April 2009

The Project Team is continuing to meet and work on our three goals as defined by the Session:
1) Major repairs to the Church (e.g. furnace)
2) An elevator
3) Multi-purpose space

As most of you are probably aware, following the December Congregational Meeting, the furnaces that heat the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall were replaced with new units that will be used moving forward even after the addition is completed. We are expecting to see a dramatic improvement in our operating expenses based on the new furnaces having a burner efficiency of over 90% verses the approximate 40% efficiency for the 70 year old units. And, this doesn’t take into account the relief of the staff that doesn’t have to (sometimes heroically) relight the furnaces six or more times a day. In addition, the Congregation should be aware that the heating and air conditioning system in the Christian Education Wing is also over 30 years old and starting to show its age with increased maintenance costs and will be evaluated by the Team moving forward.

The other two legs of the project are also progressing. The Team just met to approve the final changes to the site plan as completed by our Architect, Daryl Drake. The addition, that will include an elevator that will serve both the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall, will extend from the rear of the Church, over the current furnace room, out into the parking lot towards Webster Street. While the addition will have about half of the footprint of the previous, more expensive plan, we are planning on having a lower floor at the same level as Fellowship Hall, and an upper floor at the Sanctuary level.

Moving forward, the Team is anticipating the project will proceed as follows: finalize site plan; request zoning variances from city; authorize the architect to create detailed design drawings; put the drawings out for bids with local contractors; use final bids to create final scope and cost of the project; distribute project information to the congregation and hold a “major” congregational meeting for final project approval.

The purpose of our planned congregational meeting is two fold. First, the project scope has changed from our original plan and we want everyone to fully understand the new proposal. And, secondly, we are all aware that the economy has impacted our congregation, in some cases dramatically, and we need to have agreement on the costs and commitment required to successfully complete the project.

It has been our goal through the leadership of Pastor Bob to keep the Congregation fully informed as to the progress of the Project Team. Our meeting minutes are posted on the Church website and through communications such as this newsletter, Fireside Chats, Belvidere Brewers and Congregational Meetings. We hope that the Congregation feels that they are full partners in this endeavor. As always we invite input from the Congregation as well, so that we can consider all aspects of the project moving forward. The Project Team consists of:

Spiritual Leader: Pastor Bob
Team Members: Richard Carrick, Dale Drake, Carl Lindaas, and Pat Goymerac
Consulting: Rick Belinson

We look forward to our continued partnership in doing God’s will at Our Family of Faith.


In Christ,

Richard Carrick