We are having a busy day! The upgrades of the sanctuary continue with electrical work in the balcony, sound/visual work over the chancel, and the work has begun on readying the belfry for the bell. Just a few short days ago we began it all by removing a few pews. That was accomplished for us by YAM, our young adult group.

Here they are moving a pew--takes a bunch because they are heavy! We decided to take the pews out of the transept, which were constantly cluttered, and make a permanent place for the handbells to practice. If we need the seating, we can use the extra choir chairs in the front of that. In the mean time, in addition to the handbells, the SpiritLed band will also use this space for the 9 am service.

Other pews moved were the first two rows on each side of the nave. This gave us the room to extend out the chancel and also makes a bit more room between the rail and the first row of pews. We also preserved the handicap/wheelchair space up front, too.

We stored the pews in the gray house at the back of the church. We had been letting Bridge Refugee service use it as storage, but they graciously understood our situation and moved the few items they still had there. It was a bit like a puzzle getting the pews in there, though! We had wanted to store all 8 in the garage, but it would only hold 7, and that on two rows.

A suggestion has been made that perhaps some of our Sunday School classes might like to have a pew for their room. It may take a bit of doing, but it is possible. And we always have spare pews, too, in case one of the ones we have 'falls down on the job.' By the way, we did debate putting some of these padded pews in the balcony, replacing the unpadded ones. Sorry, balcony dwellers--they wouldn't fit, too long. No naps upstairs for now.