Today has been over a year in the making. Following Hurricane Milton in 2024, our parish family undertook the important research of determining how to best make our sacred space more resilient to storms. Hurricane Irma in 2017 almost destroyed the steeple. Hurricane Ian in 2022 loaded almost three feet of water into the sanctuary. Hurricane Milton did its damage, again bringing more water and muck into the church.
We looked at all options over the months in 2025. We met, talked, solicited ideas, met with experts, and we prayed; we prayed a lot. The ultimate decision was that this beautiful space could not be protected at its current elevation. It had to be higher. We looked at just “lifting it up”, but honestly, built in 1953, the experts were concerned that it couldn’t withstand the stress.
So, here we are, embarking on a construction project that will, God willing, make this church safe and make it home for many generations to come.
This morning at the end of our 10:00 a.m. service, we will take the sacred vessels, linens, candles, and altar in a solemn procession across the street to our Parish Hall. This beautiful space that overlooks the water will be our sanctuary for the next 14-15 months.
There will be emotion today, sadness, tears, I’m sure, but there is also love. Our parish family will stand together in the love of Christ, knowing that the walls don’t make the church. We, His children, gathered in His name, are the church.
Friends, I ask for your prayers today as we commend our sacred space to Father’s hands. If you’d like to watch our final service and the solemn procession, it will be streamed live here at 10:00 Eastern Time.
Thank you, friends, for your prayers and support these last months, and for letting me share it here. I appreciate you all so much. Have a good day, friends.
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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