A PLACE AT THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE

From the moment God called a faithful few to start Messiah Lutheran Church ninety-four years ago, our congregation has faithfully worked to respond to God's call, spreading God’s word and working to ensure there was a place at the table for everyone. Today, Messiah is one of the fastest growing congregations in the Upstate New York Synod, and was recently nominated as one of the fifty most innovative ELCA congregations across the country. The reason for our success can be found in one simple action - we are coming together, as we have for generations, seeking new ways to engage and assist others in our community. There is no way that the founders of Messiah, gathering just nine years after WWI and having survived a pandemic of their own, could have envisioned everything that this congregation would become. Yet, with confidence and in community, they boldly stepped forward into the future.

Now, it's our turn.
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No matter the challenges of the day, God has always faithfully been present with the people of Messiah, constantly bringing new life to our ministry. If those who stepped forward in faith all those years ago could hear the echo of those faithful footsteps today, they would surely celebrate all that God has done, and know that God’s plan for Messiah Lutheran continues. Today, as we live out our mission of being a Spirit filled congregation grounded in Jesus Christ, nourishing our local community in body, mind and soul, we have so many reasons to rejoice!

In joining Trinity Reformed and Messiah Lutheran churches, we welcome each other as siblings in Christ and work together to increase the impact we can make on our wider community. Witness the outreach of our Bread of Life food pantry, which this year serves an average of almost three hundred meals each week. The food that nourishes those families’ tables, comes, in part, from our gardens at Messiah. It’s a ministry that will grow as we realize our dream of creating the Rotterdam Community Center.
Accessibility Campaign Goal: $570,000
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"A Place at the Table for Everyone" is about ensuring that our building allows us to live out our core value of being welcoming and inviting, by ensuring that our building is accessible to all, visible to the community, and ready for the next 100 years of ministry. It is an investment into God’s activity in our lives and the lives of those we serve. This $570,000 effort to make everyone feel safe, supported, and welcomed will include:

RENOVATIONS FOR ACCESSIBILITY
Whether it’s a first-time visitor, or a long-time member whose mobility has lessened, Messiah wants to be sure that everyone can access our facility.
  • Installing a lift: The lift will allow movement between floors for those whom the stairs are a barrier and open our fellowship hall for use again as a sacred space for study, special worship, and fellowship.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Two accessible restrooms will be added on the main floor adjacent to the current narthex.
  • Widened stairs: The widened stairs will allow for reduced congestion and direct access from the new entry.

IMPROVING OUR WELCOME
  • New Entry and Portico: Facing Guilderland St. the new entry will make it abundantly clear to visitors where the entry is, and welcome them to the center of the building with easy access to the lift, stairs, narthex, and restrooms.
  • New Exterior Cross: Strengthening our welcome and witness we will add a new cross to the existing chimney.
  • Enlarged Narthex: The enlarged narthex will help build community and extend our welcome by providing a natural space for people to gather and get to know one another before and after worship.
  • Courtyard landscape restoration and improvement.

IMPROVING OUR SPACE
  • ​New Library/Adult Education Space: The new library located in the back corner of the expanded narthex will allow additional meeting and study space.
  • Relocated Office: The office will relocate, immediately adjacent to the new entrance allowing guest to be welcomed upon arrival and improving building security.
  • Crucially needed infrastructure: During the renovation we will address critical infrastructure such as a storm water basin & drains, parking lot improvements, site signage, exterior lighting, and utility work.
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Campaign Video & Testimonials
"A Place at the Table for Everyone" is a congregation wide effort! Find out more about the campaign and hear from a wide variety of our members in the videos below!
Key Documents