Presence
As many of you know, I was up last week helping celebrate my sister’s 70th birthday. A milestone for sure! When I asked her what she would like for her big birthday, she said: “Just your presence.” It got me thinking about how many people in my life are my “present;” that is, a gift to me. I thought of my twin and her husband, my niece, my dogs, my friends, my colleagues, and, of course, my wonderful congregation. But…
Moving into December
As I am writing this in advance of December 1st, I am anticipating my trip to the Antarctica Peninsula and Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil. My Thanksgiving Day dinner may or may not happen on a United Airlines flight returning from Buenos Aires – so not expecting any memorable Thanksgiving feast. But there will be some amazing memories (good or bad) from this adventure. And I’ll be able to say that I’ve visited all 7 continents…
Sanctuary Construction Update – Week #12
We have lots of progress to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week! All 24 roof trusses are in place and the remaining fourth exterior wall has been installed. Conduit for the future Internet connection to the sanctuary has been put in place. The entire exterior is being sheathed in plywood including the roof and will continue this week. We anticipate roofing will begin shortly. According to the contractor we are still ahead of schedule by two weeks.
Sanctuary Construction Update – Week #11
We anticipate that installation of the roof trusses will be getting underway this week. The remaining fourth exterior wall will be installed after the roof trusses are in place. Meanwhile the electrician is placing conduit for the future Internet connection to the sanctuary. According to the contractor we are still ahead of schedule by two weeks.
Sanctuary Construction Update – Week #10
The framing of the walls for the new sanctuary continues this week with three of the four exterior walls completed. The roof trusses have been delivered to the site and will start to be installed next week. The remaining fourth exterior wall will be installed after the roof trusses are completed. The canopy in front of the main front door (the Nanawall) has been framed and it indicates how much shade will be provided during the day. According to the…
Sanctuary Construction Update – Week #9
The new sanctuary and the canopy at the entryway are beginning to take shape now that the structural steel components have been installed. This week our contractors are starting the process of constructing the exterior walls. Next up will be placement of the roof trusses which are expected next week. Things are definitely moving along, with the goal of having the building tight to the weather before our rainy season begins.
Construction Progress – Oct 2024
Enjoy the time-lapse video of the Sanctuary Construction thru October 2024.
Everyone CAN Sing!
Singing is one of the most natural human expressions, and everyone is capable of it! Contrary to popular belief, singing isn’t just a gift some are born with; it’s a skill that can be developed, as vocal cords are muscles that respond to practice and care. Often, when people say they “can’t sing,” they simply haven’t had the chance to explore their voices in a supportive setting. Studies show that singing activates pleasure centers in the brain, releases endorphins, and…
Practice Hospitality
As we enter November, let’s hear it for Thanksgiving! You remember that holiday sandwiched in-between the retail bombardment of Halloween and Christmas. And we have so much to be grateful for as a congregation — it’s so exciting to see the dream of our sanctuary take shape, our congregation continues to grow and we have an outstanding staff who keep our services and programs vibrant and relevant. Also, I would encourage you to think of each of our visitors as…
Restoration and Repair
If you’ve ever owned a house, you know that it’s kind of a pain. There are always repairs to be done – the roof leaks, the dryer quits on you, the dog chews up the linoleum floor… (yah, that really happened!). At OCUUC, we have a wonderful team of people who repair that which is broken. Led by Jennifer Thomas of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, they do everything from fixing gas leaks, plumbing issues, painting the building, and making…
Sanctuary Construction Update – Week #8
Progress continues on the new sanctuary as we move forward ahead of schedule in anticipation of our rainy season. At this point the concrete pad has been poured and the open trenching has been backfilled. Next the structural steel components will be installed after which the wooden framing can proceed. Exterior walls will be erected first followed by placement of the roof trusses. The construction team will hold its every-two-week meeting this Thursday in the Victoria Room and at the…
Sanctuary Construction Update – Week #7
We have a foundation! We passed all our inspections and were able to pour the concrete last Monday, October 21st. Check out the webcam! Now comes the fun part as they begin the rough framing and our building really starts taking shape. The next few weeks we will get walls, roof trusses, and the rough framing for the raised part of our sanctuary. (They call it a chancel, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that! We’ll figure it out.)…