GraceNote

Photo by Elijah Mears on Unsplash

January 14, 2023

The Session has some exciting news for you about our building! Just before the holidays, the Session voted to move forward with the replacement of the current flooring in the sanctuary with porcelain tile and the replacement of the pews with flexible seating. The Session and Property Council have taken great care over many months with this important discussion and decision. We give thanks that though the vote was not unanimous, all Session members are on board.

In particular, the discussion of replacing our pews with chairs began in 2021 on the Property Council in the context of our church-wide theme of “Holy Shift.” The church and church leadership has been exploring how God is calling us to grow into a more expansive view of what it means to be in a faith community. What are some concrete ways we are called to follow the example of Christ’s radical love and to live compassionately and courageously in order to challenge the notions of status quo?

Most of us hold deep ideas and feelings of what a church sanctuary or faith gathering space should look like. We have formative stories from our lives that impact what we experience in certain surroundings, from the look of that space the moment we set foot inside, to walking down the aisle and slipping into our seats, to greeting one another and hearing the music begin. Those are tender and sacred feelings, and we are grateful for a process that has given us space to honor and to listen to one another. 

We know that for some pews are deeply connected to the feelings of divine encounter and to traditions of faith. And so removal of the pews will bring with it some grief. We hold space for that sense of loss. We are also aware of the ways that pews in a sanctuary can bring up difficult memories and experiences, rooted in stories fraught with pain, for some. We hold space for the ways this change may open up new healing opportunities for many. 

However this news lands in your body and your mind today, we invite you to consider the ways that we, as the Session, believe the new seating and flooring will grow our faith community and embody an alignment with our mission - not only on a spiritual level but also on a practical level. Among the benefits offered,  flexible seating allows us to use our sanctuary space for larger community gatherings where we can arrange the chairs however best serves the purpose of the event. 

Additionally, the porcelain tile is both economical and environmentally beneficial. The selected chairs in combination with the tile will enhance the acoustics of our sanctuary. This congregation’s long-standing commitment to music makes this decision one that nourishes the great gift of shared song that we value. We are also grateful for two anonymous windfall gifts that were given to the church in recent years that will fund these renovations. We are excited about God’s gentle calling toward new ways of being together and making space for new community members and new growth for all. 

If you are interested in having one of the pews for your home or organization, please let Cliff know by February 14th. Also, please stay tuned for more information coming from the Session and Property Council about the specifics of the project. We will be providing you with opportunities to imagine new ways to worship and gather in the sanctuary once the new flooring and seating are in place. We anticipate the work will begin in late spring to early summer. 

We are planning community events for us to share in this transition together, including a storytelling ceremony that will provide a space for us to honor all the gratitude, grief, and experiences that help define us. We will also have an opportunity to collectively bless the newly configured space with open hearts and shared vision. 

We are excited about this labor of love, this bold leap of faith that holds firmly to the knowledge that God is mysteriously and powerfully with us in all the transitions, challenges, and joys of being a church community. That is good news, indeed! We believe it is worth the effort to lean into challenges together so that we can grow collectively. We will find our way into new depths of belonging to each other and to God.

With Care and Gratitude,

The Session of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church 

Jessica Graham, Anna Hamel, John Legerton, Christi Mobley, Keith Prince, William Hamel, Keaton Hill, Tim Moe, Bill Neeriemer, Anne Raustol, Martha Seddon, Susan Curtis, Rob Everett, Russell Kominski, Libby Kyles, Denise Lockett, Melissa Shook

Marcia Mount Shoop, Moderator

Richard Coble, Associate Pastor

Kelley Griffith, Clerk of Session