Issue #2, June 2022
This publication is a periodic newsletter celebrating completed projects and updating those interested in various service opportunities affiliated with South Church.
For many years our church rented a warehouse and workshop facility (the Quonset) on Pennsylvania Avenue in Lansing, about seven miles from our church's current location. In February 2020, we were able to build our own facility on church grounds. This "barn," located on the West side of the church campus is a three-part building, featuring five garage bays for our church vehicles plus a warehouse and a fully functional workshop to support service projects and church presentations throughout the year. 
"The Punch List"
We are always looking for folks who want to get involved. Some of the projects on this list below might interest you. If so, feel free to sign up and tackle any one of these.
  • Build VBS set and decor
  • Repair table jig saw
  • Weld broken stage riser
  • Build a small room to enclose central vacuum system
  • Add vacuum extension on the panel saw
  • Build music storage cart
  • Revamp the main work bench
  • Repair & upgrade popcorn machine
  • Repair rotating circle table
  • Finish out 2nd moveable circulation fan
  • Organize back warehouse
  • Move all costumes and props from Mission Garage to barn
  • Build microphone stand organizer
  • Seal up the workshop ceiling - STARTED
  • Create an inventory of all tools and and materials
  • Organize workshop tools and cabinetry - CONTINUING
  • Repair stock - CONTINUING
  • Add fire suppression system to paint room - DONE
  • Make the kitchenette - DONE
  • Finish out the West Loft - DONE
  • Build audio Isolation cabinet for Creative Service - DONE
  • Install painting ventilation fan - DONE
  • Kids Production (March-April 2022) - DONE
General Project Updates
Kitchenette Finished
February 2022 - Cliff Shooltz, Tim Morris, and Rick Spitzer were all involved in installing a kitchenette in the new workshop. They had to bump the utility room door frame over an inch so the cabinets would fit correctly. Thank you to Stephen and Lisa Conine who donated the cabinets. Anyone want some coffee? Rob Beckon does (see photo above right).
West Loft Completed
March 2022 - We had part of this loft already built last year but we needed to finish it out the rest of the way. Cliff Schooltz and Rick Spitzer worked hard to complete the West Loft, providing an extra level for prop, costume, and furniture storage as well as racks underneath for added lumber supplies.
Fire Suppression System Installed in the paint room
April 2022 - We are always trying to do things as safe as possible and we figured that the most volatile place for a fire would be in the paint room. Since the paint room is located next to the utility room it was very inexpensive to tap in to the water line. Rob Beckon initiated the project and Greg Eckels installed it. Thank you, gents.
Painting Ventilation System Installed
March 2022 - Tim Morris, Rob Beckon, and Richard Leonard installed a ventilation system to rid the paint room of fumes when using spray paints.
More organizational infrastructure projects completed
Helen Flower, Teressa Spitzer, and Tim Morris have been doing a bang up job getting many of the tools and hardware organized in the workshop. There is still more to do but pictured on left is a cabinet made up of small slits wide enough for a zip lock bag in each slot. All our hardware was then sorted into the zip lock bags. Great idea!!! There is also a drill cradle storage for multiple cordless drills. Pictured on the right is our long work bench and tool storage cabinets. They added some doors and handles, and then painted the face.
Firewood Trailer - loaded and ready for action
Now that we have a new fire pit at the church, almost every weekend is booked to use it. We have a trailer complete with a full load of dry firewood, moveable bench seats, and a barrel full of emergency water. Jack Hill reinforced the trailer lights to better protect them from damage. Thanks Jack.
Audio Isolation Cabinet Built
Designed by our Audio Visual Coordinator, Ethan Simpson, this large cabinet is designed to house up to four guitar amplifiers, isolating each one of them separately in its own sound-proof compartment. Each compartment is lined with sound absorption foam, wired with its own microphone, and is all accessed from the front.

This cabinet for the Creative Service enables us to isolate the sound coming from the guitar(s) giving better control to the audio engineer on Sunday mornings.

