Ad Hoc committee report survey results Our committee

Ad Hoc committee report: survey results Our committee wishes to thank all of you members for taking the time to consider the issues presented in the survey. The response shows how much each of you cares for and loves our church. The following is a compilation of the results of the survey.

Of the three presented options by the Committee at the membership meeting, I would tend to choose

The following areas of concern to me that would need attention, regarding which solution we choose for the overall facility

Question One Comments (church facility) • Make our foyer and auditorium very inviting and comfortable. We are a family. This is our church home. It should be more “homey. ” • I would be in favor of remaining in the existing facility with some updating and perhaps rearranging floor plan. Seating: perhaps by removing the last 4 or 5 rows of seats, the congregation would be pushed forward. With those rows removed, the space could be redesigned as a new entry/vestibule for the church. • The most important single thing we can do is to love and pray for our community more! Everything else will follow.

• It would be nice if we could be more informal especially on Wednesdays. I would love to sit in moveable, comfortable, chairs in a circle, on Wednesdays. • Should other seating be considered—and the removal of the present seats—(they are bolted to the floor) the auditorium would either need to be re-tiled or carpeted. Maintenance should be considered. Would we want uncomfortable seats instead of theater seats? • I’ve been in many churches and yours is beautiful. Why don’t you preserve your unique features and methods of service. You don’t need to copy other churches to attract members. Just be what you are.

• (if we included Sunday School students) –but not on the same floor. With music occurring at different times— there would be lots of background sounds during the church service and vice versa! • (including Sunday School students more in church somehow)—only after Sunday School is over. Older SS students could usher on Wednesday nights, do an occasional RR window with their teacher (all ages)

• (making things less formal overall), no, it has a nice feel. No (to moving the congregation into a more intimate area or close to each other); “No, fine as is” regarding both changing entry or updating seating arrangement • I favor less formal and more flexible seating. Moveable chairs would allow for a less formal seating arrangement for Wednesdays and meetings and could be lined up for a more formal Sunday service if the membership desired. • (regarding including Sunday School students more in church somehow)—getting the membership more aware of and involved in the Sunday School • moveable seating—flexibility for meetings, Wed. evening when the #’s are smaller. Remove seats in back of auditorium

• Thank you for this survey. • I like the idea of bringing the Readers and the congregation closer together. • I would like to see the platform opened up by a smallersized desk. I would also like to consider cushioned pews instead of auditorium seats. Moving closer and more intimate on Wednesdays

Some of the qualities or components I value in considering this discussion of updating or changing the church facility

Question Two Comments (auditorium, bathrooms, entry etc. ) • podium and platform are too high. The separate readers from congregation. They are an impediment to the reader/listener embrace. New church designs use Plexiglass lecterns to bring pastor and congregation close together, to minimize separation. • reference to previous comment about rearranging floorplan and removing last 4 -5 rows of seats; also perhaps lower podium a bit to be more inviting to congregation. Remove curtains and lattices—is it necessary that the organist be hidden behind curtains? • incorporate some fresh “greenery, ” silk or real, into the décor. Stained glass windows for color and life to the auditorium.

• handicap access ideal if not too expensive; lighting—not less than now; size of entry—not smaller than now; entry to auditorium—OK as now; seating in auditorium—it would be nice if we could be more informal especially on Wednesdays. I would love to sit in moveable, comfortable chairs in a circle on Wednesdays; podium— maybe lower; curtained area—maybe attractive louvered shutters? • handicap access is a consideration but the more inspection you have done the more requirements will be needed. Bathrooms not only would be corrected but larger doorways would be required. Podium area—could be addressed. Curtained area OK privacy for organist and flower committee. Décor—restful and recovering and doing other seating –a major cost. • handicap access —podium area nice; décor lovely. We have a lovely church—only some changes could be considered but would be costly like handicap access to restrooms.

• no concerns • plumbing in bathrooms—one stall in each would be an improvement • the two north doors are the most used and it seems like a new etnry on that side to both the auditorium and the Sunday School would be an improvement, but it might trigger ADA changes • making the auditorium less formal with chairs we can rearrange as needed; door security—do we need it? I think we should have our church as secure as possible; handicap access—yes; seating—more flexible; podium area—less formal; air flow comfortable; heating and insulation comfortable; décor—less formal and more up to date

• It would be nice to have some glass in the entry door as ushers can see people coming in and greet them. It would also make the door seem less forbidding. • handicapped/wheelchair access; plumbing needs updating; everything is so “brown”—we need some more colorful décor that looks more up-to-date! • strongly consider updating the rear entrance into the church by adding an extension where the present stairs go down to the door • beautify, beautify

• updating the Sunday School so we are young and modern—in line with how kids think and feel; brighter colors etc. • I think the church has a pleasant feel. It could be a bit more modern. However, it is adequately furnished for our congregation. • our church building is attractive from the outside but: 1) it needs friendly access, not one which says you can come in if you can find a way, 2) the interior of the foyer should be visible from outside through the main access doors in windows in the doors—so that visitors can see what they are entering and people outside can see the friendly activity going on in the foyer, 3) parking lot should lead more easily to the main entrance.

