Nov 10, 2021

Great Bend church selling building to keep mission work

Posted Nov 10, 2021 4:00 PM
Rose Kelly, left, senior warden, and Teresa Lahar, priest, at St. Johns Episcopal Church
Rose Kelly, left, senior warden, and Teresa Lahar, priest, at St. Johns Episcopal Church

By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post

Members of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Great Bend have been worshipping in their church building on the corner of 17th and Adams Streets for about 70 years. Now a "For Sale" sign has been placed in front of the church. 

Rev. Teresa Lahar, St. Johns' priest, said it is not economically feasible for the congregation to remain at the current location and continue some of the church's outreach programs. 

"We decided that if we move, we would have the funds that we could put into missional work," Lahar noted. 

The church supports foster families, offers a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner and provides assistance to people who need help with utility bills, housewares and appliances.  Helping the ministry at the Dream Center in downtown Great Bend is one of the projects that church members want to continue.

"We are doing the third Sunday every other month, feeding a Sunday evening meal," Lahar said. 

The St. Johns congregation will continue to worship at the current location until the building is sold. After that, they will move to the chapel at First Congregational United Church of Christ.