Special thanks to Rex and Linda Hansen, Tim Morris, Cliff Shooltz and Rick Spitzer for building and painting it. This cabinet is on large caster wheels and stored in the chapel storage room next to the chapel.
Tim Morris
Workshop and Warehouse Manager - Volunteer
If you're interested in volunteering, fill out our volunteer form by clicking the button below.
Helping Hands Project Updates
The mission of Helping Hands is to assist those in the South congregation with limited financial resources and limited ability to perform a needed task in their personal lives. This assistance is performed in the spirit of 1John 3:17: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” and 1 Timothy 5:16b: “…so that the church can help those who are widows indeed ”.  Additionally, Scripture teaches that we should do what we can with the resources we have available to care for the needs of others, fulfilling our ministry vision of “passion for Christ…compassion for others”. 
Moving assistance
April 2022 - Ena Lindberg needed help hanging some items in her new apartment like mirrors, pictures, and curtains. She also needed help unpacking some boxes. Bruce Mead went over to take care of it.
Mower ferried to shop
May 2022 - A church family needed help getting their riding lawn mower to the repair shop and back. John Craig and Rob Buffington stepped in to help out with this.
Yard clean up
March 2022 - Many of you knew Glen Akers. He passed away several months ago and his widow, Dawn, needed some cement block and other rubble removed and a large dirt pile eliminated from her yard. Rick Rushton and another church member went over and cleaned it all up for her.
Smoke alarms fixed
May 2022 - Janet Greer needed some help getting batteries replaced in all of her smoke alarms. A faithful church member went over there and helped her.
Couch donated
April 2022 - A church family wanted to donate their couch but needed it picked up and delivered. Jon Shoemaker and another faithful volunteer picked it up and dropped it off to a local thrift store.
Handicap ramps delivered
Jan. 2022 - Judy Carr was in need of a temporary handicap ramp. Marilyn Wagner delivered two ramps from the church for Judy to use on long-term loan.
Safety gate installed
May 2022 - A safety gate was built and installed by Rick Spitzer for the Bettinger family.
Toilet seat replaced
Feb 2022 - A church member needed help replacing a new toilet seat so John Oldham went over to help.
Furniture re-arranged
May 2022 - Bob Foster needed help re-arranging the interior of his house to make room for some necessary furniture. Rick Rushton and his son went over there to help him out.
Rick White
Helping Hands Coordinator - Volunteer
If you're interested in volunteering, fill out our volunteer form by clicking the button below.
The Master's Craftsmen Project Updates
The purpose of The Master's Craftsmen ministry is to create visual context for the message that is being presented at various church events. Scenery is designed, built, and painted for church events like musical productions, a first-person narrative for Sunday Services, or even a display for a week of Vacation Bible School. As the gospel is presented, the platform is adorned with appropriate visual pieces to help convey the meaning of the message.
AWANA Celebration Platform Decor
April 2022 - We had a celebration for all the kids that earned awards while participating in the AWANA clubs this year. Legos were a significant part of the AWANA theme, "Building a Biblical Foundation".
New Storage Rack for Long Props
April 2022 - Designed and built by Helen Flower. She used leftover chain link fence to create the slots for the props.The tallest props rest up between the ceiling joists.
Costume Racks Installed
April 2022 - Cliff Shooltz and Tim Morris built a new storage hanging area for all church costumes. It is made to be expandable to accommodate future needs.
Column Rotator - An Ingenious Idea
April 2022 - This mechanism was designed by Tim Morris. This is used to suspend our 16-foot columns horizontally at a reachable height so they can be easily rotated to paint any side. Brilliant Tim!
"Back to the Beginning" Kids Production Set
May 2022 - The South Church Kid's Choir went "Back to the Beginning". The setting was a church camp scene in the mountains where the kids jumped through time in their time machine eventually arriving in the Garden of Eden.

So many people helped out in the building of this set. Special thanks to Arlee Andrus, Jason and Tanya Chapin, Lisa Conine and the entire painting crew, Eric VandenBosch, Doug Demond and his grandson, Jack, Ben Liell, all the kid's choir parents and many, many others from the congregation. Thank you so much to all of you. We had at least 40 people at both the set load-in and load-out days making both the building of the set and tear down very fast. A special kudos to Arlee Andrus, Cliff Shooltz, and Rick Spitzer for creating the spherical time machine.

And we would be remiss to not point out that during the presentation there was a special cameo appearance by Pastor Neil. Critics said he was amazing. ;)
Corb Felgenhour
Pastor of Worship Ministries
Volunteer
If you're interested in volunteering, fill out our volunteer form by clicking the button below.
Past Publications
Did you miss any past editions of The Barn Memo?