Author: tbc

A lot of progress has been made over the past month for our “Embracing a God-Sized Vision” efforts!  You will begin to see the results of those efforts very soon.   What has been happening behind the scenes to make construction and renovation happen?  Read on!!!

1. We have secured the Building Permit for the Fellowship Hall/Basement Area changes.
   A final meeting with the city Safety Committee is scheduled for 3/23/15, and that is expected to be the last part of receiving approval from the city to proceed with our Phase 1 construction and renovation plans.  (See related article in this edition of the TAB.)
2. Architectural Plans for the Sanctuary Level have been finalized.
   Plans have been reviewed with many of our church members.   An updated copy of the floorplans will be provided in the video update that you see on our new monitor in the Meadow Street foyer, as well as posted on the wall near that entrance.
3. Architectural Plans for the demolition of the row houses and creation of the new addition/updates to the Williams building are in process of review.
   Nelson Melton, Chairman of the Construction & Renovation Committee, will review with Frances Mathews, Tabernacle Child Care Center Director, and the Children’s Ministry team revisions to original floorplans based on analyses completed by Huff-Morris.  Measurements as part of the architect’s analyses show some variances in the elevations between our various buildings (row houses, church building, and Williams Building).  Updated floorplans that correct for those elevation variations will be available for everyone to view in the next couple of weeks.  Look for an announcement soon for an opportunity to look at revised drawings and hear an explanation of the modifications made.
4. Fundraising efforts continue, sending letters to Tabernacle Child Care Center current and some alumni parents.
   Letters inviting donations from current and alumni Tabernacle Child Care Center parents were mailed in early March.  Our recently published campaign brochure was included with each letter.  We will track results of the mailing in conjunction with our Financial Assistant and keep everyone posted on commitments and contributions received.

As a note, the Construction & Renovation Oversight Committee has considered over the past couple of months adding a full voting member to the Committee.  The Committee unanimously approved adding Donna Soyars to that role in their meeting held on March 19^th.  Nelson Melton stated that Donna has been immensely important in conveying to our church congregation the activities of the Construction and Renovation Committee.

Do you have any suggestions to help the Committee as we move into the construction phase of the project?  We welcome your comments and questions on cards available on the campaign table located in the Meadow Street foyer.  Place your completed card in the Vision mailbox.  We invite you to communicate with any Committee member personally if that is your preference.

Look for an updated video presentation in the near future, along with ongoing updates in the TAB.  Your prayers are a blessing to TBC’s efforts.  God is showing the way for what is a demanding project for our church—we know His light will continue to guide us through each and every step!

It was on May 4^th last year when we held our churchwide Vision Event, where we all had a chance to review and ask questions about what improvements we believe are important to make to our physical structure meet the needs of our current and future spiritual missions.   Within one year we are now ready to begin to realize that Vision.

On April 6, 2015 we launch the construction and renovation activities for the Fellowship Hall area.  As a reminder, those Phase 1 modifications include:

• A new and more accessible Ladies’ bathroom that will have three stalls.
• A new mechanical room for the Fellowship Hall air conditioning and heating unit.
• A new, larger storage room for the church’s kitchen activities
• A small storage room for the musical instruments used in Worship Services meeting in the Fellowship Hall. Currently the equipment is being stored behind the coat rack in the Fellowship Hall.
• A small office area for the church’s custodian.

Due to the complexity and correlation of these changes to the overall project from an engineering perspective, the Construction & Renovation Committee has agreed to have the General Contractor, Kjellstrom & Lee, begin their project management role now.   Construction is expected to take 4 to 5 weeks.  We do not anticipate any parking impact for the church or our neighbors during this phase.  However, if the General Contractor determines that any impact on parking will be experienced, we will communicate to everyone as soon as we are aware.

Nelson Melton, Chairman of the Construction & Renovation Committee, has reviewed with Frances Mathews, Tabernacle Child Care Center Director, where in the Fellowship Hall the children will eat lunch during this period of construction.   The Committee members will also be working with the General Contractor to be fully aware of all church activities on the calendar to ensure minimal inconvenience during this construction.  Please be certain that all of your activities are on the church calendar so that we plan use of our space effectively.

Please do not hesitate to use our God-Sized Vision mailbox located on the table in our Meadow Street entrance foyer to ask any questions that you might have.  Our committee members will respond to you in a timely manner.  Also continue your prayers for our Construction & Renovation Committee leaders, as well as for work safety during construction.   Your prayers are an important component of the overall success of our endeavors!

March 18, 2015

First Baptist Church, Colorado Springs

317 E. Kiowa St.

Colorado Springs, CO

To the Congregation at First Baptist Colorado Springs,

Greetings from Richmond, VA! We at Tabernacle are celebrating with you all this weekend as you officially install Rev. Dan Schumacher as your senior pastor. We will be praying for you (as we already have been for months) as you continue to learn about one another as ministers and followers of Christ, and as you begin to understand how this new chapter in life of your congregation and ministry will unfold.

As you continue to welcome Dan into your fold, know that we continue to pray for him as well. He has left a wonderful impression on our congregation, and has contributed to the kingdom of God in Richmond in tremendously life-giving ways. As he settles in in Colorado Springs, we pray that he will continue to live into his calling as senior pastor. We pray of peace, patience, and love as he begins to minister to and alongside you.

As we, the big “C” Church go about the work of mission and ministry, we give thanks for leaders among us who guide with a gentle and caring heart, a passion for the Word of God, and a love of all the people of God’s kingdom. As Dan begins his work at First Baptist Colorado Springs, we also give thanks for the bridge that has been built across the country, joining our congregation with yours. For as we are each individual places, we are all part of God’s kingdom on earth, and we recognize that we must go about the work of God together.

We feel so blessed to celebrate with Dan and you all at First Baptist Colorado Springs! Blessings be upon you, and my joy and nothing less find you, and may Light––Love’s own crucified, risen Light––guide you all along the way.

In Christ,

Megan Fullerton Strollo, Deacon Chair

Tabernacle Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

You may remember the following question from our January church business meeting, reported on in a recent TAB edition:

“I would like to have a more detailed view of the project and the associated time line.  Where and when will that be provided to me and the rest of the congregation?”
The Construction & Renovation Committee has created a PowerPoint/video presentation that provides an update to be shared with our congregation….Included in that progress report is an estimated time line.  This information will be updated regularly as we confirm more details regarding each phase of the initiative.  David Wolf and Jay Hartman are working to place a video monitor in the hallway near the Meadow Street entrance.  This monitor will be used for not only updates for our Embracing a God-Sized Vision campaign, but other information of interest to the congregation from time to time.

We are very pleased to confirm that the video equipment has been installed and the update presentation started playing on Sunday, February 22^nd.  We hope you have seen the display!  We sincerely appreciate everyone’s efforts in both completing the technical work of the installation and creating the update for the congregation, with particular thanks to David and Jay for their assistance.

Feel free to contact Donna Soyars, our Communications Sub-Committee lead, if there are specific requests for information to be included in our updated presentation.  Also, we continue to accept all campaign and construction questions on cards that can be placed in our Embracing a God-Sized Vision mailbox, located in the foyer near the Meadow Street entrance.  We are grateful for your interest in this very important initiative.