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Lutherans see dream take shape in big way
By JEAN JOHNSON WEEKI WACHEE -- Irma Haig recalls having worship services in the cafeteria at Fox Hollow Middle School followed by fellowship coffee hours. "Afterward, we had to dismantle and put everything back in storage for the kids the next day," Haig said. "We met (at the school) each Sunday at 10 a.m. for about 2 1/2 years." A charter member of Nativity Lutheran, which began as a mission church, she remembers the building of the first sanctuary 13 years ago. Haig has watched the church develop to the point that a new sanctuary will be dedicated Sunday. "The new sanctuary is long overdue, and we had to go into another service on Saturday night" to accommodate new members, said the 72-year-old widow. In addition, the first pastor, Rev. Paul Winemiller, had moved on and the congregation worked with interim pastors for about three years. Haig has had a strong hand in the goings-on surrounding the building of the new sanctuary and has been a member of the church council for almost five years. "As chairman of the fellowship committee, I probably checked out every church kitchen in the county in preparation for renovating our kitchen next year or the year after," Haig said. Congregants were asked almost five years ago what they thought were the church's 10 most pressing needs, said Tag Grant, council president. Eighty-seven percent listed a larger sanctuary as No. 1. Eight focus groups were formed to determine features for the sanctuary: an education building, music, organ and choir areas, office space, work space and other areas. The results were presented to the congregation, which gave permission to build a brand-new sanctuary instead of expanding the existing one, even though costs would increase $350,000 to $400,000. Fundraising experts ensured maximum gift donations, and a three-year fundraising campaign began in February 1999. The campaign ends in April. Grant is one of the few people who has been on the scene from beginning. "The congregation has been involved every step of the way because it's their sanctuary," said Grant, who moved to Florida in 1994 and has been a member of Nativity for seven years. "We'll have more people attending the dedication celebration than we had in the church (when the building process began)," said the 61-year-old married father of four. Down the road, the fellowship hall will be converted into classrooms and a separate youth area where youngsters can meet and relax, get on a computer and listen to music. "Christian education is where the growth of the church is, and that's our master plan," said Grant. Dick Mason, a native of Somerset, Pa., is the construction chairman. "I was elected to the church council two years ago and when someone was needed for the building committee," Mason said. "Like a dummy I raised my hand." Although his responsibilities have been demanding, Mason said he has enjoyed his task. Construction began last April. A new parking lot came first because the original sanctuary sat in the middle. "The old sanctuary, in due time, will convert into a recreation-type hall for lunches and dinners, which will seat about 200 people comfortably," Mason said. "A lot of changes will have to take place because fire codes have changed" since that building was constructed. The parking lot accommodates 185 cars and the new sanctuary has more than doubled the seating capacity of the original: from 235 seats to 525. The cost of the new parking lot and sanctuary totaled $1.4-million, with half being mortgaged. What's in store for Nativity's future? Mason said he's looking forward to additional growth of the congregation and encouraging more youth education. "We need a younger congregation and hopefully with the new church and the expected growth in the (county), we can encourage people to join us. I think that is one of the main goals of the congregation." The Rev. William H. Roen, pastor, is happy about the new sanctuary. "I could see we had grown out of our present facility," he said. "We didn't have enough seating and very limited space for fellowship and education." Roen, 51, came to Nativity Lutheran from Trinity Lutheran in Bradenton, a church larger than Nativity at that time. After eight years with Trinity, he welcomed the change to a smaller church that allowed him more time to be with his family. As it turns out, Nativity is now larger than Trinity, with a membership of 750 and a regular attendance of 350 to 400 each weekend. Although Roen's wife, Penny, is the Sunday school teacher and there is a minister of music, an organist and a youth worker, he has no assistant pastor. At least 20 youths attend the Wednesday evening programs, which include dinner and crafts. In addition to Sunday school, there is a 15-member children's choir. Roen hopes the church will continue its mission involvement outside the United States. "Next year we're going to Haiti to build a church and school, and we would like to deepen our commitment to the outreach work we're doing in Dade City." If you goWhat: Nativity Lutheran Church Where: 6363 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee When: services at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday; Sunday school at 9:45 a.m.; Bible study at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Kids night out, 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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