Christ Lutheran dedicates new parish hall

The first time the new parish hall at Christ Lutheran Church was used was for a sad occasion, the funeral dinner following the service for Sgt. Bradley Skelton of Gordonville, a member of the church who was killed Feb. 6 in Iraq.

When the congregation dedicates the parish hall in Gordonville on Sunday, the occasion promises to be more festive.

The 7,200-square-foot building replaces a two-story clapboard building that was the church's original school building. The front part of the old parish hall was more than a century old, said the Rev. Gary Hoffstetter, pastor of Christ Lutheran. The building was added to twice, once 70 years ago, and running water wasn't installed until the most recent addition 40 years ago.

"It was built before electricity and water were ever possible to put into a building," Hoffstetter said. "We were having problems with the building. It was very dated and limited to how much we could improve it by repairs."

But the congregation didn't exactly rush in to replace it. They discussed remodeling or razing the old building for about 15 years, Hoffstetter said.

Then, in 2004, a family in the congregation, who prefers to remain unnamed, offered an incentive: $100,000 if the church would raise another $100,000 for a new building within three years. The congregation raised the matching amount in two years.

The fundraising continued after the congregation discarded its original thought of putting up a metal building in favor of building the brick addition that matches the church to which it's connected.

Kit Doyle ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Christ Lutheran Church will dedicate its new parish hall, seen here, Sunday. The hall replaces a two-story building that was constructed more than 100 years ago.

"We moved away from the idea of a metal building in town; it would not have been a good neighbor policy," Hoffstetter said.

The congregation also wanted everything on one level and enough space to make it appealing as a gathering place for church and community members. They broke ground June 3, 2007, almost exactly a year before the dedication. The building is somewhat smaller than the 9,100 square feet the original building had but makes better use of the space available.

"The building will be used to the glory of God, and he will not be embarrassed to say this is his," Hoffstetter said. "Nor will the people be embarrassed to say this is our church. It's something we can be proud of."

The spacious, inviting hall will be used as an outreach tool, the pastor said. Church members will gather there for fellowship, Bible study and community activities. Until the former parish hall was torn down, people came to Christ Lutheran Church for its homemade sausage dinners. Some of those dinners helped raise the money to build the new parish hall. Most of the money came from pledges from generous church members, as well as from in-kind services.

John Dudley, a member of the church, donated his services as an architect.

"Unlike a lot of congregations that build and hope new members will help pay for it, we will be pretty much paid for," Hoffstetter said.

The total cost of the project is $750,000, and the congregation has already raised $680,000. Hoffstetter said the congregation expects to pay the balance off within the five-year window it set.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160

Want to go?

• What: Dedication of the parish hall
• Where: Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville

n When: Sunday. Worship service 10 a.m., open house 2 p.m., dinner at 4 p.m. The dinner is not a fundraiser but a celebration.