Sanctuary Refresh

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Mark Verret & VG Architects

We’ve enlisted the help of Mark Verret, owner of VG Architects. Mark has worked with churches in our area, lives locally, and brings the strength of his expertise and passion that’s also matched with accessibility to give us a greater return on investment. We’ve asked Mark to update our design and bring us forward to completion.

Mark has met with several of our leaders, long-term planning committee members, ministry staff, and board members. He’s been on location several times to understand the heart, personality, and vision of April Sound Church. Mark has met with contractors to develop a plan that maximizes beauty and utility within our budget.

Mark also understands that this project has been slowed for longer than we’d like and that it needs fresh energy and attention. He’s currently working on an updated design and new renderings. Mark’s designs and vision for the space will be focused on:

(1)    Rooted Worship

How do we make a space that reflects our heart to bridge our ancient faith with today’s modern world? We need a space that feels historic yet timeless. We are not a cookie cutter church, and our space must reflect that with integrity.

(2)  Perception of Volume

Our ceiling is low and can feel limiting and stifling. How do we create a feeling of volume within the space that we’ve been given while also maximizing a sense of beauty and wonder?

(3)  Functionality & Flexibility

Removable altar communion rails, lowered choir risers, organ relocation, and better lighting will all work towards a sanctuary that complements and facilitates our worship and vision.

(4) General Refresh

Our space will be injected with new energy and our passion for God and guests will show through with simple but larger tasks like fresh paint, new fixtures, new carpet, and a general refreshing of surfaces. Moving screens from the foreground of the stage to the back wall will also maximize the beauty of our sanctuary.

Sanctuary Refresh

Goal: $500,000

Gift Range Chart

Why Sanctuary Refresh?

1. Honoring God with our Best

How we prepare for worship informs how people should perceive and engage with worship. If the Israelites were told to build a tabernacle out of their spare fabrics, they would have thought less of the importance of worship and such liturgies would have affected their view of God. Maintaining and updating our space is both an act of worship and an act of discipleship.

2. Resonating With Our Community

By harmonizing with our neighborhood's aesthetics, we affirm our place as an integral part of this vibrant community. A welcoming space not only reflects our devotion to God but also serves as a beacon, inviting others to join in the shared experience of faith and fellowship. April Sound Church endeavors to see our sanctuary as a cherished, sacred space within our neighborhood—a place where individuals find solace, devotion, and inspiration.

3. Preparing for the Future

Someone once said that traditions aren’t only passed down and inherited - some traditions are meant to be started. When a family grows, new traditions are formed. Every season of growth brings with it new opportunities to see God add to the memories of His people - new works, new traditions, new stories of new life. A sanctuary refresh means (to borrow an old phrase), “new wineskins for new wine”. Kingdom work always involves doing something today that will benefit others later. We want to partner with God and prepare our space anew.

Room to Grow

As we grow, where will we put people? Perhaps more importantly, even if we expand our current worship venues, where will we put more kids and more youth?

As we look at our options, we recognize that we can increase our capacity for discipleship by utilizing our spaces more effectively. Consider this pathway forward as just one of our options:

  1. Maximize space by refreshing our sanctuary and making it relevant (and stunningly beautiful) for both service times.

  2. Move Youth Ministry into the upstairs Worship Center as they grow out of their current space.

  3. Turn current offices and lower level into a whole kids ministry wing.

  4. Move staff offices into youth ministry building