Project Welcome 2.0 Projects Get Underway

PORCELAIN TILE

A whole host of volunteers is providing at least $20,000 in “sweat equity” by installing new porcelain tile in the church narthex, cloister walk (hallway) and chapel. The result is nothing less than stunning! This tile not only looks as though it has always “belonged,” it is what Pastor Albers likes to call a 50-year solution. That is, with very little maintenance, this new porcelain flooring should serve the congregation well for at least 50 years.

This porcelain tile not only has a classic look that fits well into the existing design of our church building, it has a “PEI” rating of 4 of 5. This rating reflects a tile’s hardness and scratch resistance. The higher the number the more durable the tile. Additionally, the Continental Slate tile is produced using Colorbody™ technology which means the body of the tile has a similar color, so any chips will not be evident. The grout we are using has sealer already included, so the grout should also resist staining over many years.

The only maintenance required is a damp mop to clean up dirt and salt. But otherwise the matte finish up the tile does not require any sealer or floor finish, reducing the need (and cost) for ongoing maintenance.

The group completed work on the narthex and cloister walk over several weeks in the middle of July. Their skills improved throughout the project, improving results all the time. (GOOD NEWS!) Some trim work remains in the narthex, at the top of the steps and along the baseboard, but otherwise the tile is complete. We are scheduling the sub-contractor to remove the tile in the chapel for the week of August 6. The next tile laying classes (aka volunteer workdays :-)) begin on Tuesday, August 8.

If you would like to help cover the cost of the tile, the current estimate for all the materials is $17,500.

NEW CHAIRS

Fabric selections have been made and a deposit sent to New Holland Church Furniture. A first round of custom stain samples have arrived from Pennsylvania so that the chairs can more closely match our current pews and other finishes. Unfortunately the first attempt did not create a good match, so we do on the round two!

By Thanksgiving 50 church chairs (10 of them with arms) will replace the pews in the chapel creating a more flexible and useable space. If you would like to “sponsor” a chair, make a gift of at least $250 and mark it as such on your gift (either by check or online). A donor will “match” your gift with an additional $50!

DOOR PANELS

Design for new door panels between the chapel and sanctuary is nearly complete, and work on the panels will commence as soon as possible once other renovations to the chapel are completed. These door panels will incorporate designs from the reredos (the wall behind the altar) so that these new door panels can also look as though they have always been in place.

A St. John’s family has made a pledge to completely cover the $4,000 cost of these door panels and church volunteers are working in the coming weeks to create them in their own wood shops.   

FINANCIAL GIFTS

It is necessary that ALL of the Project Welcome 2.0 projects are supported by ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL GIFTS. Between the previous projects and our 2.0 projects, a total of $59,000 has been received, with another $6,500 in pledges (for a total of just over $65,000), leaving a balance of about $35,000 to complete all of the projects. Please consider making an additional gift in support of these and other projects to improve our facilities.