It is nearing the end of August as I write this update on the Welcome Center project for Steeple Notes much later than we expected. Unless, of course, we expected a construction project to run long. Regardless, I am more and more excited each day to see how close we are to being done!
I would like to split this article into several parts for clarity. One part will be about our progress, the second part about thanking people and the third about our vision and mission.
Even though there have been months and months of tedious and grueling work, we are finally getting down to the nitty gritty details. As of right now, we have patched problem spots in the All Saints Room (auditorium) and we are painting walls and ceilings. We created a room in the far-right corner for Gloria and Common Ground’s donated clothing. We have created a quiet/meditation room in the left corner. It is highlighted by a wall with gravestones within the wall and a beautiful beam made from the refurbished beams. We have purchased beautiful wooden doors that have been stained and hung on both rooms.
We have hung a screen on the outside wall for presentations and will be mounting a projector. We have painted the left wall with special reflective paint so that we can also give presentations on that wall. Matt and Peter have connected the wiring so that we’ll be able to plug and play from any location in the room. We have also started putting up the refurbished floorboards on the mechanical room wall immediately on your left when you enter the space. It is almost time to lay the flooring in the All Saints Room (auditorium)! I am sure that it will tie everything together nicely.
In the Welcome Center, Peter is putting the finishing touches on the family bathroom. A slop sink and utility flooring is being put in the garden room and the entire floor has been made level. We have also hired a painter to do the hard-to-reach areas this week. Also, if you haven’t noticed, our gorgeous new stained-glass windows are in and hiding behind their protective plastic. I am excited to see them with the plastic off!
I would like to thank all the workers who continue to come in and work. I am amazed how much time people are continuing to give even after this project has overrun its projected timeline. Thank you again to Peter Graf, who spends almost every one of his waking moments at Trinity working. Also, a special thanks to Mal and Gloria. Mal is the chef for Common Ground and Gloria is the coordinator for the service and the meals each week. We have moved them, disrupted them and walked through the middle of their events just out of necessity to keep things moving and they never complain. They always go with the flow and say “okay” to whatever we tell them we have to do each week. They have been so agreeable! They also both insist that the workers on a Sunday get a meal just like the folks in Common Ground. Getting to know the two of them, the other Common Ground volunteers and all of the Trinity volunteers who have been helping has been one of the real blessings of this project.
Which brings me to our vision and mission. Seeing the attendees of Common Ground, people from other churches and Trinity members stop in and take a look at all that we have done has been exciting and encouraging. I can’t wait until we can open up both spaces and start using them. Common Ground has been packed into the Hintz Room for many months. That ministry will benefit from the beautiful new and spacious All Saints Room (auditorium). Trinity will be so happy to have Adult Forums, rehearsals, celebrations and other events in that space, too. I am also looking forward to seeing the other kinds of ministries we will start because we now have this space.
The Garden Ladies are excited to have a dedicated space for their supplies and the family bathroom will be a nice addition. Finally, the Welcome Center with its new, dramatic, open feel will make all feel perfectly welcome at Trinity.
It has been months and months of work to get to this point and we are still not finished. Has it been worth it? Has it made us stronger or improved us in any way? Well, we’ve learned a lot about patience, we’ve gotten to know each other better, we’ve gotten to know the members of Common Ground better, we have worked with outside groups, we have pushed ourselves to create a new, beautiful space, and we are looking toward the future and what we wish for our ministries at Trinity right now and for years to come. For me, that is a big “Yes!”