Our vision for Grace Center: To create a community center of empowering and life giving activities focused in three primary areas:
1. Faith 2. Learning 3. Service
Faith:
Northeast Community Lutheran Church (NEC) was established in May, 2007 through the consolidation of three previous churches. Our name was chosen by the congregation to reflect where we are located and who we feel called to serve. We are a congregation of about 275 adults and children engaged in worship, fellowship and community building activities. NEC currently shares its two church buildings with three other churches of similar size (Mercy Seat, Oromo 7th Day Adventist, and Giving in Grace Christian Center) and two smaller churches (Iglesia de Jesucristo Luz Divina, and Crossover Ministries Intl.). NEC worships on Sunday mornings at 10:00am.
An important partner who has made this project possible is the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Learning:
Consistent with the original purpose of the building, education will be a vital component of Grace Center’s mission. The primary educational partner will be Fraser Academy, a K-5 charter school serving approximately 70 students. Fraser Academy serves families throughout the west metro area with its excellent resources for students with autism and other learning challenges while fostering an environment of inclusion. Fraser Academy will relocate from their current home in south Minneapolis to Grace Center.
Another educational partner of NEC is Camden Music School, which provides music lessons and classes to children and adults. Camden hopes to expand their course offerings in Grace Center. Other potential partners may include a child care center, college extension courses, Community Education, and after school programming.
Service:
NEC is currently engaged in significant outreach to the neighborhood in a variety of ways:
- Free Monthly Community Dinners: Serving 80 – 120 people, these dinners are a place to meet, greet, and eat with neighbors (held at our Lowry Ave building).
- Little Kitchen Food Shelf: Started in early 2008, it currently serves over 200 people with over 2000 pounds of food each month, primarily lower NE Minneapolis residents.
- Low Cost Pet Clinics: Held twice yearly, these clinics rely on volunteers and donated veterinary services and supplies to provide low cost vaccinations and I.D. chips for dogs and cats whose adult companions are on limited budgets.
- Children's Programs: Including Vacation Bible School; drama, movie and arts camps; and school supply drives for Minneapolis Public School students.
These programs will continue, as will NEC’s commitment to its founding vision to make our facilities available as community resources. We have hosted several art exhibits, provided work and display space for artists, and provided exhibit space for Art-A-Whirl in previous years.
NEC envisions making the Grace Center for Community Life available for uses such as family nights in the gym and performing arts in the multi-purpose room. We will maintain a safe and appealing playground. We will provide low or no-cost meeting space for community groups. We will create spaces for local artists’ work that could be appreciated by the building’s many guests. On our grounds we will provide space for community gardens, and we will explore rooftop greenhouses, a peace garden, and other green applications on Holland’s concrete reinforced roof.
The long term vision for Grace Center is to the enhance arts and recreational opportunities in the neighborhood and to bring services to our community that do not currently exist here.
Property Improvements:
NEC will improve the aesthetics, safety, and sustainability of the property:
- Increase green space by reducing asphalt parking lot by at least 25 – 30%, removing blacktop and replacing it with rain gardens and open space.
- Remove chain link fence and introduce landscaping and shrubs to frame the parking lot.
- Soften the brick exterior on the south and west by creating a clear church entrance (canopy or bell tower), inserting windows, and introducing gentle landscaping along the building.
- Position outdoor lighting to discourage graffiti on the building and playground and to deter unwanted traffic in the parking lot.
- Incorporate energy efficient updates and sustainability measures through the course of a regular building maintenance and improvement program.
Questions, suggestions or ideas?
Please contact us and we would be happy to talk further with you.
Craig Pederson, Pastor (612) 703-1586 cpederson@necommunity.net
Sally Palm, Facility Team Chairperson (612) 782-0588 sallyp@umn.edu
Jennifer Schultz, Congregational Administrator (612) 788-2444 jennifer@necommunity.net
NORTHEAST COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
1500 6th Street NE, Minneapolis MN 55413 (612) 788-2444 www.necommunity.net
Our Mission:
To create a welcoming faith community called to love God, serve our neighbors and tell the story of Jesus Christ.
Our Guiding Principles:
As a congregation and as individuals:
· We are guided by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
· We uphold and support one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
· We pursue and support lifelong spiritual growth.
· We work with others to strengthen community.
· We celebrate God’s abundance by generously sharing our resources.
· We honor and care for God’s creation.
· We are called by God to be courageous and flexible in an ever-changing world.