Expanding Hope

Expansion Update - So What Happens Next?

While we aren't doing updates weekly at this point, we do want to check in and give you a few quick bits on what is coming - as well as a couple quick requests.

Worship Area: We are in and actively using our new worship area - and we're working on some final tweaks to make it the way we all want it - such as airflow and temperature, audio coverage, etc. Our weekly attendance numbers have already grown (which is why we did this whole thing in the first place!). In addition, Christmas Eve we had nearly 600 people at the 4:00PM service - and over 650 at the 6:00PM service - also a huge increase from past years! If you're curious about the side by side comparison between the old and new sanctuaries, step into the old one now that the pews and carpet are out and compare it to the memory of when you saw the new sanctuary in a similar condition - quite a difference. All that said, we all still need to work together in the adjustment to the new sanctuary and using it most effectively. The pews are longer in most cases, so please make sure that that you're sliding in as you sit down to enable easy access for folks arriving after you (especially for visitors!). And please be receptive and responsive should an usher ask you to "scootch" in to make room for folks, we're finding that we're spreading out more as we have more space, which gives the inaccurate perception that we're full - when in reality we have a ton more seats if we use it well. Last note on this, we plan to acquire another 90-ish chairs to fill the rest of the worship area space and enable further seating (this was part of the plan from the beginning), but we have been working to manage costs in this interesting economic time so didn't do it right away. Thanks again for your help in this - and in making room for everyone - especially for visitors! And if you haven't had the opportunity to be in the new worship area yet then first - come join us - but if you are away you can see pictures and a link to a quick video clip down below this blog.

Sunday School: Great progress here. Thanks to the hard work of so many, and the generous financial contribution of a family who wishes to remain anonymous, we are moving full speed ahead. The walls are in, and painted, and the floor is going in now. In addition, the bathrooms are done, and much of the kitchen/food-prep area is underway. Join us this Sunday, in between services, as we celebrate New Hope's 20th anniversary and get a quick tour of the new area (along with refreshments). When it is completed (we anticipate by March 1st), this new Sunday School area will increase our capacity for children's classes dramatically, and will also enable the present Sunday School area to be used for youth classes, another very important focus for New Hope. As this area nears completion, you'll hear much more about schedules and plans for children, youth and adult classes and other activities - stay tuned. Photos and a link to a video tour are included below as well.

New Fellowship Hall (old worship area): This is underway in terms of preparation for the construction. The plan here is to level the floor (at its highest point), and turn it into the new fellowship hall. This will give us a much greater gathering area, for both our congregation and, very importantly, as part of our community outreach - and will also enable what is the present fellowship hall to be used more extensively for adult classes. We are waiting on final approvals from the town, and will have more schedule information after that, but the construction work here is far less complex that what we have already come through. By the way, if you're looking for a pew of your own for home, stop by any time :)

In addition, further good news, the bank has extended our construction loan to the end of March, which enables us to have a bit more cash available while the overall project is wrapped up, and is a very positive thing in these interesting times .

Thanks for reading, and for your support. If any questions, any time, please don't hesitate to contact any of the EIT folks (Bill Scott, Dave Arnett, Scott Chandler, Chris Hudson, Ralph Pippitt, Lora Lundin).

photos of new worship area

 

 

 

 

photos of new sunday school area

 

 

 

 

video tour of new sunday school area

note - may take some time to download

Download New sunday school area tour

video tour of new fellowship hall area

note - may take a bit to download

Download New fellowship hall tour

video tour of new worship area

Download New worship area tour

note - may take some time to download

New Hope Expansion Update 12/3/08

So. We've got our CO. We hosted the Community Thanksgiving Service and had our first Sunday services (including communion) this past week. So what now?

First, New Hope staff will be moving their offices and the office equipment into the new space this week. Help in moving is always welcome - and appreciated. If you are available to help in this, please call the office and they can provide details.

Second, over the next couple weeks we are going to be finishing/fixing up the bits and pieces that remain in the new worship area. This includes the remaining panes of glass in the interior sanctuary entrance doors, and other things like it. If you see something that we may not be aware of, please don't hesitate to leave a message in the New Hope Office and they'll see that it gets to the EIT to be included in the "punch list" of actions as appropriate.

Meanwhile, the work in the lower level - the new classroom space - of the new building is going well. The drywall is nearly in, with wonderful work and camaraderie by a host of volunteers. After which it will be taped, mudded and painted. Photos posted below for your viewing pleasure. Please remember this is still very much a work area, with many sharp edges, so it remains off limits except for those involved in the construction work. This project will take a bit yet, but the results will be a host of new classrooms - literally multiplying the amount of Children's Sunday School space New Hope offers. When it is completed, and the children's classrooms move formally over there, the present Sunday School area (in the lower level of the Fellowship Hall) will become youth classroom space, and the upper level of the Fellowship Hall will be focused on adult classroom space.

