Caution, Construction Zone

The signs are in place, the sanctuary and Johnston Hall and the lower level are official construction zones and hard hat areas.

In the sanctuary, the pews are out and the carpet is up. Protective plastic on the stained glass windows give the scene a kind of "underwater" feel. There is mute testimony given by the wooden subfloor—an arc that shows the shape of the original 1890's chancel. (See the picture below and notice that curved line extending from the chancel steps that is carved in the floorboards).

As the carpet came up, it also revealed the patch made in the sub-floor after the fire in the chancel. The "new" boards are wider and—younger by many decades than the adjacent lumber—lighter in color. These things are reminders of what has been.

In the last few days, the final moveable bits have been relocated from Johnston Hall and workers have removed the ceiling tiles and carpet. Again there is much revealed about what has been, but here in Johnston Hall with its ceiling open to the rafters there is more, there is the promise of the shape of things to come.

So, I wonder what the sanctuary looks like today?

While looking for a little afternoon pick-me-up, Martha and I followed the "pinging" noises into the sanctuary, and this is what we saw. . . . . the view from the back of the sanctuary looking up the Meigs Street side. . . . . . The bird's eye view from the balcony. . . . . . workers hard at work. . . . . . Pew ends lining the walls waiting to be sent off to be re-finished. . . . . . looking across the front of the sanctuary. Things are progressing--we'll keep updating you with pictures and stories!

First Sunday at Incarnate Word

. . . so what would it be like to get 100+ kids from the Incarnate Word sanctuary to the education building for Sunday school? I knew a few things: It was a three minute walk, our families are pretty dedicated and flexible. . .but in the end, the weather would be the key to a good first day. All I can say is "AMEN!" We were blessed with temperatures in the mid 40s and sunshine, and on the whole, everything went off without a hitch! I dealt with the craziness, by buying a big cart for all the Sunday school stuff, and making and laminating about 20 different signs! The Junior choir rehearsed at 10am in the TPC chapel and then all came over to Incarnate Word for worship. . . Although I had worried about the kids being late, we actually were early in returning back to coffee hour--too early,actually--but the kids somehow found a way to amuse themselves. . . We have all been overwhelmed by the wonderful hospitality of our neighbors! Watch this space next week for pictures about the beginnings of constructions--we may just get a few pictures of staff in their hard hats up!

Beginnings

What a difference a day makes! This morning, the process of disassembling pews and organ console in our sanctuary began. A Mayflower van pulled up to the Meigs Street entrance to load the boxes that need offsite storage during construction. Johnston Hall, now mostly empty of furnature, seems so quiet compared to the buzz of Sunday coffee hours. This is a week for change and movement and dust and noise, but also one of excitement as the planned construction and renovations actually begin.

Extra, Extra, Read all about it!

click here to read the article in today's Rochester Democrat and Chronicle about the Construction project!