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Leaders of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School in Kennewick know exactly what they're thankful for this year -- a brand-new building.
The church plans to hold its first worship service in the new facility off West 27th Avenue on Sunday.
"There's great excitement. It's been coming a long time," said Pastor Mark Bertermann.
The church was started in 1909 and its former home -- a brick building at the end of South Benton Street in downtown Kennewick -- was finished the following year.
The school also opened that year. It met in the church building for a while and moved to its current home on South Garfield Street in the early '50s.
Bethlehem Lutheran leaders are excited about the new facility because it'll mean the church and school eventually will be at the same site -- something that hasn't happened on a permanent basis in decades.
They got a taste of that over the last two years. When Bethlehem Lutheran sold its former church building in 2007 to help pay for the facility project, the congregation started meeting for Sunday services in the school gym.
Church members began to feel more connected to the school and vice-versa as a result, leaders said.
There's still more work to be done at the new building before the school will join the church.
What's finished at the new site is a large meeting room and some office and kitchen space. There's also a shell of a building that will hold the elementary grades when it's done. The first phase cost about $2.5 million.
The second phase of construction will include finishing the elementary school portion, building space for the upper grades -- Bethlehem Lutheran School has about 170 students in preschool through eighth grade -- and a gym.
The second phase is expected to cost about $2 million, and it won't start until after the existing school property is sold. Leaders hope that'll happen soon.
"There's a real excitement that with having the new location we'll be able to reach more people," said Principal Eric Haan.
A sanctuary will be built at the West 27th Avenue site after the school portion is done.
For now, church members will worship in the large meeting room at the new building. It's open with lots of windows and light.
There were several volunteers there Thursday helping with the move.
Some of the features that made the old church building special -- like stained glass windows and a large pipe organ -- are in storage. Over time, more and more pieces of the old facility will be incorporated into the new one, said Carol Clark, a longtime member and building chairwoman.
But the real heart of the church and school aren't in the instruments or decorations, leaders said.
"There's a long history of gospel ministry here," Bertermann said. "It's a new location, but it's the same message and commitment we've always had."
The church is holding one worship service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Afterward, services will return to being at 8 and 11 a.m.
The new church is at 2505 W. 27th Ave.
