08/18/2024
A note for Reformation/Living Hope members, neighbors, and partners:
It has been about 10 months since our last worship service.
During that time the council has sold the building, made gifts for our legacy, and has embraced a new congregation that will call 580 E Saint Louis home for what we hope will be many years into the future.
Holy Trinity Eritrean Orthodox Church has bought the building from us and we keep them in prayer for the future they will have in downtown Las Vegas.
The proceeds from the sale went to a variety of placed connected to our congregational legacy of proclaiming Jesus Christ, education, diversity and helping those in need. Nearly 70% of all the proceeds have stayed in the Las Vegas area.
Beneficiaries include:
The Grand Canyon Synod ELCA (Including a fund for Las Vegas based pastoral internships)
Leadership Lab - An ELCA affiliated youth leadership event at Augustana College - Illinois
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
Nevadans for the Common Good
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
Christ Lutheran Church, Las Vegas
New Promise Lutheran Church, St. George UT
The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada
Fremont Middle School, Las Vegas
Las Vegas Rescue Mission
Caridad, Las Vegas
Shine a Light Foundation
Nathan Adelson Hospice
The Kay Carl Scholarship Fund at Kay Carl Elementary
And a 300K gift to Family Promise LV which will be going toward their new service center.
Our vision for our congregation has been "The Heart of Christ in the Heart of the City." For 75 years we have been proud to worship in the Beverly Green neighborhood and to do all we can for all of Las Vegas.
Such work was a massive undertaking. Without the leadership of Patt Burton, Council President Roger Bailey, Jan Ibrahim, Helen Smith, Sarah Heinenborg, Penny Hovick, Kay Carl, Linda Birkemeyer, Dana Russell and so many others this would not have been done. Big thank you to Mary LaBarbera, our former administrative assistant, for her continued work above and beyond helping Jan, our treasurer, in closing accounts and making sure that the checks were delivered safely to their recipients. Jay Dana, of general realty group, was an excellent help as well in his knowledge of the neighborhood and the market and guidance through the process.
It is rare in our denomination for this work of closure to be done to this extent by a closing congregation but this was a sacred trust given to us by our deep and rich history of service to all of you. We continue to thank God for all of you and wish you peace and blessing along with our gratitude.
Pastor Matt