KITCHEN – DINING HALL REMODELING PROJECT

The bids are in and have been reviewed, and we are pleased to announce that ZIPCO, Inc., will be our contractor to coordinate the remodeling work on our kitchen and dining hall project. We will be allowing ZIPCO access to the kitchen for initial work beginning May 26. Following TRASH AND TREASURE, we will turn the whole area over to the contractor with anticipation of project completion by the end of August. During construction the contractor will be using one-third of the parking lot outside the kitchen for a staging area. From time to time there may well be some disruptions to our normal way of doing things as construction progresses. For instance, we will probably have to host Sunday morning coffee and donuts in the gym. We may encounter other inconveniences from time to time this summer, but when it is all completed, we hope everyone will be pleased with the outcome.

Another piece of good news is we will be able to undertake the full scope of our project, which includes renovation of the kitchen and dining hall, as well as the addition of a café area in what is now the childcare area. The funds contributed toward the project will cover the construction costs, kitchen equipment, contingencies, architect fees and project manager fees. We might even have a small surplus when the project is finished.

So a big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the kitchen – dining hall remodeling project.

It is an exciting time at Platte Woods Church! On several church building projects I have seen posted the slogan – COME WATCH US GROW. So goes our Platte Woods Church!

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

This past Sunday, May 10, John Miller, Church Council Chair, and I met with the Seekers Sunday School Class. One of the questions asked was about the growth of our congregation. In answer to that question, I find the following interesting:

Traditionally, church growth has been measured by an increase in membership. Platt Woods Church’s membership:

2007 -- 2,596 members
2008 -- 2,633 members

Before coming to Platte Woods Church, part of my job as Treasurer of The Missouri Conference was gathering statistical information for all of Missouri’s United Methodist congregations. I would then try to analyze the information. Over the 19 years I performed this task, I came to the conclusion that growing churches can be identified by several measures. Certainly membership is one of the measures. More importantly, I came to the conclusion that participation was as important a measurement as membership. Consider the following average attendance statistics:

2007
Sunday School average attendance.................309
Ongoing classes and learning groups................28
Short term classes and learning groups.............12
Youth (7 – 12th grade) in all other groups.......214
Worship average attendance...........................797

2008
Sunday School average attendance..................386
Ongoing classes and learning groups.................50
Short term classes and learning groups..............61
Youth (7 – 12th grade) in all other groups........225
Worship average attendance............................818

So far in 2009, we are averaging 878 persons in worship.

Financial support is perhaps another measure of the vitality of a congregation. Through this past Sunday (18 weeks) we are $53,518 ahead of last year’s (2008) giving. This support does not include giving for kitchen and dining hall remodeling or other capital gifts.

Are we a growing church? The statistics would indicate we are. However, perhaps the real question has to do with how we as a church and as individuals are reaching out in our community to share the love of God in Jesus Christ. Perhaps the real question has to do with how each of us is growing in our faith development. If we are growing as individuals and if we are sharing God’s love in our sphere of influence, we will be a growing community of faith.

Thanks to the Seekers Class for asking the question.