SANCTUARY RENOVATION
Phase I & II complete
The choir shuffle might be ending soon! An ad hoc committee empowered by the church administrative board has been meeting all spring to work out details of a renovation to our worship space that will replace the side-facing pews in the front of the church (chancel area) with chairs that face the congregation and can comfortably seat our whole choir.
Those of you who have noticed that you could hear the choir better, on the few times they stood on the steps and sang out, will now get to hear the anthems in a bigger, bolder way! YAY!
The same committee has also chosen a contractor to create some platforms and a wider central area in the worship space, to accommodate praise bands, and make the space more accessible for weddings, funerals, and other special services where we need more space than the current set up allows. Everything will be done to blend in well with the beautiful architectural details of Epworth's sanctuary.
Also, improvements to the seating in the pews will allow for more accessibility for folks in wheelchairs or with other mobility issues. Our sign out front says “Open Minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors.” We want to be sure that everyone who wants to worship here can easily participate and feels welcome in our space. Hospitality is a responsibility from God!
These two projects are “Phase One” and “Phase Two” of our goal to make Epworth’s worship align better with the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” that we studied in small groups and focused on in Sunday worship over the past few years: Radical Hospitality and Passionate Worship can happen better if our space is configured a little bit differently. (Just to refresh your memory, the other 3 of the Five Practices are Risk-Taking Mission & Service, Intentional Faith Development, and Extravagant Generosity.) Because of generous individual donations, these projects are fully funded and we will not be borrowing money or using regular donations and operating expense money to pay for them.
With the delivery of the new choir chairs, in Aug./Sept., Phase I & II will be complete.
Phase III (Completed Dec. 2016)
We have also discussed, in the ad hoc committee, in small groups, and in open meetings that everyone has been invited to attend, the possible “Phase Three” of incorporating a screen or screens, and projectors for multi-media during worship. If you visit other churches, you know that many (if not most) now have these items as part of their worship space, and use them every Sunday to project announcements, song lyrics, scripture readings, liturgy, film clips, and other visuals that enhance and tie-in with the sermon. It’s always, always about God, and how to share the Good News to as many folks as possible, in ways that work today! Many folks think that this equipment would help people, especially younger people, to be more involved and interested in our worship. Because of this, we have received some donations toward Phase Three.
A specialist in church sound and video equipment who met with some members gave us estimates and equipment lists, and we’ve had lots of discussions about where and what size screens and projectors could/should be.
One of the big issues in considering the purchase and installation of this kind of equipment is recruiting volunteers to work with it: folks from churches who use this multimedia tell us that it takes a couple hours per week, in preparation time and actually running the program. Are you interested in working with computers, multi-media equipment, etc.? Is there anyone who would volunteer to be trained to run this equipment if we were to purchase it? And are there two or three others who would also be trained, to fill in on Sundays when needed?
Please take a moment and let us know your thoughts by completing the Multi-media Survey
Again, it’s about finding ways to reach out and share the Good News in as many ways as possible, to as many folks as possible.
Prayerfully consider what you think our next steps should be, join the discussion, and, if God is calling you, volunteer to help!
Phase I & II complete
The choir shuffle might be ending soon! An ad hoc committee empowered by the church administrative board has been meeting all spring to work out details of a renovation to our worship space that will replace the side-facing pews in the front of the church (chancel area) with chairs that face the congregation and can comfortably seat our whole choir.
Those of you who have noticed that you could hear the choir better, on the few times they stood on the steps and sang out, will now get to hear the anthems in a bigger, bolder way! YAY!
The same committee has also chosen a contractor to create some platforms and a wider central area in the worship space, to accommodate praise bands, and make the space more accessible for weddings, funerals, and other special services where we need more space than the current set up allows. Everything will be done to blend in well with the beautiful architectural details of Epworth's sanctuary.
Also, improvements to the seating in the pews will allow for more accessibility for folks in wheelchairs or with other mobility issues. Our sign out front says “Open Minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors.” We want to be sure that everyone who wants to worship here can easily participate and feels welcome in our space. Hospitality is a responsibility from God!
These two projects are “Phase One” and “Phase Two” of our goal to make Epworth’s worship align better with the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” that we studied in small groups and focused on in Sunday worship over the past few years: Radical Hospitality and Passionate Worship can happen better if our space is configured a little bit differently. (Just to refresh your memory, the other 3 of the Five Practices are Risk-Taking Mission & Service, Intentional Faith Development, and Extravagant Generosity.) Because of generous individual donations, these projects are fully funded and we will not be borrowing money or using regular donations and operating expense money to pay for them.
With the delivery of the new choir chairs, in Aug./Sept., Phase I & II will be complete.
Phase III (Completed Dec. 2016)
We have also discussed, in the ad hoc committee, in small groups, and in open meetings that everyone has been invited to attend, the possible “Phase Three” of incorporating a screen or screens, and projectors for multi-media during worship. If you visit other churches, you know that many (if not most) now have these items as part of their worship space, and use them every Sunday to project announcements, song lyrics, scripture readings, liturgy, film clips, and other visuals that enhance and tie-in with the sermon. It’s always, always about God, and how to share the Good News to as many folks as possible, in ways that work today! Many folks think that this equipment would help people, especially younger people, to be more involved and interested in our worship. Because of this, we have received some donations toward Phase Three.
A specialist in church sound and video equipment who met with some members gave us estimates and equipment lists, and we’ve had lots of discussions about where and what size screens and projectors could/should be.
One of the big issues in considering the purchase and installation of this kind of equipment is recruiting volunteers to work with it: folks from churches who use this multimedia tell us that it takes a couple hours per week, in preparation time and actually running the program. Are you interested in working with computers, multi-media equipment, etc.? Is there anyone who would volunteer to be trained to run this equipment if we were to purchase it? And are there two or three others who would also be trained, to fill in on Sundays when needed?
Please take a moment and let us know your thoughts by completing the Multi-media Survey
Again, it’s about finding ways to reach out and share the Good News in as many ways as possible, to as many folks as possible.
Prayerfully consider what you think our next steps should be, join the discussion, and, if God is calling you, volunteer to help!
