September 3, 2010
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The new organ is scheduled to arrive on September 14 for installation. Volunteers are welcome during the day to help unload the truck. Work begins 8:00 am, but come when available to help. Photos of pipe-work and console are displayed in Narthex.

August 29, 2010
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Newly received photographs of our organ from the Letourneau shop in Sainte-Hyacinth Quebec are on display in the narthex of the church.
The organ building is running ahead of schedule and the builder is prepared to ship the organ a month before the proposed schedule. It will ship from Canada the middle of September. News on completion date will be shared as soon as it is known.

Shawn Gingrich, Minister of Music, made a trip to Quebec to see and play the instrument on the shop floor on August 26 before it is dismantled and packed for shipping.

April 23, 2010
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The pending installation of the new pipe organ in December 2010 has moved us to engage several internationally-known organists to provide concerts in the 2010-2011 Sacred Concert Series. Joan Lippincott will play the inaugural recital in January 2011 and Tim and Tamara Albrecht will lead a hymn festival in March 2011. We will also welcome back the handbell duo “Bell a deux” for the first concert of the series in October 2010 and we will have numerous musicians from among our congregation along with Dr. Karl Moyer to play the final concert of the series in May 2011.

Please consider helping sponsor this concert series using the Concert Sponsor Sheet.

March 5, 2010
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The Kimball Grand Piano (shown below) in the front of the Sanctuary was purchased recently with funds provided by numerous donors. We thank those whose contributions made this possible.

Financial Commitments - We reached a third of the $1.1 million goal! Thank you for your continued commitment to our campaign goal.

Piano Donations - Thanks to all who donated to the piano acquisition fund for the Sanctuary, which will be quite useful until the organ is completed in October 2010, and long after that as well. Donations of any size toward this purchase will help to attain this goal.

September 2009
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Worship in the Social Hall
September 17, 2009

Renovation Progress is going well in the Sanctuary, with painting and carpeting beginning. Since the entire Sanctuary is now a “Construction Zone”, please join us in the Social Hall for ALL worship services until further notice. There continues to be access to the elevator, the library and classrooms. Thank you for your cooperation.

August 2009
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Special Gifts Desired
from the Director of Music Ministry, Shawn Gingrich

So much has already been given to the current capital campaign for which we are grateful. A number of items were not included for budgetary reasons one of which is the grand piano that was sketched on the stage of the Sanctuary drawings. This instrument will be especially useful in the interim time until the organ is completed in October 2010 and long after that as well. If you could give a donation of any size toward this purchase hopefully we can attain this goal as well. Contact Shawn Gingrich at the church for more information,
533-9668.

Please view this sheet for other gift and memorial opportunities.

June 2009
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Main Sanctuary During Renovations

May 2009
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New Organ

May 2009 - We are pleased that our contract with Letourneau Pipe Organs of Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada has been enacted and we will have a completed pipe organ by the end of December  2010. The new instrument will initially contain 33 ranks of pipes (reusing 8 ranks from the Kilgen organ) as well as 2 digital 32’ stops in the pedal and 3 digital percussion sounds playable from a three-manual console. It will have preparations for 6 more ranks of pipes across the manual divisions. Our instrument will be the company’s Opus 121. For more information on the organ builder, visit Orgues Létourneau Ltée.

(Organ picture by Orgues Létourneau Ltée)

April 2009
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Chancel Renovations Update
by Paul Clark, Chair Renovations Committee

The Renovations Team has been very busy the past two months attending meetings with the Central PA United Methodist Church Building Committee, the Conference Finance Committee, the architect and organ builder, the Trustees and Church Council. The Conference Finance Committee has approved our Construction Loan application and funding is in place to address any delays in contributions related to the Capital Campaign. Pledged contributions are slightly behind schedule.

By mid-May the renovations committee will have construction documents and finish schedules to review and approve. Construction activities will begin on Monday, June 15 with the construction of a wall to separate the sanctuary from the chancel area. This temporary wall will be constructed at the arch between the second and third stained glass window in the sanctuary. The partition will be painted and may be decorated by some of our budding artists. The partition will be constructed of plywood, 2 x 4 studs and a heavy gauge plastic. The plywood barrier will extend up from the floor 12-feet and will be painted with a reflective paint that allows us to use it as a projection screen. Removal of the existing organ will begin at the same time. Six ranks of existing pipes will be incorporated into the new organ.

A member of the church family has pledged financial support to refurbish the communion rail, which will now be included in the project. There are a number of other opportunities that you can take advantage of by making a designated contribution to the renovations project to add one of these items. Please contact Ron Louder for more details. Additionally, Ron is chairing a Committee that is charged with preservation of items being removed from the Chancel Area.

Construction activities related to the chancel renovations will take approximate four months. We are planning to have the Sanctuary back in operation in early November 2009. Installation of the organ and associated equipment is scheduled to take place during the months of September and October 2010. Final voicing and project completion should take place in time for a December 2010 Christmas Celebration.

We thank everyone for your ongoing support.

February 2009
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Congregation Approves Chancel Renovations
by Paul Clark, Chair Renovations Committee

On February 15, 2009 the Congregation gave an overwhelming vote of approval to proceed with the proposed renovations to the Chancel area of the Sanctuary. The proposed renovation plans were reviewed by the Chair of the Renovations Committee as was the financing plan by Ron Louder. Several deduct alternates were recommended and all but two of the seven deducts were approved. The two that were included in the project are the painting of the sanctuary walls and ceiling and carpet replacement up to the Overflow area.

Renovations will begin in mid-June 2009 with construction activities taking approximately four months. During construction a temporary wall will separate construct activities from the sanctuary until the painting and carpet work is undertaken. That work is estimated to take six to eight weeks to complete. During that time other arrangements will be made for traditional church services.

With the start of construction our organ will be out of service as part of it will be removed and sent to Canada for incorporation in the new instrument. Shipment and installation of the new organ is scheduled to take place during the months of September and October 2010. Final tuning and project completion should take place in time for a Christmas Celebration in December 2010.

December 2008
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As of Sunday, December 28 we have received $99,782 in gifts toward our campaign goal of $1,100,000 for sanctuary renovations. Thanks to all who have faithfully helped us make a great start!

November 2008
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Faith Promises total $1,004,047 as of November 17. Thank you for your prayful consideration of a faith promise to Growing Our Ministries to Glorify God!

October 2008
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Return Faith Promise Cards today! Please return your Faith Promise Cards even if you are unable to make a commitment at this time so that the Conservation Committee knows that a follow-up call is not necessary. If you cannot make a commitment please write that on the card and return it to the church office. Cards can be downloaded here and printed.

Capital Campaign Brochure

August 2008
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Capital Campaign Letter

Capital Campaign Projects Update:
Phase I - Organ and Chancel Renovation

July 2008
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Capital Campaign Plans Underway