In lieu of First Thoughts on this Sunday’s sermon, here is an update on our chancel remodel. It has been on our staff’s minds for many months, and we are excited to see the project get underway!
We’ve been talking about it for years, and now it’s finally happening. We are remodeling the chancel of the Sanctuary! When you come to church on Sunday, you will see the beginnings of construction. Mahler General Contractors will be redoing the platform, altar rail, pulpit, and baptismal font. The altar itself will remain the same. They expect the work to take six weeks, so for that time, we will be worshipping with a bit of construction as our backdrop. This work began on Monday, April 1. The old platform and red carpet have been removed. The new platform will be constructed over the course of five weeks and hopefully be ready for Pentecost Sunday, May 19. Thank you for your patience as we have this period of construction.
Why are we doing this? The biggest reason is to remove the need to step up in order to receive
communion. The altar rail and kneelers will be on the main level. This will increase our accessibility and prevent the stumbles that have taken place each year on the current steps. The second reason is simply to update the look of the chancel. The wood in the pulpit and the rails have been beaten up over the years, and the carpet is wearing thin in some areas. The third reason is to enlarge the highest level of the platform to improve sightlines. The highest level around the altar will be increased in area to provide greater capacity for special events.
What should you expect? The chancel area will be mostly converted to hardwood flooring, red oak with an ebony stain. There will be carpet only on the treads of the three steps leading up to the altar platform. The new pulpit and baptismal font will sit on the highest level and be made of red oak with a Sedona stain. The new altar rail will sit on the floor level and have a cushioned kneeler. The altar rail will stretch across the front of the Sanctuary. The area near the sacristy door and the side pews where pastors and worship assistants sit will now be on the same level as the Sanctuary pews. We hope it will all be very beautiful and last for decades to come.
How are we paying for this? The cost of the construction will be paid for out of memorial funds given throughout the years. In addition, a few members have made special donations toward this project. We have limited the project in scope to just the chancel area. In the future, as funds become available, we will update other areas of the Sanctuary, like the narthex and windows.
To see photos as this project progresses, follow the blog here!
–Pastor Travis Norton
Looking for last week’s worship? You can find it here!
First Thoughts at First 
Leave a comment