New Building Progress Reports
By Ed Caulkins

NEW FACILITY UPDATE - February, 2001

Finally, we are within a few weeks of worshiping in our new church! It has been a long and exciting journey. After years of planning and building, the new worship facility is ready to be occupied.

The transition begins on Friday, February 16th when the church office will move into its new home. This is the first step to occupying the new church. On March 4th, we will hold a transitional service, which will begin in the current church and finish in our new Sanctuary. Later that day we will hold our first congregational meeting in the new church followed by the Lenten Family Night in the new Family Life Center. This should prove to be a very memorable day in the life of our congregation.

The upper floor of the building is almost complete with furniture already in the rooms. By the end of February, the lower level of the Education Wing will be complete with furnishings as well. The last room to be finished will be the kitchen. Due to scheduling issues, the cooking equipment may not be ready for the Lenten Family Night but we will have the roasting pans in place to keep our cooks busy and our stomachs full.

But first, we have to finish our final construction project - CLEANING. We would like the congregation to assist in a final house cleaning party on Saturday, February 24th. A large turnout is essential. The more people to participate, the shorter the cleaning time. It is a large building and everyone who comes will make a difference. Please stop by with your buckets, rags, brooms, vacuum cleaners and dust rags. We will have soap and cleaning agents available for your use.

Please plan to spend part of your day at the new facility to wipe away that final construction dust and make those windows sparkle. With everyone's' participation, it will be a fun and painless cleaning experience. Please remember to mark "Cleaning Saturday", February 24th on your calendar.

NEW FACILITY UPDATE - January, 2001

The chandeliers have arrived! On January 8, the long awaited chandeliers for the Nave and Gathering Space were delivered. They are now installed and operational. It has been a long wait after several delays but the final product is now in place. The spotlights in the Nave have also been aimed. This was not as easy as you might think considering there are 36 lamps. Mounted up at the underside of the ceiling, some are as high as 40 feet above the floor.

January brought dramatic changes on the upper floor. By the end of January, the following items will be completed:

· Carpeting in the Nave, Gathering Space, offices and classrooms
· Tile floor in the Gathering Space
· Pews will be installed
· The two smaller stained glass windows
· The organ will be installed

February will be our final month of construction. The lower level will be the center of activity as we finish the classrooms, Family Life Center and kitchen. The drywall is already complete and the painting in progress. As February continues, the ceilings, lights and plumbing fixtures on the lower level will be installed.

This work will bring us to our final project - CLEANING. We would like the congregation to assist in a final cleaning. It will take a lot of help to give the building its final cleaning. This will be split into two times, one for the upper level and another for the lower level. Stay tuned for further details.

NEW FACILITY UPDATE - December, 2000

The masons have completed all the brick and dryvit on the exterior of the building. A raised cross has been built into the gable end of the covered drive. If you look close, you will see that the cross is identical to the processional cross and the cross that will be mounted on the rear Chancel wall above the granite.

In the Nave, the painting and oak trim are almost complete. The stained glass window frames and clear outer protective glass has just been installed. The organ speakers have been installed in the front and rear organ chambers. The granite wall is in place, and the grouting and final trim will be completed next.

The chandeliers will be installed between Christmas and New Year's Day. The carpeting will be installed the first week of January, and the pews will be put in place during the week of January 15th.

Final site grading is in progress and the parking lot paving and sidewalks are complete. The base coarse of the parking lot was installed. The final coarse will be applied next spring.

Work in the education wing is progressing as the drywall is almost complete upstairs and the ceramic tile walls and floors in the restrooms are in place. The church offices are painted and the ceiling grid and lights installed. The ceiling tiles will be installed after the computer, telephone and fire alarm wiring is completed.

To those of you who have been back every Saturday morning to help clean, thank you for your support.

NEW FACILITY UPDATE - November, 2000

The month of October supplied us with the driest weather since construction began. The dry weather has allowed the contractors to complete the majority of the exterior of the building with the exception of some doors and the stained glass windows. These doors will be installed in the near future. The stained glass windows are still in production at the stained glass studio near Philadelphia.

The masons have completed all the brickwork around the Education Wing and Nave, and are currently working on the columns supporting the covered drive. They will begin the dryvit work on the west gable end of the Narthex and the covered drive next.

