I have the best job in the world! I have the privilege of serving a Presbyterian congregation that is GROWING in membership and mission and BUILDING an addition to our facility. This blog is my attempt to put pictures and words to use to tell the story of our building project. It's a spiritual discipline, of sorts, begun in the season of Lent 2011. I hope everyone who visits is blessed by what they encounter. Pastor Lisa Webb
Growing up as I did on the finer things of country living, I couldn't help but think of Hee Haw the other day. Yes, that Saturday night staple in the Wilson homplace would be so totally politically incorrect nowadays. But then? Ah, well, Saturday night at 7:00 was the time for pickin' and grinnin', the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet, and Grandpa Jones washing his non-existent window while being asked, "Hey Grandpa! What's for supper?"
So, as Clayton was talking through one of our door windows the other day, I got to thinking about Grandpa Jones and Hee Haw. What do you know? Youtube, the veritable clearing house of most things cultured, had clips of Grandpa cleaning his glass-less window and telling the crowd just what's for supper. Listen in... Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Clayton wasn't exactly reeling off a mouthwatering menu while he was standing at the window, but he sure brought back a buffet of great Saturday night memories for me.
One of the many blessings of this building project has been hearing the congregation retell stories of their own building experiences. From barn raisings to putting up sheds, houses, and chicken coops, it's been great to recall the joys (and frustrations) of our own building projects.
Last week, a couple came through from Pennsylvania on their way to the Floriday Keys. They drove through Bank of America and couldn't help but notice the construction at the church. Stopping by on a whim, they got a grand tour! The gentleman had been in construction for many years and had overseen the construction of several high-end hotels in the Pittsburg area. He was genuinely pleased, telling me, "This is exquisite carftsmanship, the kind you don't see in too many projects anymore." Then he went on for the next little while telling me about some of his work projects.
Our building project brings out the story-tellers in us. It's been said that Christians really are story-tellers after all. That's some of what we do best, retelling the great stories of the faith. I like that. One of my favorite hymns is "I Love to Tell the Story" - a hymn that a young Christian English woman, Katherine Hankey, wrote while she was gravely ill in 1866. She spent an entire year in bed writing one hundred verses of a poem entitled "The Old, Old Story" which, the following year received wild acclaim in London. The hymn tune composer, William Fischer, took several stanzas of Katherine's poem to create the hymn we know and love. Here it is, sung by Emmy Lou Harris and Robert Duvall...
Here are a few more pics of recent work in and around the project. It's truly a story worth telling!
Nursery Door leading to the playground. 1"-thick glass
makes this space really bright and cheery!
At long last, kitchen cabinets are in!
Stainless steel counter top in kitchen.
More stainless steel in the kitchen, with the great sink!
Beautiful iron railing in the Fellowship Hall...
and just look at my office door!
Beautiful bathroom tile with cabinets.
A low "tub" in the custodial closet...
wonder how many dogs could be washed in there?
Breathtaking craftsmanship in my office.
More on this in a later blog.
More wormy chestnut in my office.
The back side of my office door is as lovely as the front!
Our elevator lift is ready for use; Ray Powell, John Coleman,
Stephanie Dysart and I were trained to use it today.
Handy-Dandy 60-second dishwasher!
The Presbyterian Men will enjoy this device for sure!
Painting the ironwork rails.
Installing under cabinet lights in the kitchen.
The final pane of door glass goes in. There's a lot of glass!
On this 12th day of Christmas, there are no partridges in the pear trees on Court Street. In fact, there are no pear trees at all! Cherry, yes, but no pears. Alas... While there may be no partridges in pear trees, there are roofers on the roof! (Work with me here...it's been a long day.)
Wells Roofing began putting on the new galvanized roof over the Education Wing today ~ it looks so good! When the new addition roof went on two months ago, it became apparent that the ed wing roof would have to be worked on as well. The ed wing roof was at least 50 years old - with a 30 year warranty! God has been very good to WPC, to keep that old roof working so well for so many years!
Additionally, the old roof simply looked "tired." It had served its purpose, and its time. With the new galvanized roof by Wells Roofing, we have matching roofs on the entire facility! The look says "finished." Quite nice!
We are getting close to the completion of this magnificent project! There are lots of things still being done - and still yet to do - but we're getting there! Every bit of this project journey has been of God's making. I marvel at the greatness of God in entrusting this project to us, and I'm humbled by the level of financial, prayerful, and otherwise -full commitment of the congregation to obey God's call in our lives to make this happen.
Last spring, when the congregation voted to approve taking out a loan with Presbyterian Investment Loan Program (a PC(USA) organization) for up to $270,000 the Session had hoped to delay for as long as possible the actual loan filing. At most we thought we could get by until October before needing the loan funds. Here it is January, and we're just now at the point of needing the loan funds soon.
God has blessed us by instilling in the hearts of many the desire to help alleviate as much of our indebtedness as possible! Instead of needing the full $270,000, at present we need less than $250,000! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could get that loan amount down to $200,000 before filing to receive the money? That would greatly lower the monthly pay-back amount, which would help with our overall church finances. So - check your sofa cushions and sock drawers for loose change! (For significantly greater amounts of change you'd like to give - stocks, bonds, big bills - you might contact Ray Powell, church treasurer. Go ahead - make his day!)
Enjoy today's "picture potpourri" - and stop by soon to see the beautiful work yourself!
The plexiglass is removed and workers paint the white wood.
The windows really *pop*!
Tile gets laid on the Fellowship Hall Floor.
Clayton is holding one of the wrought iron hand-rail banisters
that will surround the steps gonig to the old Fellowship Hall.
Hand-rails - just waiting to be painted black!
More tilework on the Fellowship Hall floor.
Handicap Chair Lift that goes to/from the old Fellowship Hall
to the new, thus allowing ease of transport for handicap-accessible students
and adults who come for Preschool programs!
Door from Nursery Suite to playground. The plywood will be replaced with glass.
One of the many blessings of this building project has been hearing the congregation retell stories of their own building experiences. From barn raisings to putting up sheds, houses, and chicken coops, it's been great to recall the joys (and frustrations) of our own building projects. 
