When It Rains . . .
After several weeks of dry weather, we finally got some much-needed rain last week. Unfortunately, with the storms that came through last Thursday, it was a bit too much rain here at the church. One of the drains outside the Fellowship Hall got blocked, and the water had no other place to go but back into the building through the doors. We discovered this on Friday, and many thanks to Jimmy Wade and our cleaning crew for pushing all the water out as soon as it was found. We have contacted our insurance company and are working with them through this process, and on Monday and Tuesday the entire floating, laminate floor was removed, and dehumidifiers have been set-up to allow the space to completely dry. This will take some time, as we want to make sure all moisture is removed before a new floor is laid down. We are grateful to Larry Shelton who has taken the lead with this project on behalf of the Property Committee. We will keep you posted on our progress, and will make alternate arrangements for those groups that regularly use the Fellowship Hall until it’s all back together.
It takes a lot of oversight, resources, and planning to keep this facility open and welcoming to all who enter. It’s not a young building, either, and just like at your home, it takes investment in regular maintenance to prevent major breakdowns. That is something the Property Committee is actively working on now, considering the systems and projects that will need to be done in the years to come, so that we can better plan for the financial resources to meet those needs. Already this year, important work has been done to fix other drainage issues around the Sanctuary and the Columbarium-side of the Education Building. We have a new service provider for our heating and cooling systems, loose shingles were repaired on the Sanctuary, and the entire ceiling in the Narthex was replaced. This doesn’t include all the ongoing tasks of maintaining the grounds around the church, changing lights, fixing faucets and toilets, and all the odds-and-ends that come up on a daily or weekly basis.
For more than a year, this facility was used at a much-reduced rate due to the pandemic. Now, we are back using it at pre-pandemic levels, and there might be new ways it could be used by us and our community as a safe place to connect, learn, grow, and serve. As we consider where God is leading us to serve with our facility and space, how might we respond to the needs that will arise? We will continue to do our best to keep you informed, and you are always welcome to reach out to me or any member of the Property Committee with your questions or ideas. We thank you for your continued commitment to the ministry of this church, which includes a space that is vital for both our congregation and our neighbors.
With a full and grateful heart,
Frank
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