As you have all noticed, the steeple was lifted by crane to its' final location centered over the peak of the Sanctuary roof this past month. If you think the steeple is leaning to the west, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. The spire is leaning to the west approximately 10 inches at the top. This will be remedied when the winds are calm enough to allow for an adjustment.

In the Nave, the drywall is now complete. The painters have painted the front wall and are working on the remaining walls and the steel connection plates. The base molding and chair rail will be installed next.

Around back, the septic system, kitchen grease trap and underground propane tank have all been installed over the past few weeks. Final site grading will begin after the parking lot paving and sidewalks are complete. The base coarse of the parking lot paving is being installed at this time. The final coarse will be applied next spring.

Over the past month, several members have helped to clean the building on Saturday mornings. It is mostly light work including broom sweeping and picking up scrap drywall from the floors. It is a great way to contribute while spending some time reviewing the construction progress on a weekly basis. Please come and help between 8:00 AM and 12 noon if you can.

Building Update - October, 2000

The building will soon be weather-tight. Exterior walls around the Sanctuary and Gathering Space are being closed in. Windows have been installed everywhere but the Sanctuary. The masons have finished the rear south and east walls of the education wing, and will continue around the front of the building. In a month, the brickwork should be complete.

The installation of the shingle roof is complete over the education wing, and the Sanctuary roof will be completed in the coming month. The final insulation and plywood decking are now complete except for the north side of the Sanctuary.

Nine of the ten air conditioning units are already in place and the ductwork is being installed in the lower level. Electrical wiring in the lower level is almost complete as well. The elevator has arrived.

The steeple has been ordered and should arrive in late October. Pew and altar furniture are now in the production cycle for delivery after Thanksgiving.

Gift naming opportunities are still available, such as:

Please contact the church office if you wish to make a first time contribution or an additional contribution.

Building Update - September, 2000

We have a roof! After several weeks of hard work the roof trusses and plywood sheathing are finally complete. For those of you who wonder why it seemed to take so long, here are some facts:

· 172 wood trusses were installed to form the roof of the education wing.
· 550 sheets of plywood were used to sheath the roof.
· 2000 pounds of nails were used to fasten the trusses in place and nail the roof decking down.

The completion of the roof will now allow work inside the building to progress in spite of the weather. Installation of the shingle roof will begin very shortly.

The walls in the lower level are now framed and the electrical work has begun. Walls around the sanctuary have also begun. The mechanical contractor will begin his ductwork and air conditioning unit installation very shortly as well.

Meanwhile, the masons will begin laying the exterior brick. This work will take approximately 8 weeks and use more than 96,000 bricks. The exterior windows and doors will be installed after the remainder of the exterior walls are framed and sheathed.

We are still striving to be in the new sanctuary for Christmas. Keep the weather in your prayers. Every bit helps!

Building Update - August, 2000

If you've been by the new facility recently, the progress there speaks for itself. The concrete slab under the sanctuary floor is almost complete. Masonry walls are being finished, and soon we will see more structure rise around the Education wing.

A new feature has been added to our church. Our contractor raised a concern that the future bell tower may create a long term waterproofing problem. Since we could not solve the problem to the entire committee's satisfaction, a change has been made. The bell tower will not be built. Instead, a steeple will be installed directly over the Sanctuary.

The steeple will be forty-five feet high with a cross at the pinnacle. Lighting will accent the steeple at night as it will tower eighty-five feet above the ground. With this new addition, we believe the new building will clearly identify itself as a church.

The installation of this steeple required some additional framing members in the roof structure. On July 11, Pastor Moore and Rolland Snyder rented a truck and left for Sydney, NY at 5:30 a.m. Just after lunch, they returned with framing required to complete the sanctuary roof and provide the support for the new steeple. The steeple itself will be installed later this fall.

Building Update - July, 2000

What a difference a month makes - now you can really see what the new facility will be like. The Sanctuary arches are set in place and the roof deck installation is in progress. If you walk under the roof, you can look up to see the finished wood, and begin to get a feel for our new worship area. The back wall of the education wing is also progressing, and the first floor steel and decking are in place. The concrete deck for the first floor will be poured shortly. After this, the outside masonry walls of the education wing can be built and roof trusses over the classrooms will complete the outer shell.

Site grading will be finished around the building and behind the storm detention pond. The lower parking area will be graded and covered with stone, in preparation for paving later in the year.

