Last month I received a phone call from a young Mennonite couple looking for a location for their wedding. They live over an hour away but had been unable to find a church large enough to accommodate their guests that would also allow their pastor to officiate at the service. We could meet their needs. About that same time, we were hosting for a week a group from the University of Maryland who were working with Renewing Homes Augusta for their spring break.
When we decided to expand our facilities significantly in 2000, we emphasized that this expansion was not just for our use, but also to share with the community. Our facilities have been wonderful for our worship, Christian Formation programs, preschool, choir practices, Together on Wednesday meals, spring egg hunts, and various other church meetings and gatherings. But we built it all to be shared with our neighbors. Who are some of the neighbors with whom we share this space?
- The Augusta Bird Club meets monthly in our Fellowship Hall.
- The NAACP holds their community prayer breakfast and Freedom Banquet in our Great Hall.
- A small Narcotics Anonymous group for medical providers meets here weekly
- SACRA holds its board meetings and annual meeting here.
- Martha’s Meals on Wheels held their Anniversary Celebration in our Great Hall and meets as a board in our Fellowship Hall.
- The YMCA uses our field for soccer and t-ball practices from time to time.
- A yoga group works out in the Breezeway each week.
- Helping Hands offers a week of activities for children in the summer each year.
- The Thursday Morning Music Club often offers recitals in our sanctuary. (They meet on Thursday morning as Virginia Wetzel always reminded me!)
- Various other community groups, organizations, and homeowners’ associations with Covenant connections meet here from time to time.
- Oak Grove Theater held auditions for plays here last month and often uses our space for play rehearsals in the spring and summer.
- The University Singers from UVA holds their day and/or overnight retreats here.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive (or exhausting), but is intended to illustrate how we share our space with the community. Most of the organizations have Covenant connections. All are non-profits. In sharing our space, we seek to be good stewards of our facilities, good neighbors to our community, and faithful disciples in God’s service! We who have been so blessed, seek to bless others. That is why we built it! That is why we share it – to the glory of God!
– John Peterson
