Sanctuary to be refurbished - September
The Sanctuary Refurbishment Committee, which has been meeting over the summer, has completed their review of the sanctuary and chapel. The committee recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the Session.
These refurbishments include:
• Replace all sanctuary seat cushions (the old cushions are over 30 years old)
• Replace the sanctuary baptismal font
• Replace the carpeting in the aisles (the old carpet is over 20 years old)
• Replace the floor covering from the front of the pews to the back of the platform behind the pulpit, including the stairs, with hard flooring (the hard flooring will improve the acoustics of the church)
• Minor carpentry and electrical work to improve access to outlets and improve access to the platform
• Replace and upgrade the sound system
• Refinish pieces in the chapel, including the communion table, baptismal fount, and pulpit
• Replace the pastor chairs in both the sanctuary and chapel
We are making a special appeal to cover the cost. Any gift of any size will be welcomed. Please do not hesitate to contact the church office with any questions.
Sanctuary refurbishing progress - November
The flooring installer is placing new underlayment on the chancel in the sanctuary in preparation for the new flooring. By the time you read this the flooring will be completed The new sound system was used for the first time on Sunday, October 29.
Still to arrive are the pew cushions for the sanctuary and chancel chairs for the sanctuary and Fox Chapel. The refinished furnishings for the chapel will be in place for communion on All Saints Sunday, November 5.
A new baptismal font is being built using wood from pews removed from the choir loft and crosses from the wall which formerly separated the musical instruments and choir from the congregation. It will be placed on the chancel platform.
Sanctuary refurbishment completed! - December
Come and hear the difference - A new sound system fulfills the needs of our traditional services and the contemporary music needs of the Brazilian Presbyterian Church congregation, who paid for most of the new system (over $25,000). Our congregation added microphones and monitors for the choir ($1,500 from a special gift to the music program).
New hard flooring on the chancel platform and the communion table area in front of the pews, replaced sound-dulling carpet. The dense surface of commercial grade carpet in the aisles also better reflects sound. These were specific requests of our music staff for enhanced choir and instrumental audio quality. These and other behind-the-scenes items were provided by our congregation through a fall fund drive which raised over $31,000 from one-hundred donors. Our forty-year-old pew pads were replaced through an anonymous gift of $17,000.
Memorial funds provided over $5,000 for 1) a custom designed baptismal font being built from pews and parts of the wall removed from the chancel; 2) new sanctuary chancel chairs; 3) refinishing the chapel chancel furnishings; and 4) a CD recorder which provides improved audio recording of our services.