Electrical, plumbing and air conditioning systems are progressing as well. The incoming electric service is almost complete and the underground conduit in place. Plumbing is complete below the lower level floor slab and the water line has been terminated inside the building. Ductwork, electrical, and plumbing is being installed below the sanctuary floor slab.

We are working on the interior decorating schemes for the education wing and family life center. If you have an interest in this area, please attend a Furnishings and Interior Decorating committee meeting on Monday, July 17 at 7:00 PM in the narthex, or talk to Marion Greenwood or Keith Grim to join the committee.

Building Update - June, 2000

Steel for the education wing and the wood arches for the sanctuary have finally arrived. The building is finally taking shape and rising above the foundation walls. From here on, the progress will be much more noticeable while passing by.

Daryl Geiger, a member of our congregation and a cabinet maker, has volunteered to construct the office furnishings for the new facility. The kitchen layout is complete, equipment from Weis/King's has been cleaned, and a small freezer and commercial refrigerator has been offered to the congregation. Both the Celebration and Decorations Committees are preparing for their role in the new facility.

Over the past year and a half, we have attempted to keep you informed about the building design and construction progress through newsletter articles, council notes and Temple Talks. The purpose of this article is to bring you up to date on some of the decisions that have been made and on some issues still pending.

Approximately one year ago, (April '99 and May '99 newsletters) the Building Construction Committee recommended that the entire facility be constructed at one time, rather than phasing, even though some parts of the interior might not be finished until later. One month later, Council recommended that the Building Committee pursue a less ambitious plan than originally designed in order to keep costs down. In January 2000, the base building cost took an abrupt leap of approximately $300,000. This rise in cost was brought about in large part due to stricter building codes.

Now the good news! Through some innovative design changes, often prompted by suggestions from our contractor Harold Blacker, and the tremendous outpouring of financial support from members and friends of the congregation, we are on target to have a facility that will have 17 classrooms, a sanctuary that will seat 575+, and a Family Life Center that is back to its original size. The sanctuary will have a state-of-the-art organ, beautiful stained glass windows and top quality furnishings. Through the generosity of Weis/Kings, our kitchen will be complete as well. Although the Building Committee is working to keep costs well within the limits of the mortgage arrangements as approved by the congregation, finishing all the classrooms and erecting the bell tower still remain as somewhat wishful options. Within a short time, a decision to delay or build the bell tower will have to be made; decisions on the classrooms can be delayed a bit longer. These decisions, frankly, will become financial decisions.

With sufficient additional funds or pledges, we can move into a completely finished and furnished facility. If you wish to make a first time gift or an additional gift to the building fund, please contact the church office. There are also several naming opportunities still available. More information can be obtained by contacting the church office or the Building Construction Committee.

Finally, many thanks for the tremendous support you have given. Your gifts exemplify the meaning of Christian stewardship.

Building Update - May, 2000

With the coming of spring, the pace of construction is picking up. The foundation walls for the Sanctuary are almost complete. If you walk around the site, you will notice the configuration of the new Sanctuary is much different from our current facility. The new Sanctuary is much wider and shallower. This will bring everyone closer to the Chancel.

In mid-May, the large arches will arrive. When these arches are set in place, they will reach 40 feet at the peak. At that time, the Sanctuary will finally begin to take form and become visible from the road.

The east end of the parking lot has been graded and covered with stone. This will serve as a staging and storage area for the brick delivery at the end of April. The brick delivery will require ten flatbed tractor-trailers.

The storm drainage work is almost complete. The storm water catch basins and piping from the parking lots to the retention pond are all in place. When the paving is complete, all the rainwater from the parking lots will be directed to the storm detention pond at the rear of the building.

In March, Weis/King's donated table service and kitchenware from their closed restaurant in Hamburg. On April 1, volunteers moved additional kitchen equipment from Hamburg to local storage. Weis/King's sold us this equipment, which included stove, range top, griddles, fryers, stainless steel worktables, dishwasher, steam table, sandwich bar, and more. All this equipment was received for $4000, a fraction of the cost if purchased new. Items that we do not need will be sold, and the money used to offset other kitchen costs. We have sent Weis/King's a thank-you letter for their generous support on behalf of the entire congregation.

The interior decorating schemes for the Sanctuary and offices are complete. We will be continuing with interior finishes of the Education Wing next. A model and finish board will be on display in the near future.

