What will the church look like?

 

• The sanctuary is a fan shaped seating area with a raised Chancel platform. All seating is on a level surface set into terrazzo tile reminiscent of the old sanctuary and the aisle walkways will be carpeted in a low pile Royal blue. A window on the northeast side of the sanctuary stands where the old church’s glass wall once stood, but the new one will be about twice the size and colored light blue. Instead of projection screens, we will have larger and brighter LED video walls for display of verse and pictures. Restrooms adjoin the Narthex. The church exterior is white stucco and stone that matches the fellowship hall. The roof is a blue metal. Every aspect of the church appearance, layout, function and quality of finishes were carefully chosen by dedicated committee members representing the congregation.

 

Will the faceted stained-glass windows be incorporated into the new church?

 

• Absolutely! All 900 square feet of the original ‘Dalle de Verre’ glass was removed by Pickel Studios and will be reinstalled after conservation is complete. The old sanctuary faceted glass was originally exterior glass. In new locations, the glass will be backlit with LEDs and spared from the harsh environment. A generous donor has also commissioned more Dalle de Verre glass that will be added to the church.

 

Why do we have seats instead of pews?

 

• Building ordinances help to drive this decision. Additionally, most new churches are built with more comfortable individual seating. Examples of the new seating are in the back of McAfee Hall next to the new sanctuary display table.

 

Where should I sit during worship?

 

• Feedback from the congregation indicated a desire to have different seats available in the sanctuary. Some seats are wider than other seats. For families with small children and couples who like to sit close together we have removed some armrests. So have fun and try different seating styles to find what you like!

 

Will the new sanctuary have more seating than the old sanctuary?

 

• The new building is designed to hold more than 500 people - significantly more than the old sanctuary. Two rooms adjoining the Sanctuary will have a movable wall and can seat more than 100 people during peak times such as Easter and Christmas.

 

Will the Church be handicap accessible?

 

• Although churches are not required to be ADA compliant, we made every effort to make the new church accessible. All walking surfaces are level, doors to the Narthex have remote opening capability, the ramp to the courtyard is ADA compliant, a ramp to the Chancel platform will help with access, there are spaces in the front and rear of the Sanctuary for wheelchairs and walkers. The brick walkway to the Special Needs parking will be removed and replaced with smooth concrete.

 

Where should I sit if I have hearing difficulties?

 

• One of our church members has donated a new Auracast amplified listening system. Although it will have a wide listening coverage in the Sanctuary for those with modern hearing aids or a hand-held device, the best acoustical locations for those using hearing assistance is expected to be near the rear of the Sanctuary.

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Are we on schedule?

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• The projected date of our first Sunday service is the beginning of July 2027. Our general contractor, Proctor Construction, indicates we are on track. The Proctor team has been top notch in meeting the needs of the church for a quality build.

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Are we within our $16 million construction budget?

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• Through amazing generosity, we have been able to meet that fundraising goal. Facilities Committee members with experience in construction performed ‘Value Engineering’ to remove $2 million dollars of proposed architectural finishes and put the same amount back into the building in areas deemed more useful and appealing with better quality of finishes. To date, we remain below the $16 million budget with only a few contracts remaining and expect to have a small under run at conclusion.

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Will we have a mortgage?

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• Even though we have received amazing gifts, there are currently about $2.3 million in outstanding pledges. Unless those pledges are redeemed before Christmas, we expect to have a construction loan equal to the remainder of outstanding pledges.

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What will take the place of the Eleanor T Smith Lounge?

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• The Narthex (with faceted glass in the open upper story) will have separate seating for a gathering area. There are also Breakout rooms with tables and chairs adjoining the Sanctuary which have terrazzo floors and a kitchen for serving food and drinks.