Last, the previous/old sanctuary will be converted to the new fellowship hall. We'll take the pews out (they'll be sold if possible), level the floor, and it will be an excellent - and much larger - fellowship hall as well as a venue for larger events. This will take a bit, so stay tuned. The new lower-level classrooms and the to-be converted new fellowship hall will be under a new building permit, but have been part of the overall project concept from the beginning.

So. That's the high level overview of actions to anticipate over the next few months. Given these are all interior projects, weather should not affect schedules. (*******) And the outcome will align well with the overall goals: increased worship area, increased parking space, increased children's classroom space, and increased fellowship space. With a host of benefits in other areas along the way.

New Hope EIT (Expansion Implementation Team)

So. We've got our CO. We hosted the Community Thanksgiving Service and had our first Sunday services (including communion) this past week. So what now?

First, New Hope staff will be moving their offices and the office equipment into the new space this week. Help in moving is always welcome - and appreciated. If you are available to help in this, please call the office and they can provide details.

Second, over the next couple weeks we are going to be finishing/fixing up the bits and pieces that remain in the new worship area. This includes the remaining panes of glass in the interior sanctuary entrance doors, and other things like it. If you see something that we may not be aware of, please don't hesitate to leave a message in the New Hope Office and they'll see that it gets to the EIT to be included in the "punch list" of actions as appropriate.

Meanwhile, the work in the lower level - the new classroom space - of the new building is going well. The drywall is nearly in, with wonderful work and camaraderie by a host of volunteers. After which it will be taped, mudded and painted. Photos posted below for your viewing pleasure. Please remember this is still very much a work area, with many sharp edges, so it remains off limits except for those involved in the construction work. This project will take a bit yet, but the results will be a host of new classrooms - literally multiplying the amount of Children's Sunday School space New Hope offers. When it is completed, and the children's classrooms move formally over there, the present Sunday School area (in the lower level of the Fellowship Hall) will become youth classroom space, and the upper level of the Fellowship Hall will be focused on adult classroom space.

Last, the previous/old sanctuary will be converted to the new fellowship hall. We'll take the pews out (they'll be sold if possible), level the floor, and it will be an excellent - and much larger - fellowship hall as well as a venue for larger events. This will take a bit, so stay tuned. The new lower-level classrooms and the to-be converted new fellowship hall will be under a new building permit, but have been part of the overall project concept from the beginning.

So. That's the high level overview of actions to anticipate over the next few months. Given these are all interior projects, weather should not affect schedules. (*******) And the outcome will align well with the overall goals: increased worship area, increased parking space, increased children's classroom space, and increased fellowship space. With a host of benefits in other areas along the way.

New Hope EIT (Expansion Implementation Team)

Basement Drywall Photos

 

 

 

 

Photo of the Certificate of Occupancy !!!!!!!!

Here is our construction manager, Jim, holding the CO in front of the cross

New Hope Expansion Update 11/26/08 - We're in !!!!!!!!!!

We're in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Earlier today, we received word of approval for our CO (Certificate of Occupancy) and it is being picked up right now. So our first full service will be the Community Thanksgiving Service this evening. Thanks indeed, and thanks and praise to God for his many blessings, of which this is but one.

The dedication service this past Sunday afternoon was a blessing as well. With a wonderful turnout from New Hope, excellent representation and sharing from the Presbytery (including Rev. Lynn Vahle and Rev. Tom Sheffied), fantastic music including the Chancel Choir, the Praise Team, Sisters in Grace, Grace Notes, and Band of Hope - as well as the bagpipers and drummer that led us in the new sanctuary near the end of the service where we sang and prayed together! It was also an opportunity for recognition of our own Bill Scott who has led us here, of the incredible work in the cross that Ralph Pippitt did, and of the amazing teams of Ponderosa Construction and Eidos Architects, without which we wouldn't be here. There were a host of other wonderful parts of the service, but so many great ingredients that if I included them all here then the reading time would likely hold you back from your Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow :)

This Sunday, services will be held in the new Sanctuary, and we move to 2 services: 9:00AM and 10:45AM, along with our first communion there. For more details about the services and format, please see the New Hope website.

We hope to see you at the Turkey Rock Trot tomorrow morning. And we wish you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving, filled with the joy of Christ and the surrounding of family and friends and peace.

The best is yet to come.

New Hope EIT (Expansion Implementation Team)