Dear friends,

The moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrived this week!!  Nope, not Easter … which was totally a BIG moment!  (He is risen, indeed!)  Yep, you guessed it … demolition began on our HVAC system for the sanctuary.  The Capital Team has been working to get to this point for more than a year since we first discovered that our boiler pipes were eroded and no longer able to heat the sanctuary on December 23, 2021.  From hiring a construction firm, to working with a mechanical engineer to come up with a plan to replace both the boiler system & air conditioning system, to signing the contract last June, to shipping delays, to raising money to pay for the improvements … it’s been a long process.  I never thought I’d be so excited to see all that equipment dismantled and in piles in the basement waiting to be hauled away.  And yet there I was, giddy with delight!

In addition to the new HVAC, work will be done concurrently to complete phase 1 of some much needed life safety improvements.  This phase will include adding new door hardware to all our exterior doors to make it easier to exit the building in the event of a fire, which we hope never happens.  Part of this project also includes refinishing our historic doors along the 40^th Street South side of the building that desperately need some tender, loving care (fellowship hall, foyer, and narthex doors).

These two projects are expected to be complete by the end of May if everything goes according to schedule.  And … drum roll please … I’m thrilled to report that we are able to pay for these projects in cash without having to borrow any money.  That’s something to celebrate!  This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of so many of you who love our church and who believe in what God can do in this historic place for generations to come.  I’m truly thankful!!

There are a couple of ways you can continue to help:

1. Help Pick a Paint Color – we’re changing the color of the historic doors from brown to something else, and the Capital Team wants to give the congregation the opportunity to select the new color. We’ll have some color options this Sunday after worship for folks to view and vote on their favorite.  The one with the most votes will be the new color.
2. Give Generously/Make a Pledge – we have many more capital projects that need to be done, and we hope to be able to accomplish them by paying cash rather going into debt. These projects include but are not limited to: phase 2 of life safety which includes a wired fire alarm system … plumbing repairs and bathroom renovations … a new elevator to allow all people to be able to access our second and third floors … repairing all our exterior windows … and restoring the walls and ceilings of our sanctuary.  To make a donation now, please click here.  If you’d like to make a pledge, click here or email me if you’d like to talk more about what pledging means.  We’re also set up to receive donations of stock if that’s something you’d like to do.  Or if you have ties to a foundation and can help facilitate that connection for grant opportunities, let me know.  It truly takes all of us sharing our resources to accomplish this work.

Because of the work on these projects, we will be worshiping each Sunday in the Fellowship Hall through the end of May.  I’m thankful to have a place we can worship together during this time, and I appreciate everyone’s flexibility throughout this process.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10am!

Happy Easter!

Rev. Malinda Weaver (she/her)