As you can see, work is moving quickly in many areas of this project. Just as the three crosses rose out of the hill on our site during Lent, the upcoming months will feature many facets of our new Worship Facility rising from the ground up.

Building Update - April, 2000

Work is progressing rapidly on our new facility, with the cooperation of good weather. Concrete work continues as building footers and foundation walls are formed and poured. Here are some facts:

Site drainage work will resume over the next few weeks. Wessner Excavating will install the storm water catch basins and piping from the parking lots to the storm water retention pond. You may have already noticed the large pile of piping and concrete catch basins along Washington Street.

The plumbers will install the water line into the building in the next few weeks.

Work is progressing inside the building as well. The pews and Chancel furniture have been finalized and will be ordered this week. The interior decorating schemes for the Sanctuary and Offices are almost complete. We will be continuing with interior finishes of the Education Wing next.

Weis/King's has donated flatware, dishes, pots, pans, glasses, trays and other kitchen items too numerous to list. All these items are from the Hamburg Store Restaurant, which closed at the end of 1999. Thanks to Judy Gifford, Curtis Schneck, and others, who all had a part in obtaining these items.

Thanks also to David and Ruth Schneck for providing storage space, and to the volunteers who helped move all these items from Hamburg into storage. In addition, we are negotiating to purchase some of Weis/King's kitchen appliances at a reduced price. This will provide a real savings to our original budget.

Building Update - March, 2000

This month, the Building Construction committee would like to share with you a list of "Did You Know Facts" about our new facility:

Outdoor construction work has been slow over the past month due to Mother Nature. The organ for the new Sanctuary has been ordered. The pew and chancel furniture are being finalized by the Building and Worship & Music committees in conjunction with the interior decorator from Spillman Farmer and the pew manufacturer. The design of the kitchen is being considered, and the Education committee is reviewing the needs for classroom furniture.

Many items must be examined and decided over the course of the next several months. Please let us know if you can participate in any of the following task groups:

You all have the opportunity to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience of building a new church. If you have an interest in any of the topics above, please call the church office so we can contact you with the dates and times we will be meeting. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Building Committee or the church office.

Building Update - February, 2000

If you have time, stop at the site and see what is happening. We think you will be excited to stand in the middle of our future. Work is progressing in spite of the variable weather conditions, and becoming more visible each week.

Foundation walls for the Education Wing continue to be formed and poured, as the weather allows between rain and cold. The remainder of the Education Wing walls will be formed and poured before the work on the Sanctuary foundation begins.

As you visit the site, the concrete walls you see are the front of the Education Wing, lower level. These walls will serve as a retaining wall when the ground is pushed back up against them. By looking at the wall height, you can begin to get a sense of how high the church will sit on the site.

The lower level of the Education Wing will open onto grade at the back, similar to a walkout or open basement in a house. Upon the completion of the lower level walls, the steel framing for the upper level floor will be built, followed by the upper level walls and roof. The structural steel for the Education Wing will be manufactured soon.

The bricks for the exterior of the building have been ordered. The wood arches for the Sanctuary are scheduled for delivery in mid March. These arches will be 40 feet tall at the peak.

The Building Committee and the Music & Worship Committee are working on pew and Chancel furniture details.

We will continue to keep you updated on a monthly basis in the newsletter and at one Sunday Worship service each month. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Building Committee or Church Office.

Building Update - January, 2000

Work is still progressing on the site, though it is hard to see from the road. The only visible item is the straw and seed on the topsoil stock pile. This seeding will stabilize the pile, and was required by the Lehigh County Conservation District. The parking lot grading is also finished, in preparation for stone.

The rest of the work is below the surface. The basement excavation is complete. Building footers and foundation walls are being formed and poured as weather allows between rain days. As of mid-December, 75 cubic yards of concrete have been poured. A total of 1042 cubic yards will be poured to complete the job, which is the equivalent of 101 cement truck loads.

38,000 pounds of steel reinforcing bars have been delivered to the site to be installed in the footers and foundation walls. An additional 38,000 pounds is required to complete the concrete work.

The manufacturer for the laminated arches which will form the new Sanctuary is developing shop drawings. Sample bricks were assembled into mock up walls for final selection. The Building Committee continues to evaluate pew and organ proposals for the new Sanctuary.