Hello,

Congregational Survey Completed 

In September, congregation members had an opportunity to offer suggestions about how the rebuilt spaces could best meet the church’s current and future needs. This survey has closed, and the rebuild team is currently reviewing the collected suggestions.  While insurance coverage and the overall budget will be a determining factor for design decisions brought before the congregation, we greatly appreciate your “wish list” contributions as we dream together. 

Still Waiting for County Permits 

Nothing has changed in the building since the last fire recovery update, but lots of groundwork has been laid behind the scenes. Our contractor, DMW Commercial, has submitted all the paperwork to get the necessary permits for the building repair. Once they have these permits in hand, they can begin structural work on the building, including repairing the charred upper fellowship hall ceiling and roof.

Contractor Will Begin Preliminary Work on Building Next Week 

Beginning on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the contractor will be onsite to start work that does not require permits. This includes removing soot from the walls of the upper fellowship hall using a process called media blasting. This process cleans the walls and helps eliminate the lingering smoke smell.

Reminders of God’s Grace

Every time I write fire recovery update, I have the words of a song I learned as a little kid in church running through my head: “The church is not a building where people go to pray; it’s not made out of sticks and stones, it’s not made out of clay. WE are the church, the body of our Lord; we are all God’s children. We have been restored.” 

I encourage you to listen to the full song: 

I am so looking forward to when the building where the Church gathers is restored.

But in the meantime, the lyrics of the song stick with me: we are the church, and we have been restored. OUR restoration has already taken place through Jesus Christ on the cross.

Before we ever lifted a finger or accomplished anything, Jesus declared us beloved. In our lowest places and as the worst version of ourselves, Jesus pronounced that we were worth dying for. Because of God’s great love, WE are called, enlightened, and sanctified for the work of Jesus Christ! (Church nerds: see Martin Luther’s explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed in the Small Catechism).

We, Church, are restored, and we are doing the work of Jesus Christ. 

Through our weekly worship that unites people in the pews and those who are homebound.

Through our learning: our study of Paul's letter to the Romans and our recent discussion with The Rev. Debie Thomas who pointed out that God doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of our lives. 

Through our care for one another. 

Through our care for our neighbors: cleaning up trash from Cloverdale Road, and supporting the ACTS Food Pantry, Neabsco Elementary, and Rise Against Hunger. 



Take heart, Church! The building may not be restored yet, but WE are restored by God’s grace today and always. Thanks be to God! 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Here are some specific prayer requests: 



1.Pray for the work of the rebuild team, our building consultant, and our contractor.

2.Pray that we would continue to BE the church both inside and outside our building's walls.

3.Pray that we would trust God to lead us to what we should do next so that we can continue to be the body of Christ for the life of the world. 

4.Pray for all people who are victims of fire, flood, or other tragedies around the world.

5.Pray for all who will work on obtaining and granting permitting for this project.

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me or a rebuild team member (rebuildteam@lcocdalecity.org). We are in this together! 

In Christ’s love, 

Pastor Grace

     If you are seeing this update on social media or because it was forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to receive email updates about LCOC's needs, prayer requests, and future recovery efforts, please visit www.lcocdalecity.org/fire and sign up for the email list.