We're Moving!
Hello beloveds,
As many of you are aware, our congregation has been in ongoing discernment about the future of our presence at 145 Capital Ave NE as we seek to steward our financial resources faithfully and sustainably.
Our most recent conversation on April 26th was an opportunity for us to engage some discernment with the Holy Spirit and one another about the possibility of sharing space with the people of Trinity Lutheran Church. In exploring this possibility, we intend to find a way reduce costs while we anticipate the successful sale of our facility.
You can read the summary of those conversations here.
In response to the Holy Spirit and the discernment conversations we engaged on April 26th, and in dialogue with our partners at Trinity Lutheran Church, our Church Council leadership has determined that it is time to make the next big transition as a faith community.
We will begin worshipping at Trinity Lutheran Church's facility on Sunday, June 7th, at 9:30AM. The address is 2055 E. Columbia Ave, Battle Creek, 49014.
At first, we will only be moving our worship location on Sunday morning. We anticipate transitioning all of our operations to TLC's facility and formally beginning a lease later this summer.
We understand that this is a massive transition, and we honor the grief, anxiety, and nostalgia that come along with completing a chapter of our life together. This is a sacred process, and if you would like to talk through your experience with someone, Rev. EJ and I would welcome your call.
However, we also trust that the Holy One is leading us through this, and with that in view, we look forward with joyful expectation to the possibilities that will emerge as we enter into a new space, and to the day when we are able to invest our time, energy, and financial resources in creative new ways of embodying God's love for Battle Creek.
We also understand that our conversations on the 26th identified a few concerns around accessibility, and we will be addressing those in the coming weeks as we prepare to move. We ask that you direct any additional questions or concerns to our Church Council leadership, Sharalyn Davis and Zeke Talmage, and we will explore them together.
If I can take a moment of pastoral privilege: I want to express my immense gratitude to you all for your faithful participation in this discernment process, and your courage in showing up to difficult conversations.
Likewise, I offer utmost gratitude for the dynamic and proactive lay leaders who have been stewarding this process on our behalf, and for our new friends at Trinity Lutheran Church for their kind hospitality and solidarity.
I ask that you continue to hold our congregation, our leaders, and this transition in prayer, that we may all flourish as a result of this change. And remember that we are, as ever, held by the Love that moves the Sun and all the stars. And that Love never fails.
Ever yours,
Rev. Nate Craddock
on behalf of Church Council
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did we arrive at this decision?
A: We have been in discernment about the future of our building for nearly ten years, and during that time, many efforts were made to develop an alternative stewardship model. However, the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as financial restrictions, stymied many of those efforts, and the sustainability of the congregation was in jeopardy. Following many difficult conversations, the decision was made in the spring of 2025 to list our building for sale.
In the spring of 2026, Church Council engaged the congregation in focused discernment about the need to make a radical change for sustainability. Following those conversations, Council took the feedback from the congregation under advisement and made the executive decision to transition at this time.
Q: So, has the building sold?
A: As of this writing (May 2026), not yet; however, we do have some very promising possibilities on the horizon. Please stay tuned for further information.
Q: I’m not ready to say goodbye to the building yet. Will I have an opportunity?
A: Yes. We will announce a Farewell to 145 Capital worship service for church members, friends from the community, and supporters from the wider Church once the building has sold. Please stay tuned for further information.
Q: Why Trinity Lutheran?
A: We have had a growing partnership with the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church since 2024, when we partnered with them to share a booth at the Battle Creek Pride Festival (ask Rev. Nate about the story sometime). We have shared in worship with folks from TLC many times over the past two years, and the partnership has ripened into new possibilities for both of our congregations.
Q: Wait, so are we becoming Lutheran?
A: No. We remain a congregation of the United Church of Christ, rooted in our identity, mission, and vision as a Congregational community seeking to Embody God’s Love. We envision our partnership as housemates, working together to steward a space for a time.
Q: But are we combining worship services with them?
A: No. We will worship in our own way in Trinity’s sanctuary at 9:30AM on Sundays, beginning June 7th, 2026. TLC’s congregation will worship in their own idiom at 11:00AM. We will certainly combine forces for special services, as we have in the past.
Q: Is Trinity’s facility our forever home now?
A: No. Our plan is to lease for a year, then re-evaluate in a year’s time. We may re-negotiate and stay longer if we need more time, or if the ministry is especially fruitful between our congregations, or we may be in a position where we are ready to transition into a different facility.
Q: I have an accessibility issue with the space at Trinity. What should I do?
A: Contact Rev. Nate, Rev. EJ, or Jaimie Fales; they are working to ensure all accessibility needs are addressed in advance. We anticipate making further adjustments as we settle in to our new space.
Q: What are we doing with all our stuff?
A: Our Building Transition Task Force has been hard at work organizing, cataloguing, and re-homing the massive quantity of items that accumulate in a church building!
Many small sentimental items have found homes with congregation members. Others, like much of the material in our historical archives, are being entrusted to the stewardship of the Battle Creek Historical Society. Our liturgical items and furniture will be placed in storage until we have a new home in which to put down roots. Our piano will be coming with us to Trinity, as it is at the heart of our worship, and we are happy to share it with our new housemates. Some of our things, like tables, chairs, desks, &c., may be included in the potential sale of our building.
Q: What’s the plan for the memory garden/columbarium?
A: The Building Transition Task Force is working on this important question. Once decisions have been made as to the tending of this sacred space in conversation with the families of those interred, we will communicate them. We will not abandon this space or those whose ashes are kept there.
Q: I still have more questions. Whom can I speak with?
A: Please direct any questions you have via email to office@fccbc.org and we will route them to the appropriate person. Our Church Council and Building Transition Task Force will be able to answer most of them.