Dear Valley Lutheran Community,

Early Thursday (5/18) morning a fire broke out in the church office copy room. The incident originated in the copy room and spread to the adjacent front office. Thankfully, the building was empty and no one was hurt.

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We are immensely grateful to a kind passerby who was out walking their dog and noticed the smoke. Their quick actions led to a swift response from multiple local fire departments, whose dedication and professionalism ensured the fire was quickly contained. Their efforts significantly minimized the potential damage, keeping it largely confined to the copy room and front office. However, smoke and soot have spread throughout the building. The fire was serious, but it could have been much worse. We are truly blessed.

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The preliminary assessment from the fire inspector suggests that a wall-mounted AC/heating unit was the source of the fire. At present, we are working closely with the fire inspector, our insurance company, and fire remediation specialists.

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In response to the incident, we have partnered with Platinum Restoration. Within hours their team promptly begun smoke removal and building drying procedures. A team of 20+ dedicated professionals are working on the remediation and cleaning process, an effort we anticipate will continue throughout the summer.

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Our immediate focus is ensuring the safety and security of our church and preschool family. This will require us to be creative with our gathering space during the restoration process. The remediation team is working tirelessly to clean and prepare the Fellowship Hall for services this Sunday.

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We will hold our regular 9am Traditional and 10:30am Contemporary services in the Fellowship Hall until further notice. As you arrive this Sunday, please look for signs directing you to enter the Fellowship Hall through the side door near the upper level of the parking lot. Our location might be different, and we might all have to be a bit flexible, but it’s important that we gather together to give thanks to the Lord now more than ever.

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Rest assured, we will keep you updated on all developments and the progress of our restoration efforts. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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In the face of this trial, we seek your prayers for our church and preschool. This incident will highlight the strength, resilience, and faith that binds us together as a congregation. We take solace in the words of 1 Peter 1:6-7, a testament to enduring faith in times of hardship.

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“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

Let us join together this Sunday, raise our voices in praise, give thanks for our blessings, and demonstrate our resilience and faith.

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In Christ's Service,

Rev. Mike Henn