Last Minute Surprises...

Today we got a call from the folks who own the space we've been renting on Sundays.  They told us that the building is unexpectedly unavailable this week and we can't meet there this Sunday. 

Bummer.  

Although we know that Connections Church is bigger than a worship gathering- we still love hanging out with each other and seeking God together.

Then we got another call.

We heard that our new space had undergone it's final inspection.  We didn't completely pass. The inspector found multiple minor issues that need to be resolved.  

However...none of the fixes relate to life/safety issues.

So, we've been granted a temporary certificate of occupancy and can use the space this Sunday (3/29)!

Although we'd hoped to have a bit more notice and time to move in, we'll take it. =)  

So, come hang out with us this Sunday at 1280 Buck Jones Rd (MAP) at 10:45am.  The space will still be a work in progress and we'll be adding more touches in the coming weeks and months. 

But we'll be in our own spot- together!

And if you are free tomorrow (3/28), we'll be having an all-hands-on-deck, last minute workday to try and get as much done as we can before Sunday.  We'll get started at 10am.  Feel free to come and go as your schedule allows.

Closer.. But Not Quite There

This week brought us a couple of steps closer to being able to occupy our new space, but didn't get us all of the way there.

We had our final fire inspection on Monday and everything looked great.  Until the fire marshal noticed that we didn't have an anti-tamper switch installed on a fixture connected to our new fire hydrant.  

Our plans called for the switch, but somehow it never showed up. Our site contractor forgot to install it.  Our General Contractor didn't notice it's absence.  Nor did any of the 4 previous inspectors who came out at various times to check our new fire alarm system.  Guess that's why multiple inspections are required.  

So our contractor spent the last few days digging up the parking lot, installing this missing piece of gear and putting things back in place.

In the meantime, the local fire house came and tested our hydrant and declared it good for use by painting the top silver.  

This means that as soon as we can get the fire marshal to sign off on the new anti-tamper switch we can move on to our final inspection for occupancy.

On another note (either positive or negative depending on how you choose to look at it), our building got its first taste of graffiti this week.

While this isn't a huge hassle since we have our painters coming back out to do final touch ups anyway- it is ironic that the building never attracted graffiti in it's old, run down condition.  To look at the bright side of things- we prayed that God would place us in an area with needs- and He has.

THIS WEEKEND

Since we don't have our C.O. yet, we'll plan on meeting one final time at Delightful Inspirations this Sunday (3/29). Please join us in praying that we'll pass our final inspections quickly and be able to use our new building next Sunday (4/5).

Final Hurdles

Our contractor completed the last official piece of work on the building early this week by pouring a new access ramp for the front sidewalk.

We also had a sign company install our sign- which had been permitted separately.  Here are some shots of the process:

Now we're only lacking one test of our new fire hydrant and two inspections before we can use our new space.  As it is highly unlikely that all of this will happen in time for this Sunday (3/22), we'll be meeting one last week (hopefully) at Delightful Inspirations.  

So far we've hit a couple of small snags as different inspectors are asking us to do opposite things.  Please pray that the rest of this process will go smoothly and quickly and that we'll be able to start using the building as soon as possible.

Coming Down The Home Stretch...

The list of projects yet to be completed at our future space is getting really short.  

The exterior of the building and the sidewalks attached to it have been completely repainted. No more green!  The parking lot has also been re-striped.

We've had some of our folks working in the building over the last week and have able to finish a good number of our personal punch-list items: moving things out of storage units and into the new space, general cleaning, installing curtain rods and tv mounts, etc.

Here's a shot of the privacy film that one of our own installed on the Cry Room windows:

We are hoping to have our final inspection by next Tuesday. Please join us in praying that the inspection process will go quickly and smoothly.

Finally, we're continuing to round up the gear needed to make our new facility functional.  If you'd like to contribute to this project, note "Upfit"on your check and place it in the green bucket on the building info table this Sunday.  If you'd like to give electronically, you can make that happen HERE.  

Thanks for your help!

So Close.....

