We have officially launched our VOICE and VISION Capital Campaign as we work to build our faith, our future, our legacy.

This shared initiative pulls us toward our VISION of being a Wellspring of God’s Grace in Jesus Christ. By ensuring that we provide safe places for the most vulnerable in our community, engage in musical excellence in worship, and continue to care for our beautiful campus and sacred space, we are living out this vision faithfully.

For over 175 years, Muhlenberg has been a place to gather, pray, sing, learn, serve, and grow together. We’ve been so blessed by the gifts and generosity of the faithful saints who have gone before us and handed this legacy on to us. It’s our turn now to lead our church into the future, and it’s exciting to see the new energy growing among us as we take these next steps.

Thank you for sharing in our rich heritage and joining your VOICE as we build our faith, our future, and our legacy. Please see the overview video below to learn more about the areas of focus for this campaign!

Campaign Project List

New Organ - $860,000 (Total cost is $985,000 with $125,000 already on hand)

Worship music serves to gather, focus, lift, and send us out as a Wellspring of God’s Grace in Jesus Christ. Music is uniting. Often we find ourselves humming the previous Sunday's hymns during our work day. The music we share together tells our story, our faith, our future, and our legacy.

While the glorious music that comes from our organ every Sunday may sound spectacular at times, the music emanating from the instrument is difficult to produce at best. For over 30 years, we have struggled with an organ that was constructed by a reputable company that, unbeknownst to us, was on the verge of bankruptcy. The organ was not designed properly for our space and, as a result, was too loud. To compensate, the wind pressure was lowered by the installer, leaving much of the organ nonfunctional. Additionally, since installation, many components have failed, rendering the organ even less functional. Because the company closed, we have no recourse to improve this instrument. More than $100,000 has been spent on repairs and tunings to try to improve sound quality, but regardless of what attempts are made, it simply cannot be fixed.

In early 2020, our congregation voted to proceed with a capital campaign to replace the organ. Unfortunately, the pandemic put those plans on hold. Since then, the organ has continued to fall into disrepair, with more parts failing. Building upon research done by former Music Ministers Elizabeth Williams and Don Smith, pipe organ mechanic Bob Lent, and the 2019 Organ Research Committee, a new team consisting of Music Minister Matt Thomas, Bill Wightman, Tassie Pippert, Mark Byerly, Jacob Dunlap, and Judith Ofcarcik has researched solutions to the problems, listened to other organs, and solicited proposals from three reputable organ manufacturers. All three proposals are comparable, and each seeks to reuse as many existing pipes as possible. Through the generosity of church members, the Organ Fund currently totals approximately $125,000.

Creating a Property/Maintenance Endowment - $500,000

Gathering together creates opportunity for us to grow as individuals and as a community of faith. Our building serves as a foundation for the faith that is formed and the relationships that are strengthened in and through the ministry of Muhlenberg. Finding the balance between being good stewards of our church building and grounds, and freeing up financial resources each year to do more relationship and service type ministries is a priority.

The church’s educational and administrative wing was built in 1960 and we were blessed to add the Muhlenberg Activities Center (MAC) in 2003 and Gathering Area in 2009. Our Sextons and Property Committee have done an excellent job stewarding these resources but significant upcoming building expenses exist. The MAC roof will need to be replaced (approx. $50,000); the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems in the main building will need significant upgrades; and the grounds are in need of refreshed landscaping. Continuing our care for creation, solar panels could be installed on the MAC at a discounted cost of $150,000-200,000 if done when the roof is replaced. These panels would pay for themselves in 10-12 years and then the MAC would have very greatly reduced electric bills which would ease Muhlenberg's budget and help strengthen Second Home's ministry. Thankfully, we don’t anticipate any of these major expenses being necessary in the next 3 years, but we need to be prepared for the following 5-10 years. A Property Endowment will create a legacy of stewardship in perpetuity, generating income that could be used toward these expenses and ensures that Muhlenberg’s buildings can serve our community for years to come. Our ultimate goal is $2,500,000 for this endowment, that will grow overtime through the generosity of gift from today and charitable estate gifts from members of the congregation. This campaign will serve to seed this total goal and set us on a path to sustainability.

Creating an Outdoor Play and Gathering Space - $100,000

In late 2018, Muhlenberg purchased the Ott St. House. Since 2020, the first floor has housed the ecumenical crisis ministry People Helping People (PHP). The house has served PHP well these past few years, but there are significant structural and health concerns, including the presence of lead, asbestos, and mold. Multiple evaluations confirm the need for the house to be demolished in alignment with the original plans made at the time of purchase.

Removing the structure and grading the land will allow for a fenced-in green space, a much needed benefit for the 90+ children enrolled in Second Home Learning Center, the before and after school program started by the congregation. Currently, these children play in the small backyard of the Ott Street house and the church parking lot, raising safety concerns. A pavilion or playground could be added to further enhance the space and better serve the community. Funds to assist People Helping People’s transition to a new location would support and help to grow the continued ministry of this vital organization. This new location could remain somewhere on Muhlenberg’s campus, but all potential options would require some renovation/improvements.

Current Property Repairs - $90,000

While we feel confident that a Property Endowment will be a sustainable long-term solution for decreasing our overall annual property expenses, in the short-term we need to supplement the amount allocated in our annual Ministry Spending Plan to cover necessary repairs. This facet of the Capital Campaign will fund immediate projects such as sealing our parking lot, elevator upkeep and repairs, and providing an emergency fund for any unforeseen needed repairs. $30,000 per year would be allocated over each of the next three years.

  • Priority One: Sealing and painting the parking lot.

  • Priority Two: Elevator upkeep to prevent from future repair needs.