Welcome to Swissvale United Methodist Church

Swissvale United Methodist Church

November 2009

Our New Start

We have found a new home! Our congregation has chosen to lease a commercial unit at 7415 Irvine Street in Swissvale. The unit consists of two large open rooms, on ground level. The unit will need work on the walls, floors and restrooms. We will need to acquire seating. We will need to upgrade some of the mechanics. But, the conditions are good enough that we can begin using the space immediately. And so we will. Our lease begins on November 1. Since that day is a Sunday, we will be holding our first worship service on that day, the first day of our lease. It is the first day of our new beginning.

There were three factors for finally choosing this site. First, the owners reduced the price on the rent and allowed for a lease-term of one year—this short term will allow us enough time to “try on” the site, without obligating us to remain, in the event that it does not work. Second, the size and flexibility of the space matched most closely with our perception of our future ministry and programming. Third, we feared that we would loose momentum if we did not soon move into our own space and base of operation.

On October 26, we held our regular annual Church Conference at this new location. It was an exciting experience. The meeting was well attended. The District Superin-tendent noticed and commented on the various backgrounds and mix of people who were present.

The following is a collection of excerpts from the Pastor’s Report, presented at the meeting:

This year is one of the most significant years in the history of Swissvale United Methodist Church. It is a year in which we have had to put our past behind and set a course for our future. By the end of the year, in this process, we will have experienced three distinct phases.

During the previous year, 2008, we recognized that our financial situation was critical. Through great effort, we finished the year “in the black.” However, by the end of December, we realized that it would be nearly impossible to meet our expenses through the end of the following year.

At this time, an amazing thing happened. Early in January, we were approached with a proposal from Pittsburgh Mennonite Church to purchase all of our property. We offered a selling price and they accepted. Thus began our odyssey.

The first phase occurred from January until June. During this period, we dealt with the many steps and legalities involved in the transfer of the real estate. Reports and procedures for District and Conference-level were completed. The Trustees led in the exploration of new locations. We conducted a series of congregational meetings to examine various aspects and implications of moving. We used this time to allow the reality of our situation to “sink in.” In spite of the energy and focus consumed by these things, we continued without cutting back on our normal on-going ministry.

The closing and transfer of our property occurred on June 22. With the permission of the new owners, Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, our final worship service in our old building--attended by ninety-two people--took place on Sunday, June 28. A farewell luncheon followed.

Our second phase occurred during the period of July through October. During this time, we shared worship services with St. John Lutheran and Swissvale Presbyterian Churches. Furthermore, St. John Lutheran provided storage space for the personal property that we were moving, and allowed us to set up an office and hold meetings in their facility.

For our congregation, this was a rocky and unsettled time. Though we were extremely fortunate to have been able to immediately settle into an interim worship arrangement, we had not finished our business of choosing a new location. There were differing opinions and, consequently, a divide in the congregation, regarding the choice of a new site—the issue of the site also involved differing conceptualiza-tions of ministry, finances and congregational dynamics. As a result of internal controversy, during this period the congregation experienced its deepest low point. But the congregation has sprung back with renewed purpose and, finally, settled on the choice of a new site.

This leads to the third phase in our year—the present situation. Our lease is just now beginning. Beside the fact that we will be operating in a new environment, we will be focusing on three areas of emphasis:

1) We must grow. We will need to put resources into efforts of evangelism. It is essential that we bring in enough people to become self-sustaining within three years.

2) There is no use doing evangelism if we cannot provide an attractive environment with high quality programming. Consequently, we need to develop and maintain as much programming and ministry as we are able.

3) We need to improve our space to acceptable contemporary standards. We want the space to be clean, neat and attractive. But, since we are occupy- ing this space temporarily, we want to conserve the resources used for site improvement. It is our plan to make improvements as we go along in time.

We have a limited window of time to be successful. We will frequently monitor our progress and if necessary, adjust. Furthermore, there are not many others who have done what we are doing and whose example we can follow. We are, in large measure, on our own. So, we must accept this challenge with conviction, courage and creativity.

Each of the three phases, that we will have experienced this year, are different. As of this moment, what is past is indeed past and gone. What is in the future is without precedence. It is not informative or useful to describe how things were as recently as yesterday. All one can say is that our recent past provides hope for the future. At this time, we are tomorrow-oriented.

COME AND CHECK US OUT.

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