• I’m not sure but I think the bathrooms can be reconfigured to make them handicap accessible. Perhaps the hallway to the Children’s Room can be widened too. • Perhaps a different screened treatment to replace the dark burlap curtain (I understand the reason for the curtains is to cover restrooms from view. )

In considering the Sunday School area, the following areas of concern to me that would need attention, regardless of which solution we choose for the overall facility

Question Three Comments (Sunday School) • I teach in the SS and love it!! ADA/handicap access would be ideal but elevator is too expensive—perhaps a ramp from west side? More comfortable chairs for everyone in classes; wall/class separations OK as is; need for SS to be on same level as auditorium is ideal but to move SS to main level would mean less space. To make the SS lighter and more inviting perhaps we could redo the windows on the west: consider removing the lattice, installing clear glass and painting a beautiful mural (perhaps a mountain scene) on the wall outside that faces the SS. Keep it simple and perhaps add some nice fake evergreens like they do in window wells • ADA access, difficult to solve; lighting OK; entry points – handicap consideration; need for Sunday School to be on same level as auditorium not possible here; major or minor suggestions should go to the Superintendent and then furthered to the Board.

• Handicap access—not a present need; lighting fine; décor—lovely maybe little more color; not noisy. Need for SS to be on same level as auditorium—NO! Does not make sense. The SS more colorful perhaps—but the décor and color are NOT what attracts. It is important to remember this. • I don’t think I’d like closed in rooms; I don’t see a need for lots of changes to our SS unless our attendance grows and we need to control noise, etc. • could use some color

• important to value Sunday School attendees as we do our church members. The Sunday School lacks the finishes (from a physical building and furniture perspective) relative to the rest of the church. Also reference question two: upgrading the Sunday School so that we are young and modern—in line with how our kids think and feel; brighter colors, etc. • our Sunday School IS part of Church and I like the idea of inviting the whole congregation down now and then for a special event such as graduation. • I would defer my thoughts to others who are in the Sunday School more often than I. Obviously, to have the SS on the same level as church would involve major changes; although it would be nice, I do not believe it is necessary.

In considering the external areas of the church, the following areas of concern to me that would need attention, regardless of which solution we choose for the overall facility

Question Four Comments (external areas) • adding shrubbery/flowering plants (perennials) would beautify the exterior entryway but may require a gardening service. Cost prohibitive? • sign—more attractive with hours of services and SS and perhaps share a quote that could be changed • we can be pleased we have adequate parking. The difficulty is snow removal. There are fewer parking spaces allowed for most businesses etc, nowadays. Landscaping OK; it was suggested that if we now use the coat room as an entrance, perhaps a prettier door or “welcome” sign could designate it in lieu of the stairs. • snow and ice along the north side of the building

• fine as is, attractive • the first think I’d like to say is…a big thank you to the Ad Hoc Committee. It has given me a strong appreciation for what we have—what I observe is a structure that is full of plenty—plenty of seating in the auditorium, plenty of Sunday School space, plenty of floor space for members and guests to visit, plenty of space for the children’s room, plenty of parking space and a corner lot with plenty of visibility. Is it that some feel we have too much plenty and want to scale down? If there is a freshness that is needed, there is so much that can be done i. e. , an inviting, classy exterior door that opens to the coat room (many enter here from the parking lot); the retainer wall that shields the stairs going downstairs really needs help—it could have textured art work; and a lot can be done to upgrading the landscape, to a new sign. These are just start-up ideas. I focused on the exterior since so much as been said to-date about the interior.

• I think we need to do what we can to reduce water usage and costs • consider landscaping costs and water costs • a sign placed on side street (Scott? ) lighted so early visitors can see hrs. of service. • none of above. Exterior is acceptable. • parking lot should be easily plowed • our Facilities Committee seems to be doing a wonderful job keeping and maintaining the exterior of our church, and interior as well.

Question Five comments (cost and debt/choices) • no idea how much to budget; not acceptable to go into debt • $50, 000 as ceiling amount; not going into debt. Let’s attract new life where we are then move because we need to. We are helpful and attractive our out community!! Right now! • The inclusion of the members in this is greatly appreciated.

