New Building Design - Part 3
In March, we received a building plan done by Peter Norgren of the MIF-ELCA. This is a free service. Copies of the plan were distributed to each committee. Now that we have had time to study the plan, your Church Council decided to explain a piece of the building plan in each month's newsletter throughout the summer. We have previously explained the proposed parking lot re-design and the handicap accessibility changes for general flow and use of the building. This month, we will explain the proposed changes to the Sanctuary and Narthex areas. These explanations and the entire plan will be posted in August. The entire plan is large and encompasses changes based on a "Wish List" compiled by Council in consultation with every committee over a two year period. This plan is meant to initiate discussion and is NOT a final plan. This process of examining our building is part of a long range visioning process.
Narthex
The narthex is the area of our building that we "meet and greet" after worship. It is an important fellowship building area. And ours is much too small.
In attempting to get ideas on enlarging this, we looked at old drawings of the sanctuary area. In these drawings, a wall was put in the place where the last three pews of the center section now sit. This created a narthex that began at the front door and extended around to the area on the other side of the sanctuary.
The drawing by Peter Norgren, uses this concept. The wall would be a half wall so that the Luther Rose window would still be visible from the sanctuary. It would have sliding or removable sections so that overflow seating could be placed there for special services. The sections would be glass so that worship services, the sanctuary and our beautiful stain glass window behind the altar would be visible from the narthex. And it would be a very friendly place for us to meet visitors and old friends. No more elbow jabs or sore toes from the crowded spaces.
Sanctuary
There are several areas of safety concern that we wished to address in the sanctuary area. There are too many steps around the chancel, the steps for the choir are too narrow (we have had some serious falls), there are no emergency doors at the front of the church, and there are bottle necks for getting in and out of the sanctuary. Studies have shown that the long pews actually hold less people than shorter ones because people spread out for personal space and sit on the ends for easier exits. The center is rarely occupied. If you do sit in the center, then it is difficult to get out of the row, particularly with a cane or poorly working knees.
With the new design for the narthex, the rearrangement for the Sanctuary became an option. We could have a center aisle so that the main exit would be to the rear to greet the pastors (and give our brides a center aisle for procession.). Of course, removing three pews and shortening the remaining pews, give less seating. The architect shows pew chairs on his drawing in order to increase the number of people seated. The Chancel area has been changed as well. The "pit", currently behind the altar, has been covered over and the altar moved closer to the stain glass window. The chancel area is much smaller, which gives more room for more seating for worshipers. With these options, the number of seats is comparable to what we have now.
The choir and organ have been moved to the side of the church. This is a major change but is fairly common arrangement in modern Lutheran churches. This allows the worshiper's focus to be on the altar and worship instead of people. The idea behind this is that the music supports worship and does not take focus from it.
The use of pew chairs allows more flexibility in the arrangement of the space. For example, we could have a different arrangement for the cantata, or for the brass ensemble. It would give a space for doing a Biblical play or children's Christmas play. It would open doors to new uses for our sanctuary. However, this arrangement would be a major change from the traditional pews.
Conclusion
These changes are major and can not be done without a building fund drive. Again, we do not have a plan to implement these changes at this time. We need to take time to digest these suggestions, ask questions, and give everyone time to make alternative suggestions and pray, pray, pray about it. The worship space is sacred and emotions run high when discussions begin about changing anything in it.
Rest assured that your council is not rushing to get this done.
