Minute for Missions WPC March 22, 2009
I would like to first introduce the Fellowship Hall Committee members this morning and thank them all for their dedicated service to the church and especially to this project. They are Co-Chairs Jim Morgan and David Ammons here in the choir. Nancy Nelson and Betty Kordas up in the balcony. Dave Polivka and Frank Sanborn on the center aisle and myself.
Our Fellowship Hall project has reached an important stage in the design process. After much programming, planning and design efforts with our architects, the Olympia firm of Ambia – Enduring Architecture, we have prayerfully, carefully, and thoughtfully worked our way through the schematic design and design development phases of the project. In simple terms, that means that we have all of the desired elements on the plan in the correct relationship to one another. The new fellowship hall, the chapel, the new kitchen, restrooms, showers, the new childcare nursery, renovated and reconfigured staff offices, reconfigured parking everything we, that’s all of the committee and you, wanted.
We are again ready to start the building process. It’s time to complete the physical part of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Our fundraising effort was successful. Thanks to all of you who gave gifts or made pledges to support the project. We were not as successful as we had hoped for, but enough so that we have been given approval by session to proceed with the construction document phase of the project. This will give us “bid documents” something with which we can solicit bids later in the spring and find out what the project will actually cost. The architects have helped us in creating a select list of contractors to bid on the project. The committee will have the opportunity to review each company’s resume and project history prior to actually soliciting bids.
One benefit of the downturned economy and the negative economic impacts that it has had on all of us is that the bid market for construction is presenting some fantastic opportunities for anyone who has a project ready to build right now. That would be the group of project owners that includes WPC. On the open competitive bidding market we are seeing projects of our size and scale bidding for one-half of what they were six months to a year ago.
“Wisdom” tells me that this is a great time to proceed with this project. The future is before us. As we continue marching on the journey toward the completion of our fellowship hall project. . .one step at a time. . .our leap of faith remains in the hands of God who continues to guide and bless our efforts to do his work in our community.
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