One of the benefits of our project has been the chance to upgrade things that have needed attention.  One of these things was the lack of leg room in the balcony.

When we were required by the Fire Department in the 1980s to put a second stairway into the balcony, the balcony space was reconfigured to have the two stairways lead to the balcony from the narthex.  Prior to that time, there was one stairway that went from the balcony directly into the sanctuary at the eastern aisle.  While the reconfigured balcony looked fine on paper, it was inadequate in reality.  Losing over three feet of space across the back of the balcony due to the two stairways compromised the space between the three rows. 

As our project developed, several members lobbied for a way to get into the narthex from the Fellowship Hall without going to the sidewalk on 8^th Street. This was particularly important to accommodate brides wanting to reach the back of the sanctuary without going out into the weather.  Unfortunately, the easiest entry point into the narthex was from the east where one of the balcony stairways blocked the way.  A conference between our architects and the Fire Department yielded the option of removing the stairway IF we set the capacity of the balcony at 25, the threshold for having only one stairway.

The end result?  The eastern stairway to the balcony was removed and a door cut into the narthex (photo at top right).   George McLean, one of the tireless workers on our Building Committee, agreed to do the balcony work in order to save the Church some money.  George, Martha McLean (another tireless worker), two members of their family, and church members worked during the Thanksgiving weekend to complete the construction part.  This required the closing of the balcony for seating on two Sundays but the new balcony will provide far better seating for latecomers and those who prefer to sit in the balcony.  The photo to the right shows the remodeled balcony where the stairway was removed. 

Another goal of the project was upgrading the kitchen.  A new hood has been installed over the cooking area in the new kitchen, providing a glimpse at what will be a major improvement in our ability to host large group gatherings.  The bottom left photo is the kitchen from the Fellowship Hall while the bottom right photo shows the hood itself.  All of this is possible through the grace of God and your generosity.  Thank you… and thanks be to God!