May 23, 2016

The future of St. Luke’s is in our hands – and in our hearts.

“We’re hoping you will start talking, and thinking, and praying about what you would like to do – to help take care of your beautiful church home,” Dr. Long said Sunday while looking around a special room that opened its doors in 1957.

For nearly 60 years, St. Luke’s beautiful Sanctuary has been home to thousands of meaningful moments. It’s where we’ve shared our faith, celebrated weddings, said goodbye to loved ones, and experienced the presence of God.

Now, a new Capital Campaign called “Heading For Home” will give it a much-needed makeover.

To share details and ideas about the campaign, there will be a free luncheon for everyone in the Christian Life Center (CLC) on May 1st, following the 10:50 a.m. service.

“The purpose of the campaign is to be able to refresh the Sanctuary,” Dr. Long said. “We have received an incredible gift from those who have gone before us.

“What an incredible place it has been. What an incredible place it will be for generations to come. We’re 127 years old.  127 years from now, I know that we’re going to be here, still worshiping as a family of faith, sharing the good news of Christ – and so it’s our turn. Our turn to help refresh the sanctuary; to be able to have a beautiful place that we call home.”

The campaign includes a number of projects – totaling $2.5 million – that were approved by the Administrative Board earlier this year.

The largest investment will be replacing the seats on both levels of the Sanctuary:

Replace all Seating (1292 chairs) $337,926
Replace all Pew Ends $104,281
Sanctuary Doors with Closers $97,144
Sanctuary Carpet and Tile $106,000
Sound System $200,000
Projection System/Screens $60,000
Worship Elements (altar, chancel) $25,000
Sanctuary Roof repairs $103,448

“We’re going to be fixing the organ,” Dr. Long added. “You may not know it, because of the way that Robert plays, but there are a lot of parts in the organ that do not make music: bellows that need to be replaced, things that need to be fixed. We need to take care of such an incredible instrument (which has) 55-hundred pipes.”

Organ (re-leathering) $136,000
Acoustic Panels (back wall) $190,000

“Our beautiful stained glass windows, on (the north) side, we’ve already been outside and replaced the glass so that they’re protected,” Dr. Long said. “We have fixed the broken stained glass; caulked them to where they wouldn’t leak again… We have not done that on the south side, yet. If you stand outside the church and look at it, and then walk on (the south side) and look at it, you’ll understand exactly what we’re talking about. There is a significant difference.”

Stained Glass Windows (south) $87,158
East Sanctuary Exterior Windows $50,000

Other Projects:

Edmond Campus Worship Chairs $75,000
Christian Life Center carpet $47,588
South CLC Entry Canopy $75,000
Carillon (match Harris Foundation grant) $250,000
Kitchen Renovation $150,000
Asbury Maintenance and Upgrades $100,000
Contingency/Project Administration $100,000
Debt Reduction $200,000
Capital Campaign Total:   $2,494,545

St. Luke’s will provide pledge cards in late April, and have a special service of commitment on May 8th.

“We’ll be having a special Mother’s Day worship service,” Dr. Long said, “and then a time for people to come to place their cards here at the alter. It’s always a very moving and a very special time. We hope you will plan on being here on May the 8th.”