What’s New With YOU?
Updates from congregations around the church of the Lutheran Confession
Prince of Peace in Loveland, Colorado, is set in the shadow of the majestic Rocky Mountains where we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Over the past few years, this small congregation, although it has not grown in number, has had several interesting changes. The first major change was Pastor Timothy Wheaton accepting the call after the retirement of Pastor John Klatt.
Shortly after Pastor Wheaton was installed, Prince of Peace suspended in-person worship services because of the Colorado executive order concerning COVID-19. Because of the suspension of worship, the congregation was presented with the opportunity to begin sermon videos on its Facebook page. These sermon videos have continued to the present, providing a great outreach tool to proclaim the Gospel. They have also allowed our shut-ins and members who live at a distance to receive the Word of God by means other than the mailed sermons and bulletins. For the most part, the mailing of sermons and bulletins has been discontinued, and emailing them has become the practice used to send them to both local members and those at a distance. The congregation is also considering adopting other types of technology that might assist us in spreading the Gospel both to our members and to the community.
An exciting recent development at Prince of Peace is the proposed expansion to our present facility. The present building has not been remodeled since its original construction in the early 1980s. The proposed expansion includes a remodel of the sanctuary as well as the addition of a narthex. The narthex will include two handicapped-accessible bathrooms. These restrooms will be a blessing since we have one individual in a wheelchair and an aging congregation. In addition to the restrooms, a handicapped-accessible ramp will allow access to the fellowship area. Because of the rising cost of construction materials in the last six months, the proposed project was placed on hold until the beginning of 2022. Although this has been a setback, the members of Prince of Peace have remained positive through their financial and physical support of the expansion project.
While the congregation waits for the cost of the construction materials to decrease, the remodel of the fellowship area is planned to begin with many of the members contributing their labor. This portion of the project consists of remodeling the kitchen. It also involves removing unused rooms that no longer serve a function, so that the fellowship hall can be expanded. The kitchen remodel will result in twice the present area and plenty of counter and cabinet space. The expansion of the fellowship hall will greatly increase the seating area, allowing for more comfortable accommodation for Bible classes and potlucks.
Once the proposed expansion project is complete, the congregation will have an inviting and recognizable church facility, including a distinctive cross at the entrance. No longer will the neighbors mistake the building for a family dwelling, as has happened in the past. Now the structure will be easily recognizable as a church building. We will keep our brethren in the CLC informed as this project comes to a God-pleasing conclusion, and we celebrate this great blessing with a dedication service.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit northern Colorado or the Rocky Mountains, know that you are always welcome to visit us at Prince of Peace in Loveland, Colorado.
Timothy Wheaton is pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Loveland, Colorado.