• could choose to remain in present location till membership builds up or creates a building fund for a 3 -5 year period; not go into debt. ADA seems too costly. Purchase a new location is an idea but we’d need a committee and a realtor involved. The level of remodeling could turn into a costly project that might make a new facility equal; but the problem is the lack of membership resource to sustain the effort of purchasing a new building. I guess I would discuss the synthesized results to see what remodeling is desired and then make one decision. However, I think the creation of a “building remodeling” fund could help start the plan, and in the meantime we could look at options and costs. • We are small in numbers, we have a beautiful church. To even think of relocating to something less adequate and beautiful (and COSTLY) makes NO sense!! We also have a great location

• with 200 K principal (for remodeling); yes could go into debt, 20% of FMV of church (approx 180 K) • I would prefer to find space to lease. Sell the current building which has served our church family so well over the years, and begin the process of finding a new church home somewhere in the southeast quadrant of the city. I -25 will be the new “Main Street” in northern Colorado. Most of the new growth is and will be in that area. • I don’t feel the need to have a separate building that we own for our church home. Leased or owned space in an office or shopping area might serve our needs very well

• $200, 000 ceiling • I don’t know about amount to budget. I’d rather not go into debt. A smaller, newer church with less maintenance. I love our church building. I could see us remodeling the main auditorium to make it less formal, but also, I can see moving to a smaller facility so our members don’t have to spend as much time on maintenance and we can spend more time on healing and reaching out to the community. • $25, 000 ceiling amount; no debt

• $10, 000 to $20, 000 (mainly bathrooms and handicap SS access); not into debt. It would be nice to reconfigure the podium area to lower it and make less of a division between the readers and the congregation. I’d also like to see the entire room carpeted and the stationary seats replaced with moveable seats but, this isn’t high on my priority list. • ? amount; yes into debt, open to discussion ($100, 000? )

Question Six (other final comments) • Research has shown that people reposition chairs before they sit in them. It’s part of making a place for themselves. When we discover the furniture rearranged in our rental units, we consider it a positive that the guests have made themselves at home (rather than a negative that we have to put it back in position). The fixed-to-thefloor seats in our auditorium do not allow people to make themselves at home. • I once attended a church in downtown Chicago where the auditorium is horseshoe shaped. Like theater in the round. It was wonderful to be looking at one another, especially on Wednesdays. Readers don’t have to stand—they could sit at a table. To make the readers visible to congregation in areas with fixed seats we’ve raised the platform. It could also be done by providing flexible, spacious seating so people could arrange themselves so that they can see. Let’s make some of our auditorium space available for foyer overflow after the services. How about staying seated through the postlude and then staying in the auditorium to greet one another?

• Regarding the mural in the window well—let the teachers and kids help paint it. An idea. • We have a beautiful church and a good location. Our visibility is important and good where we are. Some things may need doing but trying to be “popular” will not be a proper goal. Our church embraces healing and love and we can be very warm and loving to the newcomers, but we are very different from churches trying entertainment in order to bring in new people. The visibility of our Reading Room puts our name out to the public as does the Monitor. We are not in competition! Being more diligent to the Manual and Mrs. Eddy’s teachings and directions will keep our cause vital. Of course, costs do enter into it all, but consider what we would be giving up—just to change. I appreciate the work of the Ad-Hoc committee and the fact that we can all express our desires and make suggestions. Please allow time for any and all decision-making. When we listen and work to know what is right—the answers will come.

• Strongly consider updating the rear entrance into the church by adding an extension where the present stairs go down to the door. The extension would allow a level access to the foyer without climbing stairs. Access to the Sunday School would still be with stairs. Providing this addition to the church does not involve or invoke handicap regulations, bids could be obtained for costs estimates and brought to the membership. • entire room carpeted and the stationary seats replaced with moveable seats but, this isn’t high on my priority list.

• a piano in the auditorium certainly would be practical. In fact there will come a time when we wish we had one there. When singing hymns or selecting vocal solos, having a piano available certainly gives us more options, either when needing a keyboard player or having a wider choice of keyboard accompaniments to solos. MANY THANKS to those members who contributed in the preparation of this survey. A lot of time, thought and knowledge went into this! • Allowing some flexibility for readers and musicians to read or perform from the auditorium floor at a spot of their choosing. Also, the MANUAL OF THE MOTHER CHURCH does not prohibit an instrumental solo (other than organ or piano) at Collection time. Nor the accompaniment to the Solo, though it was probably assumed that the accompaniment to the Solo should be keyboard.

• The committee members responsible for this survey obviously spend many, many hours in its preparation and we, I, are grateful for their expertise and recommendations. With so many options presented, only the “right” answers and decisions will be unfolded for only the “right” direction for our church and congregation. There is only one Mind. Thank you one and all, lovingly… • Question: what is our motive? Of what advantage would it be to move or change locations? Let’s practice “wisdom, economy, brotherly love” as our Leader tells us; let’s “build and rebuild” as Mary Baker Eddy tells us. The church within is what needs to be rebuilt and maintained in consciousness. This is what will attract the stranger to our door.

SUMMARY § Appreciation for our church and membership was expressed § Remodeling focus § § Seating/podium/curtained area (less formal, more intimate) Entrance(s) Sunday School (ADA/windows/color) Budget: range from $10, 000 to $200, 000

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” Ps. 127: 1