A boy drives a tractor on a church parking lot.

Renew. Restore. Rejoice!

Phase Four Renovation Project Capital Campaign

Lombard Mennonite Church’s upcoming Phase Four Renovation will strengthen the nurture of our young people, create a safer and more welcoming parking area, and reduce our environmental footprint. We invite you to participate in this transformational project!

Our Campaign Goal: Raise $320,000 in above-budget giving over the next two years.

A complete overview of the project and campaign booklet are coming soon. Keep reading for important dates to save and some details on the parking lot aspect of the project below.

  • August 10: Bart M. will give a tax-advantaged giving seminar after the worship service.
  • August 17, Challenge Sunday: We’ll hear short spotlights on the project from Phase Four committee members during a stewardship-themed worship service. Following the service, we’ll have special refreshments in the Fellowship Hall, with committee members available to answer any remaining questions about supporting the project.
  • August 24, Commitment Sunday: The worship leader will invite us to come forward and turn in our pledges. (Those who choose to pledge online can still participate; we’ll have “I Pledged” slips available for you.) As a community, we’ll bless and celebrate the project’s commencement.

Phase Four Renovation Deets: Did You Know?

A good design process gives us more bang for our buck! That’s why we consulted an architect as the first step in restoring our parking lot. Simple resurfacing would eliminate the potholes and crumbling cement, but we wanted to make our parking lot function better, not just look better, and last several decades.

One feature Tony Ronning, our architect, introduced is a small concrete island in the center of the lot. The island will make the traffic pattern clearer and more standardized, which increases safety. It also gives us a place to install a lamppost. Lower lampposts dotted around the lot will provide illumination that doesn’t shine glaringly into our neighbors’ windows.    

Another feature is a larger, pedestrian-only area by the entry steps, delineated with paver stones and two planters. The pavers radiate out past the entry steps and meet the first of the three accessible parking spaces. The design cleverly keeps cars farther from those walking into the church—increasing safety and a sense of hospitality and welcome–while also creating an aesthetic element.  

If you appreciate form that not only embraces function but gives it a bear hug…or if you appreciate making our spaces safer for everyone, your Phase Four contributions will be paying for these important details. To learn more, talk to Jeremy K. or a member of the Capital Campaign Committee (Ken G K., Bart M., Evan R., or Katharine R.).