Serving Today........Building Tomorrow

What type of difference does your traditional church support really make? Consider the following:

Missions & Service: As Christians, we are all called to serve, and through this service many of us find true  satisfaction. From the Community Dinners that feed our neighbors, to the service of OUMC members throughout the U.S. and in

places like Belize, Congo, India, Liberia, Nicaragua
and Russia, the service and financial support of our church profoundly impact our world.

Ministries/Programs: God invites us into a deep, meaningful relationship, and this type of fulfillment requires more than a Sunday church service. Through Sunday School programming, the LiveWire youth group, and a variety

of other studies and educational opportunities, the church helps satisfy a deep hunger for knowledge and understanding.

 

Operations: The church cannot run on a day-to-day basis without the funds to pay staff salaries, cover the bills, and guarantee the upkeep of our facilities. This behind-the-scenes support makes everything else possible.

Project 1 - Refurbishing the Pipe Organ: For the past 81 years, our magnificent pipe organ has been a mainstay of church services. This unique and highly valued instrument not only accompanies our hymns and church choirs, it also is at the heart of the annual Ginx Peck Concert. 

In recent years, sticking notes and the dropping out of chords signaled that this church heirloom needed repair. Thanks to a loan from a congregation member, this work was completed in summer 2009. A new solid-state voltage switching system was installed and 1,095 defective pipe valves were replaced. Cost $40,000.

Project 2 - Roofing the Church Spires:

 

The signature of our church is its towering, 124-year old spires, which can be seen for miles in all directions. During the 1970s, the original roofing was replaced with asphalt shingles. Over the past 40 years, accelerated by recent high winds, an alarming number of shingles have been damaged or blown away. In order to ensure both durability and attractiveness, it is recommended that the

spires be re-roofed with a steel, sheet-based material, finished with a ceramic Project 3 - Installing a New Outdoor Sign: Our most visible means of communicating with the surrounding community is the sign outside our church. Our current sign is outdated, poorly located, difficult to update, and in a general state of deterioration. It is recommended that a new, larger sign be constructed on the corner of Church and Poplar Street, where it can more easily be viewed by passers-by.

The sign will feature a tasteful LED panel that will be easy to update while more prominently displaying timely church information. Estimated cost $20,000.

Project 4 - Upgrading Audio/Visual Technology: To remain attractive to prospective members, our church must keep up with current technologies. Two areas have been identified for improvements:

Fellowship Hall Sound System - As host to numerous church functions, including the informal 9 a.m. worship service, the Fellowship Hall has taken on a role of increasing importance in the life of the church. The current portable sound system provides poor audio quality and little compatibility with other technology. A new sound system would improve overall sound while supporting hearing assistance devices. Video capabilities within the system would allow for

services from the Sanctuary to be broadcast in the Fellowship Hall to overflow audiences.

Sanctuary Screen and Projector - While the use of visual elements in church services has grown more common, the church sanctuary lacks the technology to tap into this resource. By installing a viewing screen in an unobtrusive location at the front of the sanctuary and purchasing a quality projector capable of displaying photos and videos, numerous elements of the church service, from announcements to the sermon will be enhanced. Estimated combined cost $40,000.

Project 5 - Reconfiguring of West Side to Include Sheltered Drop-Off Area and Secure Parking: Two challenges posed by the church’s current location and configuration are the absence of sheltered drop-off and pick-up area and secured parking for church patrons.

 

Reconfiguring the western side of church property to include a canopied sidewalk and drop-off will benefit both the church’s senior members and young families. The project also involves relocating the playground area near the education building and fencing off the area to ensure security and prevent unauthorized use of church parking. Detailed renderings are shown below.  Estimated cost $150,000.