Our contractors are putting the finishing touches on our future space this week.  

The new flooring (carpet and vct) is almost completely installed:

Our awning over the rear stairwell (required by code) went up as well.

Having finished the interior painting, the painters turned their focus to the exterior.  The color on the far left is the existing paint, the middle color is a primer, and the color on the right is the neutral that will cover the outside of the building.

At this point we're incredibly close to applying for our final inspection to get our certificate of occupancy.  Please pray that this process goes quickly and smoothly and that we are able to move in as soon as possible.  

As much as we appreciate the folks at Delightful Inspirations who have been gracious enough to have us these last months, we're ready to start this next chapter of our life as a community.

Also, if you are free this Saturday, we'll be having another workday to finish our punch-list items.  We'll start at 10am.  Contact Shane Bazer (shanebazer@gmail.com) if you plan on helping.

Workday, Written Prayers, Carpet, Permits & Up-Fit

Wow! A good bit has happened in the last week. We've got a lot to catch you up on.

For starters- some folks showed up on Saturday to invest some "sweat equity" in our new building. Thanks to all who pitched in. We got a lot done. But don't worry- if you missed this work day, they'll be another one you can get in on on Saturday March 7th.





On Sunday, we asked our community to come and write some prayers and thoughts on the concrete floor before our carpet went in. This was a way for us to lay a positive foundation for all that will happen in and through our new space. Here are a few shots:






I (Fred) was in the space today (Wednesday) and the carpet was starting to go down.



We're gearing up for a final inspection to get our occupancy permit in the next week or so. Please be praying that we'll find favor in the eyes of the inspectors and that things will go smoothly and quickly.

Finally, we could use some help pulling together items to make the space usable. Here's a list of some of the things we're trying to round up with approx. costs:

Projection screen for adult area- $1200

Sound system upgrades for adult area- $6500

Chairs for adult area- $30 x 200

Round tables for adult area- $150 x 12

Staging riser for adult area- $500

Rocking chairs for cry room- $150 x 2

Cover for rear awning (code requirement)- $1250

Refrigerator for hospitality area- $800

Digital cordless phone w/extra handset- $85

Whiteboard on wheels- $250 x 2

Materials for curtains for 2nd story space- $500

Adjustable tables for Kids’ Classrooms- $150 x 5

TVs for Kids’ Classrooms- $500 x 3

Parent paging system for Kids’ Ministry- $750

Song PlayStation 2 for Night Life Cafe- $130 x 2

Metal Dance Floor Pad for Night Life Cafe- $150 x 2

If you'd be willing to contribute financially to help us purchase some of these things or if you could help in another way, contact Fred Turner (fred.turner@connectionschurch.ws).

Looking Better All The Time...

We're definitely in the home stretch now.  The space is looking pretty pulled together as the paint continues to go up.  While you can't beat seeing it in person, here are a few shots:

The painters are adding the blue background behind the curved walls that will front our adult gathering area.

The curved walls themselves will get painted a series of graduated neutrals.

If you've been in the space before, this was the ugly, red wall.  Although it still needs a final coat, a little paint has made a huge difference.  The metal staircase and railings have been painted too.

The last phase of work on the sprinklers was happening today (2/19) as well.  

Traffic was re-routed on Buck Jones road so that we could dig into the street and tap the main water line.

Workers prepare to lay the pipe that will supply water for our fire suppression sprinklers.

We're opening up the space again this Sunday (2/22) from 12:30-3pm so that our church community can come and write some prayers and scriptures on the floor before the carpet gets put in place.  We're viewing this as a chance to lay a foundation of prayer for our next season of life and all that will happen in and through this building.  Feel free to stop by if you are interested in participating.

Isn't It Amazing...

...how a little paint can dramatically change the feel of a room or building?  

That's what happened in our future space this past week as the interior painting began.  All of the surfaces have been prepped and primed.  The previously multicolored palate of red, purple, dingy neutral, rust, etc. is GONE!  The space looks very clean and new.  Here are a few shots of the adult/common areas:

Our contractor also installed a new entry/exit door in the back, left hand side of the building.  While it may not look too exciting, it certainly is a big upgrade over the plywood that had been covering this opening.

