For more than 70 years, Gloria Dei has lived out a unique mission of welcome, creativity, and love for neighbor—impacting Rochester and communities far beyond. As the congregation recognized that its aging building was beginning to hinder this mission, it committed last year to a major renovation to ensure the physical space can support ministry for the next 70 years.
This year’s focus, Building Beyond, expands that commitment by investing not only in the building but also in the ministries themselves—such as Sunday Bible Adventure, the Little Pantry, Threads, music ministries, and the Looking Within Center. These efforts depend on the shared generosity and spirit of the Gloria Dei community.
To meet the growing needs of the Gloria Dei ministry in 2026, we need an additional $1400 a week. With this increase we plan to:
UPDATE OUR INTERGENERATIONAL WEDNESDAY NIGHT MINISTRY: We can make more room at the table for worship and connection through innovative intergenerational programming. Med City Dinner Church serves as the midweek hub for our ministries and opens the door to Gloria Dei for the broader community. To meet this challenge, we will need an additional $450 per week.
RESOURCE OUR THRIVING CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY (CYF) MINISTRY: Gloria Dei has a proud history of CYF ministries. We’ve seen the Spirit at work with increasing numbers and activity. We can resource staff and volunteer needs along with programming resources to further grow this thriving ministry and invite more into our shared work. To meet this challenge, we will need an additional $450 per week.
Keep it Going: From a renovated building to renovated ministries, the growth and energy of these last several years has happened as we’ve leaned into our mission of welcome and love of neighbor. Let’s Build Beyond this moment, stay nimble, and maintain ministry excellence so we can respond to the Spirit even as we face ever rising costs and expenses. To meet this challenge, we will need an additional $500 per week.
Join Us!
We invite you to pray for Gloria Dei and our ministry for the upcoming year. Even as we renovate our building in the coming months, we will update our ministries through worship, shared meals, care for the new lives among us, and love of our neighbors. Together we will Build Beyond! Sunday, November 23 is Commitment Sunday. During worship, you will be invited to bring your Intent for Giving Card, offering your gifts to God. You may also mail your Intent for Giving Card to the church office, fill it out online, or drop it off at the church office.