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Peace Lutheran is having a mortgage-burning celebration, just like families used to do.

The church is paying off its debt only 10 years after the new church was built on two-and-a-half acres at the corner of Camino Tassajara and Old Blackhawk Road.

"On Feb. 21, within the worship itself, will be the burning of the mortgage documents," said Pastor Steve Harms, "and a few other things will take place honoring the day."

"We're certainly thankful that in the midst of these horrendous times that this has been accomplished," he added.

The land was purchased in 1998, and the congregation, which now includes abut 125 families, moved into its new home in 1999. The facility has a main sanctuary, and an administration and education wing. At that time, the labyrinth was also added, which is available to anyone who wishes to walk its circular path to take a break from their busy life.

Peace Lutheran is part of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. The sanctuary, which was designed by artist Richard Caemmerer along with an architect, reflects this spirit.

"It was designed around sacred emptiness," said Harms. "That's why he's such a genius. That emptiness allows connections with experience and dimension beyond what we call ordinary life."

The pastor said that 10 years ago when the church was being designed he saw that architects were hungry for this experience, to create spaces that "enliven human energy," rather than to just stamp out buildings. Caemmerer also adorned the sanctuary walls.

"It has been a good home for the interfaith community as well because of its creative design," said Harms. "Not imprinting Christian images is what allows and fosters the jazz and the multicultural things that have been happening here over the years.

"The finest thing about his design is that it prompts endless possibilities, whereas most sanctuaries limit you to one focus or expression. Because everything is mobile here, we can continue to create within the spirit of the event, the worship, the intentions of the gathering."

The total cost for the land and church was $2 million, said Harms, and with some land trading factored in, the actual cash cost became $1 million. The church paid off a debt of about $500,000 in the last 10 years.

"There were two women leaders in our church council who got talking and said, 'We need to pay this off,'" recalled Harms. "We started up a committee and brought it to the congregation.

"The timing was blessed. Just before the crisis began to emerge, it was in motion, a strong commitment."

They tackled the challenge in three phases: raising as much money as they could; obtaining loan from members of the congregation; and then a final push to finish paying off the debt.

"We actually raised more money than we needed," noted Harms.

Caemmerer is going to return to Peace Lutheran in early March to touch up his paintings in the sanctuary, and he will give a talk on Art and Faith at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 6. He has worked in more than 400 churches, mosques and synagogues around the world, said Harms, describing him as "brilliant, gifted, hilarious."

Peace Lutheran also offers Jazz at Peace, a free show at 5 p.m. the first Sunday of each month from October through June. See a complete schedule here.

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