Sanctuary Renovation Updates
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September 18, 2019
Renovation Set To Begin in October 2019; RH Tyson Construction Selected As Contractor On September 17, session approved signing a contract to begin the renovation of our Sanctuary and Ashantilly Wing. RH Tyson Construction of Blackshear, GA will be the contractor for this project, which is slated to start at the beginning of October. Our last Sunday in the sanctuary will be at the end of this month on our 73rd Church Anniversary Sunday - September 29. Together on that Sunday we will give thanks to God for our past, celebrate our present, and look forward with hopeful anticipation to our future. In the coming weeks, you will be hearing much more about the start of the renovation. We encourage you to read this month's "Renovation Update" found here. It includes relevant details concerning the timeline, cost, and logistical plans as we enter this time of construction. We are grateful to all of you for helping bring us to this point. To date, the "Heart and Soul Capital Campaign" which was formed to support bringing this vision to reality has received pledges from 137 individuals and families totaling nearly $3.6 million. The campaign remains open to all those who have not yet participated and would like to join us in this endeavor. Additionally, your church officers on the session and diaconate, the Building Committee, the Renovation Transition Team, and the church staff have dedicated countless hours over the past year to the work of planning and preparing for this renovation. To each and every one: thank you. This exciting moment represents the culmination of nearly five years of prayerful dreaming and discernment. There will no doubt be unforeseen challenges ahead as we transition into worshipping in the Social Hall and utilizing other temporary space arrangements. But the long-term benefit will be well worth it. A refreshed physical plant designed for ministry in the 21stcentury reflects our church's commitment to the sacred mission of witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ in our community and beyond for decades to come. |
Click Here to View September 18, 2019 Renovation Update
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Click Here to View June 19, 2019 Renovation Update
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June 19, 2019
Music Attic Connector and Renovation Update On Monday this week, the first step of our upcoming renovation officially began with the start of construction on a small connector hallway between our Music Attic space and existing Youth Suite. You can read more below about the purpose, timeline, and importance of this initial project. As the summer progresses, the Building Committee, Renovation Transition Team (RTT), and Capital Campaign Team all continue to work diligently behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for a smooth and successful launch of the sanctuary and Ashantilly Wing renovation. Each month, we will continue to endeavor to publish a "Renovation Update" to keep you informed about all that is happening. Copies are available on tables around the church and will also be shared electronically. Please remember that your questions, ideas, and concerns are always welcome. Do not hesitate to contact any member of the RTT, Building Committee, or Capital Campaign Team. Please also continue to keep these teams as well as your church in your prayers as together we prepare to embark on this new adventure. Peace, Alan |
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May 7, 2019
Update on Approaching Renovation St. Simons Presbyterian will soon be embarking on a major renovation of our sanctuary and existing Ashantilly Wing. In preparation for the beginning of that project, session has formed a Renovation Transition Team to help ensure a smooth transition out of our existing spaces, into temporary spaces, and finally back into a newly renovated sanctuary and Ashantilly Wing. In addition to planning for how to make sure the day-to-day ministry of the church continues to happen throughout the duration of the project, a big part of their job is also to keep all of us – i.e., the congregation – informed along the way. One way they will do that is by publishing regular Renovation Updates. These updates will be published and shared online as well as on table tops around the church. Please click the image at right to read the first Renovation Update. This initial update outlines all the different groups working on the project, the currently anticipated timeline, and several FAQ’s. You can also read in this update about two projects scheduled to happen this summer ahead of the actual renovation. The first is the removal and storage of the organ later this month. And the second is creating a small hallway to connect the existing Music Attic space to the Youth Suite. While the Renovation Transition Team is keeping busy with logistical planning, the Building Committee continues to be at work finalizing plans for the project itself. You will recall that the three-member building committee – Tom Baltzell, Karen Schmidt, and Matt Hodgdon – was elected by session to serve as the congregation’s chief liaison with the architectural team, contractor, and various consultants. This group handles all details pertaining to the construction and renovation itself. Members of the building committee as well as pastors and staff remain ready to receive suggestions and answer questions. That said, please remember that while all suggestions and ideas are welcome and encouraged, your session is the elected body ultimately responsible for final decisions regarding all aspects of the renovation. Lastly, the Capital Campaign Committee is in the process of saying “thank you” to all 125+ families and individuals who have contributed to the Heart and Soul Campaign. To date, we have raised just shy of $3.6 million. The capital campaign has set a goal of raising $4.5 million, which will fully fund the renovation project. If you have not pledged, please prayerfully consider joining us in making this campaign a success. Members of the capital campaign committee remain ready to answer any questions you may have. |
Click Here to View May 8, 2019 Renovation Update
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January 17, 2019
Winter Update from Rev. Alan Dyer There are some exciting developments to share with you about the progress of the “Heart and Soul Capital Campaign” and the planned renovation of our campus. First, we are delighted to announce that the campaign has now surpassed $3.5 million in pledged giving. You will find a note below from the campaign committee about the status and ongoing work of the campaign. We are grateful for every pledge of support – thank you! While we are very encouraged by the strong response to the campaign, the session is also aware that at this point it is does not seem likely that we will reach the original $7 million target to fully fund a sanctuary renovation and build a new Ashantilly Wing. As such, at their meeting on Tuesday, January 15, the elders approved a plan that prioritizes the renovation of the sanctuary while holding off on the construction of a new Ashantilly Wing. This plan allows us to move forward in a timely and financially responsible manner with the important work of renewing and enhancing our worship space. As part of the project, we will also refresh and update the existing Ashantilly Wing which houses several important mission ministries of our church including the Hunger Action Team and music ministry. Please visit the back hallway where a board displaying the modified design will be available for your reference. Construction could begin as early as this summer. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of planning and work to be done between now and then. In the coming weeks and months, you will be hearing much more from the session, capital campaign committee, and other groups helping to lay the groundwork to make the vision reality. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to let me or any member of the session know. Friends, I am incredibly excited about what the approaching renovation represents for our ministry together. I fully expect the completion of this project to represent a transformative moment in the life of the church which will help strengthen our common witness for Jesus Christ in this community and beyond for decades to come. |
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May 4, 2017
Spring Update from the Sanctuary Renovation Taskforce At a congregational meeting in January, we presented to you about the work of our group over the past year. Specifically, we shared a vision for a renovation that will address the challenges of our existing sanctuary while enhancing aspects of the space to better connect us in worship and mission for many years to come. You can view a video of that presentation as well as find more information about the history, challenges, and vision below on this page. Since late January, our group has met four times including three meetings with Robert Ussery and Cory Rule of Ussery-Rule Architects, a local architectural firm hired by Session. Robert and Cory have taken a thorough look at our sanctuary and its adjoining spaces as they guide the Taskforce towards a final design. Although we are still a few meetings away from being ready to present a final vision and cost estimate to the congregation, we want you to know that the excitement within our group is building with each of our recent gatherings. It is a unique and wonderful feeling to see a plan coming together that will not only dramatically update our worshipping space for the 21st century but also literally bring us closer together as a community of faith through (among other things) an expanded chancel, wider transepts, and improved sight lines. Please remember that we value and solicit your input, questions, and concerns as part of this process. The committee will receive and discuss any submitted questions or input using the provided comment box at each meeting. Individual members of the Taskforce are also always happy to answer your questions. Additionally, we remind you that there is a Capital Campaign Committee that is working parallel to our work. As soon as a renovation design is completed and approved by Session that group will begin its work in earnest (likely sometime late summer or early fall). |
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