Naperville Christmas concert will help build Aurora house
Faith can build a lot of things, and next year in Aurora, it will build a house.
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity is launching Faith Build 2017, a new initiative to build a home supported by donations of money, materials and volunteer labor from 28 Aurora- and Naperville-area churches.
The building effort kicks off in festive form with spirit and song Sunday, Dec. 18, during the Gift of Love concert at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville. Grace was one of the early congregations to join the Faith Build coalition, and Music Director Dan Wagner said the effort seemed to be the appropriate beneficiary of the church's annual Christmas concert for charity.
"There seems to be a lot of interest and energy around it," Wagner said about Faith Build 2017. "It's exciting that we're involved."
It will take about $150,000 to build the house at 1555 Solfisburg Ave. on Aurora's near East Side, and the 28 churches joining forces to make it happen will be responsible for half of that total, said the Rev. Jeff Barrett, executive director of Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity and pastor of Genesis Community Church in Montgomery.
The other half will come from Thrivent Financial, a planning and guidance service for Christians, which has pledged to match up to $75,000 each year for Faith Builds in 2017 and 2018.
"Faith Build is what we should be doing," Barrett said. "Churches should be coming together as a community of faith, and they're doing this and it's really quite exciting."
An architect is designing the home now in advance of foundation work scheduled to begin in March. Barrett said framing of the house is expected to start in late May so the structure can be finished, dedicated and occupied by the chosen family around Thanksgiving next year.
The concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, will help spur fundraising for the building effort, with tickets going for $10 or $20 each at peopleofgrace.org. The church has room for about 340 audience members in the sanctuary, and Wagner said the popular show, featuring Christmas classics, familiar carols and fresh arrangements of festive tunes, typically sells out.
"It's a fun Christmas music event," Wagner said. "We really have a strong following."
Performers will include about 40 singers in the Grace choir, 20 youngsters in a children's choir and 32 instrumentalists in the church orchestra. Also featured will be Chicago musicians Scott Griffin and Alan Trip in a duo called Captivating Keyboards.
"The quality of the music will surprise people," Wagner said.
If you go
What: Gift of Love concert for Faith Builds 2017
When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Road, Naperville
Who: Benefits Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity Faith Build 2017
Cost: $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for students
Info: <a href="https://www.peopleofgrace.org/">peopleofgrace.org</a>