Worship News. If you can reach this Blog, you can join us in Worship this Sunday, April 26, 2020. The You Tube link will be up by 8:00 am, and don’t forget to download the Worship Guide. You can worship, but maybe you could call some church family friends and schedule a time to log on and worship together electronically?
And if you missed any earlier services, they’re still available via the CUMC website.
Overview. Welcome to the April 25, 2020 CUMC Spring Garden Blogpost! The campus remains closed, so, again, no recent imagery. I’ll try to entertain by reruns.
Announcements from the Leadership Council, Minutes of April 20, 2020
All of the trees purchased by members and friends of CUMC have been planted. Our landscaper and CUMC’s custodial staff have planted all 113 trees. All health precautions were taken and observed by the planters. The trees needed to be planted for viability. The site remains closed and is posted “no trespassing” until construction has been resumed. Let us all PLEASE observe this. There will be plenty of time to view the trees in the near future.
Other Important News Regarding Restarting Construction from Kerm Leitner.
Kerm and Jeff Barnes, the Building Committee Chair, discussed the future of the Spring Garden Campus construction. Funk Construction will be following a strict protocol regarding health measures which will need to be taken once their work resumes. CUMC discourages anyone from visiting the Spring Garden Campus while the threat of spreading the virus remains with us. In keeping with this restriction, until further notice, photography of the site should stop.
We should stay away from SGC even when the contractor is permitted to restart construction, so that we do not interfere with the contractor’s health and safety protocols. The Leadership Council will provide further information on this.
Outside Progress: As noted above all the trees have been planted!
Inside Progress: None to report.
Looking Back — Today’s Feature is the Little Lights Learning Center (LLLC). The imagery will show construction progress from the beginning of the foundation through the carpeting, painting and cabinetry. As I understand, the LLLC was essentially completed and ready for turnover before the SGC construction was stopped.
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April 2019: The North Wing begins to take shape. Footers and
first courses of cinder block
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May – June 2019. Walls to full height and curing the floor
July 31, 2019. The LLLC summer crew tours the LLLC spaces with Mike Arnold.
August 2019. LLLC under roof
August 2019. Studding going up; looking from entrance toward Worship Center
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November 2019 – January 2020. Forming the North Entrance to the LLLC
Feb 2020. Cabinets and toilets installed, and final painting underway.
March 2020. Laying tile in LLLC area
Looking Forward: The omens are good for a return to construction activity in the near future. But over and above the regular business of painting, drywall, flooring, HVAC, etc., will be a crucial layer of health protocols. The Contractor will establish and enforce the appropriate preventive measures, which I imagine will probably include personal distancing, surface disinfection, and inventory control and examination to preclude infected materials from entering the site.
I believe this is worthy of our constant prayers for successful restarting and complete protection of all site workers, including delivery folks. We are not out of the pandemic forest by a long shot, and we certainly don’t want to take ownership of a facility that is not as virus-free as possible. Trust in God!
CUMC’s Care for the Workers. A continued request. Continue to include the contractors and their subs AND Suppliers in your prayers for health for them and their families, AND for economic stability. Might I add that a prayer that they are able to return safely soon and not be reassigned to other projects. We do have a great team of specialists I think you’d agree. I’d also ask prayers for the suppliers, who cannot deliver to our campus. There may be a glimmer of hope this week in the loosening of some restrictions on construction workers and sites.
But I’m reluctant to pray for what we desire – a quick return to completing the Campus. On reflection, I’d ask that we pray earnestly that we wait patiently for God’s leadership, satisfying ourselves that God really does have our best interests in mind and can balance all the complex variables of this decision-making. Can I get an AMEN?
Coming Attractions. For surely, I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Why don’t you begin to imagine what you will do once the Spring Garden Campus is open and ready for our church family? What do you want to do first? Will you be a moving volunteer transferring items from West Street to South Spring Garden St? Will you practice giving directions to anyone who asks you where your church building is? Are you going to take pictures or movies? Are you going to Facebook your friends? Will you be an office volunteer, or a youth or children’s ministry volunteer? Are you going to sign up for grounds maintenance?
Meanwhile, Keep holding one another close in spirit and communication. Pray that God will always keep us as the apple of His eye. And always give God thanks for our church family, and our individual families.
Keep checking the CUMC website and look in on the Blog.
Faith over Fear, Prayer over Panic, Christ over All!
Carlisle UMC Spring Garden Campus Update 