The Future & Our Facilities

Dear Church Family,

You may have noticed that our building is in need of some maintenance and repair work. We have been praying over this for some time! The outdoor wood trim of our sanctuary has lived its full life. Though we have kept it painted on the outside surface, it has been decaying from the back side due to wicking water from the brickwork for decades. After 100 years, it must be replaced.

Additionally, we have been looking at options to seal and repoint our 100 year old brickwork for some time. This is a necessary and expensive project. There are multiple places where the plaster, particularly in our sanctuary, is damaged due to moisture wicking through the brick walls. We have sealed and repaired multiple areas on the roof over the past few years to ensure that this water was not coming from the roof. We then did some test repairs on an area of plaster, but the moisture issues causing damage remain. We can now say with relative certainty that the brickwork must be repointed and sealed.

• Repointing brick is the process of removing deteriorated mortar from between bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar. This process is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and appearance of brickwork. It helps to prevent water damage, frost damage, and other issues that can arise from crumbling or missing mortar.
• Sealing brick refers to the process of applying a special clear liquid coating to the surface of bricks to create a protective barrier against moisture and other environmental damage. This barrier helps prevent water penetration, which can lead to issues like cracking, crumbling, and efflorescence (salt deposits).

In addition to the trim and brick issues, we have recently learned from our elevator repair companies that our elevator is “beyond its serviceable life.” We have had increasing difficulty getting companies to inspect and service our elevator. The biggest factor is that the elevator was designed to be used for 15 years and companies do not want the liability of inspecting and servicing an elevator system that is outdated and past the end of its life. As we consider how much money we should continue to put into maintaining the elevator, we realize the need for a long-term, low-maintenance accessibility option such as a handicap accessible ramp.

The Church Board created a Task Force to look further into these issues with a General Contractor, architect, and other professionals. The consensus thus far is that we must address these three issues with a long term plan that will involve a significant building repair and maintenance project. Because this project is a necessity (ie. a need, not a want) and involves construction to the front of our sanctuary, the Church Board and Task Force also feel that considering potential upgrades/renovations to our sanctuary entrance is prudent and wise stewardship.

Many of you will have questions, thoughts, and ideas to share regarding multiple aspects of such a project. We want to hear from you! This letter is the beginning of a conversation. We will host two Q&A sessions after worship on September 7 and 14. We will also be sending a survey/questionnaires to solicit your ideas and input during that timeframe. Additionally, Pastor Jason and members of the Task Force are available to speak with you about the project.

With Grace and Peace as We Seek God’s Guidance,

Members of the Building Task Force (Pastor Jason, Emily, Evelyn, Tyler, Kenneth, Robbie, Corrie, & Robie)