# 5 (of 5) Re-Tasking Building Space

I don’t know of any other pastor who has a fireplace in his or her office! This space was designed in 1913 to be a Lady’s Parlor. The Men’s Lounge was downstairs where the present church office (and another fireplace) is located. These spaces were “re-tasked” as sensibilities changed.

It is time to do some more re-tasking.

I’ll list these in three categories which will be the focus for our church in 2010-2011:

Study.

We have a library that few people actually use. That room is actually more regularly used as a choir room (but with no place to store music), a community meeting room (although the library limits the size needed for these groups) and a Junior High classroom (with nothing on the walls or windows that reflects the age of the learners). What is the best use of that space given our current mission?

We are using a model of Sunday School that divides grades and requires classroom space that we really don’t have. Prior to my arrival in 2007 there was talk of building additions to accommodate that Sunday School model. But there are better models. A workshop rotation model uses space differently and has several other huge benefits: teachers get to work in an area where they feel truly gifted (like drama or music or Bible storytelling) and prepare one lesson taught five consecutive weeks (preventing burn-out!) while kids enjoy Sunday School for the same reasons they enjoy Vacation Bible Camp—great variety. This method can also save money on curriculum! What other models could we explore?

Our one adult class meets in Lamson Hall on Sundays. I would like for that group to use my office instead and free-up that space for large, fun children’s activities on Sunday. And actually, I am not sure my office should be an “office” at all. Could I do my computer work out of the present choir room and allow the office to become a “prayer room” where intimate meetings can take place?

Outreach

When the public enters our church it sure would be nice if there was an obvious reception area perhaps just inside Lamson Hall. Agape Café could use it to welcome guests, Open Door clinic could use it to for more private intake. Imagine how little it would take to provide welcoming space.

Lamson Hall is largely unused six days a week and yet it must be heated. In the winter time residents of the local family homeless shelter could bring their kids out of that home with little room for play and into an expansive play space in Lamson Hall. (In the summer our neighbors could enjoy the playground on our property…just imagine it!)

Worship

We finally cleared the air hockey table off of the downstairs stage and left the altar there instead. Have you noticed the difference in the way that room feels? I have. It is now much easier to imagine worship taking place on the stage…maybe Thursday night after Agape Café? Maybe it becomes a youth stage for their worship services. In fact imagine converting Lamson Hall into a café for teenagers where they could experience poetry slams, live music and, of course, contemporary worship that they would be happy to invite their friends to.

In the main sanctuary the choir cannot see from behind the gigantic wall that surrounds them. So during joys and concerns and children’s message they stand and peek over the wall like Kilroy. Is that full-sized wall necessary or might it be cut down by three feet? And while we are cutting, might we shave-off a few pews so that people who find their way into worship because of our accessible parking lot can likewise find a place for themselves at the center of the congregation rather than on the fringes—the only place wheel-chairs currently “fit”.
I know some of my ideas are radical and will not be adopted. I also know that many of you have similar ideas and have not felt comfortable speaking-up. Well, we have a lot to talk about this year!