Welcoming the Neighborhood
Changing Lives
Saint Barnabas is embarking on the last phase of our capital project called Welcoming the Neighborhood that we began seven years ago.
It’s through the hard work of our staff and volunteers and the incredible giving spirit of our parish that we are able to make substantial upgrades to our grounds and make an investment in our future.
Seven years ago, when we realized that after 60 years we no longer were going to surrounded by the desert, we created a vision of how we can benefit from our new neighbors and enhance our grounds in ways that invite them to visit with us. It was a vision that included making investments for all of us to enjoy today as well as for our children, grandchildren, and generations to follow. The video below illustrates this vision:
We were able to raise $3.5 million prior to the pandemic, and another $1 million following a break, for a total of $4.5 million. With those funds, we have already completed renovations of our Children’s Center … and what a joy that has brought to our children and to our families.
Our next goal is to finish the final phase of construction by the end of September 2023.
This phase will be executed in two parts: the interior and the exterior.
The Interior
The interior work is Hutton Hall. We will be installing a brand-new kitchen, from flooring to countertops – and most importantly – sorely needed new appliances. New restrooms will be installed, with the men’s room on the east side of Hutton Hall and the women’s restroom moving across to the west side. That work starts April 24.
The Exterior
Our exterior work includes repairing our parking lot. Originally, we hoped to replace our parking lot, but with inflation soaring and supply chain disruptions those costs grew out of control and beyond our means. So we’ll repair it and that will put us in good shape for a number of years to come.
We also will install state-of-the-art lighting in the parking lot, enhancing safety and security for evening use. Fresh new landscaping will beautify our perimeter. We’ll install two large monument signs at our entrances on Mockingbird, as well as one at our eastern perimeter that we hope will entice our new neighbors to come and visit with us. We will mount a cross on the east wall of the sanctuary, creating greater visibility for pedestrians passing by.
This work will start May 1 and will be done in two segments: the east half of the lot and the west half, with the east portion to be repaired first. That means through the summer, one half of our parking lot will be available for us to use while the other half is repaired.
So the two big things to remember while we are doing the work this summer: only half the parking lot will be open at any one time, and Hutton Hall will be closed for the summer.
The goal is to get all this work done this summer, when the season is slow, and to be finished in September, when many people return and full programs start ramping up again.
There will be disruptions and we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this time. There is no doubt, it will be well worth it.
We thank God for all our blessings along this journey. We thank God for the generosity of our parish, the mission and the journey that we all are on together, and the love that we share for our church.
We will keep you posted with updates and how the changes will effect you. Click here for a current update.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.
Did you know? You can receive updates from Saint Barnabas via email. Not on our mailing list? Subscribe.
Almighty God, whose loving hand has entrusted us with all that we have: Grant us grace that we may honor you during this time of Welcoming the Neighborhood to Saint Barnabas. Give us wisdom to see the possibilities you’ve laid before us, give us courage to step out in faith to fulfill these possibilities, and give us hope that the tomorrow we are building will bear fruit for your Kingdom.
Amen.