Open House
SARVER — Zion United Methodist Church, 438 Bear Creek Road, lost a parking lot but gained a way to make inroads into the community.
At least that's what Pastor Rob Wilson, event coordinator Shannon Adomaitis and Hobe Kenton, chairman of the eight-member building committee, hope the new family life center provides.
The 68-foot-by-166-foot building cost $2.3 million to build. Construction lasted from April 2018 to June 2019, and it covered the former church parking lot.
While the church had a dedication of the stand-alone building attended by past pastors, Zion United Methodist has planned an open house to run from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 7 featuring a concert by the band Risen to Save at 4:30 p.m. to show off the new facility.
And there's a lot to see, said Kenton.
The building entrance opens up to a great room, he said.
“We hope to have couches and chairs in here so everyone can relax,” said Kenton. “The family life center was built not just for the church but for the community.”
Kenton said the center also holds a gymnasium that can be used for volleyball or basketball games, as an auditorium or with its built-in screens as a theater.
Kenton said next to the gym is an uncompleted commercial kitchen.
“We hope to get the equipment by the end of next year. Once it's done we will be able to provide 150 meals twice.
“That means we can make 150 meals, put them in warmers and make another 150 meals. We can serve up to 300 people in the gymnasium,” said Kenton.
Adomaitis said, “We hope to rent this for wedding receptions.”
Above the kitchen is the sound room which is still waiting the installation of audiovisual equipment, said Kenton. There are also storage rooms and restrooms with changing rooms and showers,.
“Years ago, there were church volleyball teams that would compete with each other. We are trying to start that again,” he said.
Adomaitis said the family life center can be used for dinners, reunions, youth retreats, concerts and basketball and volleyball games.She said the church will use the center for its weekday ministries.“It's a preschool program. We have a summer camp and before-school and after-school programs. This gives more room for the church,” she said.“In the event of a natural disaster, it could serve as a shelter for the community,” said Pastor Rob Wilson.The 800-member congregation of Zion also hopes to use the center to reintroduce itself to the community surrounding it, said Wilson.“So, this is a tool the church hopes to use to reach out to the community,” said Wilson. “It's an opportunity to share God's love. A great effort has been drawn from the congregation and their conviction God's calling them to successfully minister to the community.”“This effort has to do with the faithfulness of the community of faith at Zion United Methodist,” said Wilson.Kenton said plans for the family life center date back to the original drawings made in 1991.Now that the building itself is complete, Wilson said it is time to introduce it to the community with the Sept. 7 open house.Wilson said, “It is to celebrate the completion of the building, introduce the community to the church anew and build relationships with our friends and neighbors in the greater Sarver area.”
WHAT: Open house for the just-completed family life centerWHEN: 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 7; 4:30 p.m. concert by “Risen to Save”; also hot dogs, cotton candy, games, face paintingWHERE: Next to Zion United Methodist Church, 438 Bear Creek Road, SarverINFO: Nonperishable food items will be collected to benefit the Cabot Food Bank. For more information, call 412-526-1770
