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Shared Life: Current Edition I Archive
Bricks and Sound
Repairing Our Church to Advance Our Mission
Old First Presbyterian Church is a busy place! We worship together. We study together. We have parties. We help others in our neighborhood through the Welcome Ministry and the Doris Krauss Senior Center. Our Old First Concerts program presents more than 60 concerts a year. Most of these activities take place in our church building constructed in 1912. Nearing its 100th birthday, the building’s steel frame is showing signs of rust and is in need of repair.
The Operations Committee noted cracks in the bricks near the Sacramento Street East door. On further investigation it was found that a 54-foot-long vertical crack has developed in the bricks which cover the outside of a 60-foot vertical steel column. The cause of this crack is a 1/8 inch thick surface of rust all along the outer side of the column, pushing out on the bricks. This rust is caused by moisture slowly getting through the bricks and reacting with the steel, causing rust to develop on just the outside of this column. Inspections all around the building, both inside and outside, have found no other indication of rust on the steel frame, except for a short section of a column on the southeast corner. We could caulk and waterproof the cracks and brick, but the rust would continue, eventually compromising the strength of the columns. The long-term solution is to remove the brick in front of this column (several layers), grind off all the rust, paint the column with rust inhibitor and replace bricks with extra waterproofing. This solution will last another 100 years.
We have a bid to do this work for a total price not to exceed $48,000. The work would be done mid- September to mid-October (before the rainy season), during which time there would be a scaffold along the northeast corner. Delaying the work would increase the price and increase the rust.
The crack on the southeast corner would probably be repaired from ladders on the lower roof. Less rust was found on the surface there. The bid for fixing this corner is $22,000. There is also rust visible on the steel support above the elevator. We have a bid of $4,500. This could most effectively be done at the same time as the larger project.
You may have noticed that our sound system is in need of repair. Microphones that do not work, static from the speakers and muffled sound often cause disruption in our worship service. We have a bid for a new sound system of $21,740. This is for new speakers, new wireless microphones, and the related amplifier. It also includes ten hearing aid stations.
The total for all work is $96,240. The Session has decided to go forward with a mini-Capital campaign, “Bricks and Sound,” to make these urgent repairs. In order to complete the work before the end of October, we need pledges/gifts by October 1sst with payment by March 31, 2009. Contributions/pledges should be sent to the church with Attention to the Treasurer. Extra pledge cards are available in the church office; contact cheryl@oldfirst.org.
If you have questions about the scope of the work, contact Steve Taber or Chuck Olson – or attend the Church Town Hall meeting after worship on Sunday, August 31.
Clerk’s Corner – Report on July 22, 2008 Session meeting
Jeanne Kirkwood, Clerk of Session
Usually Session omits one meeting during the summer; however, due to important and time-sensitive issues,
we agreed to meet both in July and August. The two action items for July were:
1) Discussion of the schedule of physical building maintenance and repair items which must be dealt with. Operations Committee presented the following motion:
RESOLVED, that a minor capital campaign be initiated to raise funds for a new sanctuary sound system
and for the repair of bricks and rusted steel columns on the East side of the building, with a goal of raising
$100,000. The campaign will commence on August 3 and be completed by October 1 with payments to be made by March 31, 2009.
2) Discussion of recent California Supreme Court decision declaring prohibition of same-sex
marriages to be unconstitutional. Steve Taber presented a lengthy and technically researched opinion as to the
viability of incorporating same-sex marriages into our repertoire of celebrations. Both the Associate Stated Clerk of
the General Assembly and the Stated Clerk of San Francisco Presbytery have found his conclusions valid. Pastor
Maggi stated that this is a way for us to show love and support for members who are making a serious commitment,
and all her usual pre-marital procedures would remain in place – counseling, etc. We thoroughly discussed this
concept and then Pam Byers presented the following motion:
The Session authorizes Pastor Maggi Henderson to officiate at same-sex marriage ceremonies, and will consider requests for use of the sanctuary for these ceremonies, under the California Supreme Court ruling of May 15, 2008. These services will include pastoral and congregational celebrations and blessings following guidelines in the July 3, 2008 letter from Stephen Taber, Esq.
