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Please
note that there have been several changes in the schedule
for the completion of the renovations since this letter
was written. We
have left this letter on the website because it answers
many questions about the renovations. But for current
schedule information, please see the sanctuary
renovations schedule page.
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December
12 , 2004
Dear First
Church Friends:
As you
have heard and read in other places, major changes are afoot
early in January. These changes grow out of the refurbishing
of the sanctuary as we prepare for the installation of our
new pipe organ. Given that the sanctuary will be closed for
the better part of three months, we have had to adapt our
Sunday worship schedule. For those of you who want a quick
summation without having to read detailed explanations, the
worship schedule from Sunday, January 2 through Sunday, March
20 reads as follows.
8:15
Worship in Runkel Chapel
With
a nursery for cribs and toddlers and a coffee hour following
the service in the Martin Room.
9:00
Worship in the Christian Life Center
With
all Christian education classes meeting in their normal
spaces, except for the Confirmation class which will move
to Fellowship Hall. Coffee hour will follow in the Christian
Life Center.
11:00
Worship in the Christian Life Center
With
all Christian education classes meeting in their normal
spaces. Coffee hour will follow in the Christian Life
Center.
5:00
Sunday Night Alive worship in the Christian Life Center
With
all related programming meeting in the usual locations.
In order
to flesh out these changes, let me move to a question and
answer format. For additional information, please speak to
any member of the staff. But at this juncture, let me thank
you for your patience, your adaptability and your support
as we look forward to changes that will enhance a much-beloved
space and a glorious Easter Sunday in which to celebrate them.
1. When
will the sanctuary be closed?
On Monday
morning, December 27. We will hold services in the sanctuary
on Sunday, December 26 (the day after Christmas) at all
of the regular times (8:15, 9:30 and 11:00). Following those
services, the poinsettia tree and Christmas decorations
will be taken down, the hymnals removed and stored, and
the sanctuary readied for construction crews on Monday morning.
2. How
long will we be out of the sanctuary?
Both
the architects and the construction managers (Jickling,
Lyman and Powell and the George Auch Company) are committed
to a triumphant return on Easter Sunday, March 27. They
also understand how desirous it would be to return for Palm
Sunday on March 20 and Maundy Thursday, March 24.
3. Will
the Christian Life Center be able to accommodate the numbers
of worshipers that customarily attend services in the sanctuary?
The
Christian Life Center is larger and can accommodate more.
At the 5:30 children's service last Christmas Eve, we had
over 650 and everybody was comfortable.
4. What
about sound and lighting in the CLC?
The
sound system in the CLC is superior to the system in the
sanctuary. We have learned how to amplify the choir to ensure
their music will be heard. The lighting in the CLC is extremely
sophisticated and can create any number of moods.
5. If
the hymnals are packed away in boxes, how will we sing?
Words
to the hymns will be printed in the order of worship. They
will also be projected on the large screens.
6. Why
have we changed the 9:30 sanctuary service to 9:00 in the
CLC?
In order
to accommodate a coffee fellowship time in the CLC following
the 9:00 service while allowing ample time to clear the
room so as to establish a worshipful mood for the 11:00
service.
7. Why
didn't we just keep the coffee fellowship time in Fellowship
Hall?
Two
reasons. First, we didn't think that people would walk through
three corridors to reach Fellowship Hall. Second, we needed
to move Carl Gladstone's very large Confirmation class from
the CLC to Fellowship Hall.
8. Why
didn't we just eliminate the coffee hour altogether?
Our
recent survey indicated that "Christian friendship"
was the second-highest rated experience of First Church
(in terms of "greatest value"). To shelve the
coffee hour for twelve weeks, therefore, made no sense.
Besides, any number of groups and ministries share plans,
promote programs and take sign-ups during coffee hour. That
time could be called the "nerve center" of our
common life.
9. Will
there also be a coffee hour in the CLC following the 11:00
service?
Yes.
10. Are
the leaders of our church school comfortable with a 9:00 start
for their largest session?
Actually,
the suggestion to move to 9:00 first came from our Christian
education leaders.
11. If
one of our 9:30 adult classes wanted to continue with a 9:30
beginning, would they have to move to 9:00?
No,
each adult class can make a decision that best serves its
constituency.
12. Has
the move to the CLC (at 9:00 and 11:00) been anticipated by
groups most directly involved (choirs, ushers, greeters)?
Yes.
We have fine-tuned our preparations to include relocating
coat racks, attendance pads, usher supplies and the emergency
resuscitation equipment.
13. What
about the 8:15 service? Where will it go?
The
8:15 service will move to Runkel Chapel with a coffee hour
to follow in the Martin Room.
14. Why
Runkel Chapel?
We thought
it was important to hold at least one service in a space
that looked very traditional and also contained a pipe organ.
The 8:15 service should fit in the Chapel, assuming that
some worshipers may occasionally try different venues on
different Sundays during the twelve-week period of relocation.
15. Will
the 8:15 service still have special music?
Yes.
16. What
about the early word that the sermon at 8:15 will be replaced
by a homily (meaning a shorter sermon)?
We are
rethinking that decision even as this is written. First,
survey results have revealed that preaching (and sermons)
are extremely important to our congregation. Second, some
of the 8:15 regulars have indicated a strong desire to hear
a sermon in its traditional form and length. Therefore,
we will work to accommodate that. It could mean that on
Sundays when the preacher at 8:15 is also preaching at 9:30
and 11:00, the sermon will appear slightly earlier in the
8:15 order of worship. Or it may mean that the 8:15 preacher
may join the 9:00 service in progress.
17. If
there is an overlap between 8:15 worshipers who haven't left
the building and 9:00 worshipers who are arriving at the building,
won't this put a strain on the parking lot?
In actuality,
most 8:15 worshipers are still in the building when the
9:30 worshipers now arrive. The parking lot seems able to
accommodate the situation.
18. Will
the 8:15 service have additional sacramental opportunities
(more frequent observances of Holy Communion)?
That's
a possibility.
19. Will
any of these changes affect Sunday Night Alive?
No.
20. Once
more, when will all this begin?
On January
2, the day after New Year's Day. Dr. Ritter will preach
at all three services in the morning. Rev. Nelson will preach
at Sunday Night Alive.
21. Is
there anything special happening on Sunday, January 9?
Yes.
The preacher of the morning will be our new bishop, Jonathan
Keaton. To the best of our knowledge, Bishop Keaton has
never been in Birmingham….never seen First Church….
never met any of our leaders. In the days following Sunday,
January 9 (Monday-Wednesday, January 10-12), Bishop Keaton
will be meeting with the seven district superintendents
who constitute the Detroit Conference cabinet. It is at
that meeting that they will give attention to future ministerial
leadership at First Church and very likely identify the
individual who will be appointed to serve as our next senior
minister. It is our hope that Bishop Keaton will experience
large and festive congregations when he comes.
22. Will
anything else happen on Sunday, January 9?
Yes,
there will be special moments of dedication for all the
gifts that made the Christian Life Center possible.
23. Is
there anything else we should know?
Just
this. We will make every effort to provide worship services
of quality and inspiration. We are fortunate to have alternative
spaces that can accommodate us comfortably. And we are the
kind of people who can look upon these twelve weeks as an
exciting adventure rather than a distressing interlude.
When the sanctuary doors reopen, we will conclude that the
inconvenience has been minor compared to all that awaits
us.
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