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Event
Capital Campaign
Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ has served as a beacon of light and hope in the Lakeview community of Chicago for over 100 years. Serving its members and those in need around the city, the county, and the world, Wellington has reached out with a helping hand from its home at 615 West Wellington and opened its doors to many who have needed shelter and sanctuary. The spirit has
flowed freely within and outside the walls we call our church.
We will continue this wonderful tradition of service only if we maintain our church. The proposed improvements are about more than bricks, mortar, windows, and restoration. We are stewards of a community legacy that has involved 100 years and countless generations of people who, like us, lived their faith in community, caring for each other and
for their world. These improvements and restorations go to the heart of a community that cares about sustainability, energy efficiency, outreach, and the care and formation of
children and youthall of which we do to make real our welcome.
We also do this with respect to the structure itself, which is a product of the arts and crafts movement that was so critical to advancing the laboring people of Chicago in the early 1900s. Caring for and being good stewards of this building is the vision behind the capital appeal.
Over the past year, many people throughout the church have been working to understand and identify the most critical needs for our future. We have organized these needs in four general areas which include accessibility, the building, greening, and growing younger. There is significant overlap among the four areas, but it is helpful to look at each one separately, as well.
ACCESIBILITY The church was built at a time when there was little consideration for the disabled and it is not accessible to many of our members as well as those who regularly use the church building. If we are true to our promise of being open to all, we must address the need to make it possible for those with disabilities to enter and move about our building with ease and dignity.
THE BUILDING This is the home where we gather and from which we engage our community and world. Everything that is
planned can help our church grow and better serve the community; inviting people to find here what we have found--a joyful, welcoming Christian community.
GREENING Part of our stewardship of God's creation is to reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint. An additional benefit is that this saves money in the long run as well.
GROWING YOUNGER Wellington has a long tradition of theological and ideological formation of young leaders who have served WAUCC, the larger church, as well as the larger
peace and justice movements. As we look back at our first century and move forward boldly into our second century, the need for the development of young adult leadership was identified as an essential part of our mission and ministry.
The Spirit of God has been at work among us all year opening new opportunities and revealing new ways torward growing younger. The providence of a deepening relationship with Chicago Theological Seminary, a gifted seminary
intern with a call to minister with youth and young adults, a group of young organizers, and more than a dozen young adults from the neighborhood finding us have combined in ways we never imagined. These young people are breathing new life into our congregation while continuing outreach to the Chicago community and the wider world.
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LocationWellington Ave. UCC
615 W. Wellington Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
United States
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