Organ Console and Chancel Dedication

Yesterday, October 7, 2012, Shiloh Church United Church of Christ, at its 10:30 a.m. worship service, officially dedicated its new chancel and organ console. In less than a calendar year, Shiloh Church was able to finish the entire project, moving the church's grand facility plan toward completion. 

 

That plan, devised, through a lengthy process, in 2007, consists of updating and renovating the sanctuary, adding an elevator for access to every floor of the facility, a central and identifiable "front entrance," updated bathrooms, hallways, fellowship and educational space. Despite the challenges of economics and lower participation, Shiloh has been able to achieve several portions of this $3.7 million plan. Already the church has renovated the Omega Hall, the Christian Education wing, replaced the antiquated boilers and windows, and now the chancel and organ console.

 

The congregation is well on its way to updating its facility, making this place of worship, study and fellowship more attractive and significantly reducing the church's carbon footprint. Simply replacing the boilers and the windows has saved us tens of thousands of dollars each year, and has greatly reduced our use of non-renewable resources.

 

An upcoming phase of Shiloh's facility plan further reduces our use of the world's resources. As we move toward updating the sanctuary lighting, we know that simply replacing incandescent lighting fixtures with LED lighting is at least 40x more efficient, thereby reducing both costs and the use of the earth's resources.

 

While what Shiloh Church has achieved is remarkable, what lies before us us is at least equally important. While we celebrate the dedication of a remodeled chancel and a new organ console, at a value of something in the neighborhood of $200,000, there are other important projects waiting to be achieved.

 

I hope that members and friends of Shiloh Church feel as energized as I do for the tasks that lie ahead. While we surely deserve to take time to celebrate what has been done, I sincerely hope that those celebrations feed the energy that moves us forward and outward.

 

Thanks to all those who supported the chancel renovation and organ console replacement. Thanks to those who gave time and expertise, to those who gave countless hours to the project, and to those who led the way. Your efforts will long be remembered!

 

See You Sunday!