 Sunday School and Faith Formation space right off the great room COURTYARD More green space so Central can be an urban oasis NURSERY/ GREEN ROOM/ MEETINGS ELEV. VESTIBULE STOR. STAFF WORK ROOM CONF. Historic church restoration phase one of stained glass window work EXISTING FELLOWSHIP 3895 SF RECEPTION JC WAITING GREAT ROOM 7855 SF 504 SEATS INCLUDING MULTI-PURPOSE MEN CONF/ CLASS CONF/CLASS CONF/ CLASS FAM. Fees, expenses and permits MULTI-PURPOSE 726 SF Architect contract and Kairos contract HEALTH COMMONS 658 SF DISHWASHER SUNDAY SCHOOL SHOWER Removal of south commons, education wing and parish house New addition main floor complete, second floor and basement roughed in for phase two WOMEN Mechanical upgrades for better energy efficiency and to be more environmentally friendly SANCTUARY Welcome center and offices in the center of it all created to foster community Expanded restrooms, additional meeting rooms and new nursery ALTAR UPPER NARTHEX Restoration Center on ground level with improvements to support and care for those in need FREE STORE 1172 SF COOLER 156 SF FREEZER 111 SF DN KITCHEN 1224 SF COURTYARD STOR. OFFICE RECEIVING/ STORAGE Church expenses new kitchen equipment, office furniture, phone and security systems LOADING DOCK Great room from the south Central Lutheran Church Congregational Presentation OVERALL - 21,670 SF 02 - First Floor Plan October 2, 2016

333 South 12th Street Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-870-4416