Next Steps Update

It has been suggested to me that people do not tend to read the weekly Shiloh Insider because it is too long. Therefore, this week's post will be short and simple.

The Next Steps Chancel renovation is at a very important transition point. As of yesterday (Monday, July 30) the floor sheeting was completed. The drywall should be accomplished entirely by the weekend, and the new hardwood flooring should arrive tomorrow (August 1).

We are purchasing trim and ordering the wood for the new steps, while using the wood from the old steps on the rear and side access areas. We will be using the old slatted wood siding on designated areas of the renovated chancel, so parts of the project will retain that "familiar" feel.

Shiloh has been told that the new organ console is to be delivered to the Cincinnati company as early as the middle of next week. When we complete the flooring installation, the organ company will start on installation of the new organ console. If the stars align, we may complete the entire project by the end of this month.

Thanks go to those who have given their time and effort to the project, especially Ed Kanaga, David Saelens, John Rabius, Mark Barnhill and especially Sid Manley. Another crew will be hanging drywall. To my knowledge, they are Mark Barnhill, Shawn Miller, Roger and Sue Cox, and perhaps some others.

Remember that our labor has saved the congregation more than $50,000. Hopefully, by month's end, we will see a completed chancel renovation project. Way to go, Shiloh!

See you Sunday! 

Church: Why Bother?

An interesting discussion took place in the course of this past Sunday's Discovery Time service, held at Shiloh weekly at 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. Its topic was worship and church involvement.

I had delivered a casual message about the possibility that what we do in times of worship, what words we use, what sacrifices, what liturgies, are far less important than what we do when we go out into our communities. I used the phrase, "It doesn't matter what we do here, but what we do out there."

The discussion started with a question. "If it doesn't matter what we do in here, then why do we do this? Why do we come to church?" In retrospect, I should have added to my initial statement the phrase, "to the fulfillment of God's will and salvation." That is, "It doesn't matter to the fulfillment of God's will and salvation what we do here in worship. What really matters for the fulfillment of God's will and salvation is what we do when we go from here."

The message was meant to target the value of the church going out into the community to develop relations, to create community, to reflect the relational focus of Christ Jesus. It quickly became a consideration of whether or not we should bother with coming to worship, be educated, to share community, or to engage together in mission and ministry.

I hold to the core message. Jesus' ministry was about creating relationships. It was targeted to those who were outside of community, especially the religious community and tradition in which Jesus had been raised. That tradition practiced a firm legalism that excluded persons. Relationships were conditioned upon standards of the law and one's ability to live within its expectations, no matter how unreasonable for some. The Church is called to represent Christ Jesus in initiating relationship with those who stand outside, looking in. To do so is far more important to fulfillment of God's will than whatever orthodoxies we follow, to what doctrines we hold, what creeds we recite or what liturgies we chant.

This does not mean that worship, Christian education and church fellowship are without value. In fact, each is crucial to the practice of salvation and the fulfillment of God's will. The message simply implies that the church must gather around an "outcome based" model of worship, c.e. or church fellowship. Each must be geared to achieving God's will and practicing salvation in our communities that lie outside the church.

How might church differ if its entire mission and ministry lay in motivating, equipping, calling and sending laborers into God's vineyard, if the ministry of the church were focused on the creation of relationships and the formation of community? How would that aim change what we do in the church today? Would it make us any more relevant? Could we stem the tide of church decline? Would we be any more faithful to the ministry of Jesus Christ?

Join the discussion.

See You Sunday!

Next Steps Update

As readers of The Shiloh Insider by now know, Shiloh Church is progressing on its 3.7 million dollar facility improvement plan. A few years back, about the time that the recession hit in 2008, Shiloh decided that it would be better to pursue the facility plan in phases rather than attempt an overall capital campaign, doing all the work at once. Shiloh has already achieved nearly one million dollars' worth of improvements since inception.

Earlier this year, Shiloh applied for and was granted the funds necessary to replace the congregation's aging organ console. Thanks to the Fred Luther Memorial Foundation, Shiloh Church has removed its old console, and has shared that console with our brothers and sisters at Oak Creek UCC. In cooperation with the console replacement, Shiloh determined that this was a perfect time to take next steps in the facility plan by renovating the chancel.

Work began several months ago, but has been on hold until the removal of the old organ console. The chancel renovation includes extending the area backward an additional 12 feet and forward another 4'. It also includes movable monitor boxes, new electrical and audio/visual accessories, and an altered configuration for the front of the chancel area.

Work is now again well underway. The old console has been removed, and is in the hands of Oak Creek. The back wall and side walls of the rear of the chancel have been framed. Much of the electrical work has been completed. The front steps have been removed, and we are just starting to frame the front chancel expansion.

A word of appreciation is due for those who have helped with the project, especially Ed Kanaga, David Saelens, Larry and Carol Oldham, Sheldon Carr, Jo Anne Orihood, and staff members Jay McMillen, John Rabius, Mark Barnhill, Aaron Sheaffer, and our project coordinator, Sid Manley. Others can help. As soon as we schedule a framing and electrical inspection, we can begin to dry wall and mud. We are looking for a few skilled persons to assist us. If you are interested, talk with Sid Manley or myself. We are also looking for crews who are willing to come in on Saturdays and remove the dust that has accumulated throughout the week. 

The flooring has been an issue. The crew had to alter the plan for the flooring by removing an additional layer of subfloor. We thank the Women's Board for agreeing to cover much of that additional cost. By the way, it looks as though the project will come in around the budgeted $25,000, if we continue to receive some outside support form members and organizations within the church.

There has been one semi-serious injury, with an unnamed volunteer stepping on a nail. It penetrated the bottom of his foot, even through thick soles. This is a reminder, then, to exercise great care in moving through the construction area. Nails and screws are everywhere. It is very dusty. If you walk through the area, you are likely to step on nails and screws and become dusty.

Next Steps is certainly progressing. Our goal is to coordinate the end of the chancel renovation with the arrival and installation of the new organ console. Dedication of both the new organ console and the chancel expansion will take place on World Communion Sunday, October 7.

See You Sunday!