As Disciples of Christ, we seek to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. And our mission at Woodland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
In response to witnessing the passage of a bill that includes the largest cuts to healthcare and food assistance for children in our nation’s history last week, Disciples pastor and activist Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II reminded us: we must meet this moment with resurrection.
In this season of our shared history, faith communities are being invited to practice resurrection—each in ways faithful and unique to their calling.
Here at Woodland Christian Church, we are living into our identity as a resurrection community—believing that from death comes new life, and that no amount of darkness is beyond the reach of God’s limitless love and liberating light.
Our building partnership and project with Winterwood, Inc. is equipping us to embody this belief. Together we are practicing resurrection as we co-create something bold and beautiful through shared vision and generous partnership—something none of us could accomplish alone. If you are just learning about our project you can read how we got here by clicking on the button below.
Since breaking ground on January 30, 2025 Churchill McGee construction crews have persevered through more than 30 weather-delay days of snow and rain. Despite a slower-than-expected start, they’re making remarkable progress each day.
Every inch of our historic building is under renovation. Stained-glass restoration is well underway: Dan Barnes has completed the lower windows and will soon begin restoring the upper stained-glass windows. Our former office and ministry spaces are newly reconfigured to make room for eight uniquely configured apartments, spread across all three floors of our historic building. Most units now have plumbing, electrical, and drywall in place. And each apartment has its own character while preserving the charm of the building’s original architecture.
In the sanctuary, we initially feared that our dream of refinishing the original hardwood floors wouldn’t be possible. Layers of gunk and hundreds of staples made it seem unlikely. However, this week we have seen what’s possible when we stay open to transformation. A small test section—completed over two days by two people—turned out far better than we imagined.
This brings us great joy as we look ahead to enhancing the sound and acoustics in our sanctuary, creating a space that will support both life-giving worship and vibrant performing arts for years to come. With hard work and hope, resurrection reveals itself!
Meanwhile, our former grassy lot is taking shape as The Oaks at Woodland. The first, second, and third floors are now fully framed, and new windows have been installed. The first floor now includes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as a new HVAC. When complete the new construction will house 30 apartments—each about 790 square feet—that will provide safe, affordable housing for seniors in our community.
As the Apostle Paul proclaims in Ephesians 3:20-21:
“Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by [God’s] power at work within us; glory to [God] in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.”
What a resurrection story we are living! Our partnership with Winterwood is allowing us to release the weight of building maintenance and long-term upkeep, freeing us to turn even more of our energy toward the care and concern of our neighbors! As we move forward, we look forward to deepening our connections with local nonprofits who are doing vital, life-changing work throughout our community.
For those who are curious, we hope to celebrate Easter in our historic sanctuary on April 5, 2026 and we look forward to sharing our progress along the way!
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Together, we are witnesses and participants to the resurrection happening not only in our hearts—but right here, on sacred ground.
Let’s continue practicing resurrection together. 🌱
I love this! Bernice is still shining light and hope on this project!!