Aulne UMC dedicates new addition and classrooms
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
On Sunday, the congregation of Aulne United Methodist Church celebrated the completion of a building project that was initiated a year ago.
More than 150 people attended the open house. A morning dedication service was followed by a noon fellowship meal.
"The project had been in the works for a while and finally came to life," said trustee chairman Dan Hague.
A new, spacious 40x75-foot fellowship hall was added to the north side of the church. It contains a new kitchen and has a brick facade which blends into the original building, constructed in 1917.
Hett Construction was the general contractor and was assisted by several area sub-contractors.
The project also included several make-overs. Renovations were made to the sanctuary balcony, and five classrooms were built into the former basement fellowship hall. The basement bathroom also was renovated.
Labor and other donations for the renovations were provided by members and friends of the congregation and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.
Pastor Bethann Black said the congregation felt that God has been a part of the project from the beginning.
"We completed it on time and within budget," she said. "Our feeling all along was that God has a plan for this.
"Having the new addition is going to allow us to open the church up to more things for the entire community, and more classroom space will benefit the children. We were continually seeing new families so more seating (provided in the balcony) was important."
Aulne UMC has a membership of 110, with an average church attendance of 80 and an average Sunday school attendance of 50.
