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[Back to index of May 2008 articles] St. Luke’s, Bethesda Raises Its Roof and Profile By Kevin Ward Heavy thunder and pouring rain could not put a damper on the April 20 dedication ceremony for the renovated church at St. Luke’s, Bethesda. The service, presided over by Bishop John Bryson Chane, celebrated the completion of a major renovation to the church and was followed by a reception for parishioners. It was the end of a long journey for the parish, finally providing the beautiful space that St. Luke’s had long sought. The church, which started as a mission of St. John’s, Norwood, opened in 1955. Named St. Luke’s for its proximity to the National Institutes of Health (St. Luke is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons), it was originally intended to serve as a temporary space until the parish had the money to expand. However once funds began to come in, the parish decided to spend much of its money on outreach instead, putting plans for a new building to the back of its priorities. Before the renovation, the church building made little impression on passers-by, said the Rev. Stephanie Nagley, rector of St. Luke’s. “Most people wouldn’t look twice at it, and those that did often didn’t realize it was a church,” she said. The extremely low roofline made it difficult for the church to attract the casual visitor, and the parish decided to do something about that. In January 2005, St. Luke’s began to hold meetings to discuss the future of the structure and the shape they wanted it to take. During her sermon at the dedication service, Nagley reflected on the process as it began. “We all got together and asked, ‘What would the physical space of St. Luke’s be if it really reflected who we are as God’s people?’” The parish decided to create a space that mirrored the congregation’s desire to be uncompromisingly hospitable to all who entered. The flat roof would be raised and pitched and an extended foyer would create a larger, more welcoming entrance. Paul Maarec was chosen as the architect for the job and George Brown, a parishioner at St. Luke’s, and his company Brown Construction, were hired to do the heavy lifting. During the construction, services were held in the adjoining parish hall and church offices remained opened, dealing daily with the challenges of dust and jackhammers. The entire roof was taken off and each of the original steel support beams had to be cut and brought down. Said Nagley: “The whole thing was amazing and I really can’t say enough how great everyone involved was. It was a very smooth process.” In addition to the new roof and entranceway, the renovated church includes an elevator and a Soft Space. The Soft Space is a small section at the rear of the church designed to be a sanctuary during services for restless young children. Parents can now bring their children to the space to let them calm down, addressing the age-old problem of needing to shuffle in and out of the service due to a boisterous child. Accenting the new peak of the church is a beautifully designed cupola that infuses the nave with natural light. With a grant from the Frank Reeves Family Foundation, St. Luke’s also put in a new sound system and will soon install a geothermal heating and cooling system. It will be the final step for a church that makes full use of its unique property, from the gardens surrounding the back to the large outdoor labyrinth in the front. The dedication ceremony was well-attended, with many of the parish’s approximately 340 members on hand to welcome Bishop Chane and celebrate the re-opening of the church. From the cross to the choir, the new pieces of St. Luke’s were all blessed as the parishioners looked on. The acoustics of the building were strong and soft light filled every corner. After the service, everyone gathered in the parish hall, where there was food for all and plenty of excited conversations about the completion of the project. The hall soon filled with people saying ‘congratulations’ and ‘thank you,’ and there was a positive buzz all afternoon from the parishioners pleased with the final result. Nagley summed up the celebration at the end of her sermon. “These new stones are a symbol of our answer to the world of who we are. We are its living stones, and in a world where so many others say no, we say yes. This renovation is our ‘yes.’” [Back to index of May 2008 articles]
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