Thanks to all who took the time to stop by the building last Sunday to see the space in person.  If you weren't able to make it, consider joining us next Saturday (2/21) at 10am for a workday.  We'll be doing some cleaning and working on some punch list items.  For more info, contact Orlando Ortiz (orlortiz@yahoo.com).

Come Tour The Space!

In lieu of a blog post this week we're inviting you to come and tour the building in person.  We'll have it open this Sunday between 1-3pm.  

We'll have some folks available to talk with you about the different parts of the space and how we're dreaming God might use the bricks and mortar to make a difference in people's lives.

Note: The building isn't completed yet.  While there won't be any work happening on Sunday, it is still a construction site.  Please exercise caution and avoid bringing small children with you if possible.

Sprinklers! & Adult Gathering Space

We've got fire suppression sprinklers going in!  

While I admit that doesn't sound too exciting- and that we have no plans on ever using them- this does represent a crucial phase of our renovation process.  Especially since we won't get our Occupancy Permit without them.  

This week also saw the drywall work continue as the crews came back to tape and mud. Needless to say the space is looking MUCH different.  As our designer said, "It actually is starting to look like a building again- instead of a skeleton."  I agree.

Here are a couple of shots of our main adult gathering space. This is where our adults will come together on Sundays to connect with God and each other.  The space should hold about 250 chairs- which gives us room to grow, but should also help us maintain a personal, intimate feel.  

Here's a view looking down from the 2nd story loft.

A floor view from the back of the space.

Of course, this area will get plenty of use beyond Sunday mornings.  Our teens will use it on Fridays for the Night Life Cafe.  Different groups in CNX will have access when they need it. And since we're planning on sharing this facility with our neighbors, we envision groups outside of CNX making use of it too.  After all, God didn't bless us with this building just to keep it to ourselves!

Check back next week for a peek inside our kid's areas.

Snow? No problem!

The snow may have closed schools and kept most of us home for a couple of days, but plenty of work got done at our future facility this week.

For starters, we've got a new bike rack.

This was required by code, but could serve us well in an area that has a lot of foot and bike traffic. So feel free to bike in on Sundays. You'll save gas $ and get some exercise!

The drywall crews were also working hard this week. As you can see below, a little drywall makes things look radically different.

The High School side of the teen space pre-drywall

Same area with drywall

The back wall of the main adult gathering space

Same wall today- reverse view

The front walls in the adult gathering space.

Front walls w/drywall (view from 2nd story loft)

Please keep praying. It's working!

You Gotta Have It

Some parts of a building project are exciting- watching walls go up, seeing spaces defined, choosing colors, etc. Other phases are essential- but not much to look at. That's the kind of work that took place this past week as the renovations of our future space moved onward.

POWER
The electrical work continued and we passed our first electrical inspection. With the new ramps poured last week, the workers were able to bring in a lift to start working on the second story wiring.


SAFETY
We're making changes to the building to ensure that our new space is safe for everyone. To that end we're installing fire suppression sprinklers and a new fire alarm. Progress was made on both of these items this week. Here are a couple of shots of some excavation that is happening to bring water pipes into the building to feed the sprinklers.

Digging up the parking lot and sidewalk.

The old men's locker room is being re-purposed to serve as the sprinkler riser room. New exterior doors will provide access to this area.

PRAY
As of today the project is still slightly ahead of schedule. If you're willing, please join us in praying for this work and the space. Here are some things you might ask God for:

• That we’ll stay on schedule.
• That our workers will stay safe.
• That we’ll have a smooth inspection process.
• That we'll have the finances needed to finish and use the new space in ways that help people and honor God.
  
• That God will prepare us for all of the new opportunities this space will give us to love and serve people.
• That God will be preparing new folks who will get involved with our faith community after we move to this space.

Be sure to check back next week for another update