After more than four years of planning and fundraising, the church's final roadblock to renovation was lifted when the San Jose Planning Commission approved the church's plans on May 6 to revitalize the historic house of worship. The church was built in the late-1940s.

Church members now anticipate a groundbreaking ceremony on May 30 at 10:30 a.m. to kick off the estimated seven months of renovations. The project did not require San Jose City Council approval, and the city received no objections to the church's plans.

"It's been a great experience working with the city and the community," the Rev. Art Mills said. "We have taken great care to make sure we preserve this building so it remains a historic place."

Mills says the congregation has raised $1.3 million for remodeling that will include reshuffling the church's interior and the adjacent Lincoln House, where the church's Sunday school is located. The design also relocates the church's offices from the main building to the Lincoln House. The empty office space in the church will then be replaced with space for classes. The church library will also be moved into Lincoln House, and that space will be turned into a nursery. No work will be done to the sanctuary.

Construction work on Lincoln House is scheduled to begin in early June and will be completed by September by Blach Construction Company. Work on the social-hall portion of the building will start in early July. The entire project should be completed by Dec. 15, 2004, in time for Christmas church services.

Mills said leaflets would be passed out to residents near Stone Church, informing them of the construction and providing residents with the cell-phone number of Blach project manager Steve Dunne in case nearby homeowners have any questions or concerns during the renovation.

For more information about Stone Church renovations, contact the church office at 408.269.1593.