Hello Grace!
When you finally make it through your first week in a new place there is a sigh of relief. Are all the bugs worked out? No. Did all the furniture arrive on time? No, in fact it’s just being ordered. What about our front desk, is it installed? Not hardly, and still in the making. And that new telephone system sure must be awesome! Well…not quite yet, but we are getting there.
The rush of events, the timing, and organization of moving to our new location was handled by our very own Bobbie Fredricks.
“There really wasn’t any major challenges,” said Bobbie. “There was a lot to do, yes, but once we knew where everyone was going to be located at the new building, everything seemed to fall into place. The after-move is more challenging to me. There are boxes to unpack and everyone, including me, are back to meeting project timelines.”
And her biggest surprise? “That EVERYONE helped pack and that all the packing assignments were completed. With an unpredictable daily schedule in the advertising world, a person never knows what will happen when he or she walks in the door for the day.”
Before our move, however, we held an open house for the former members of Grace Presbyterian Church and other members of Presbyterian congregations in the Greater Green Bay area. Although the original Grace congregation was at one time very large, by September 2004 it was as few as 12 members. We had a wonderful turnout and many positive comments.
Some were bittersweet as in what Barbara Anderson wrote in our guest book…“My child was baptized here, wonderful and sad to see the church I grew up in.” Some were grateful, as in Ken’s comment…“Thank you for restoring this beautiful old church. I was a member, sang in the choir, and married here in 1952.” And some, like Wendy and Steve Mangless, were proud! They came for one last look…“Thank you for the open house. I was a fifth generation member!”
Cards and letters came in after as well. “What a special day it was for us! Thank you for the honor, respect, and care you’ve shown in your design of our former church. You did a wonderful job.” Written to us from Ruth Henschel a 25-year member.
“Closing a church is never pleasant and the circumstances surrounding the closing of Grace left us unhappy and with many unanswered questions. We were concerned that the building would be sold to someone wanting just the location. After seeing what you’ve done, I have a sense of peace and acceptance with the closing of our church. I hope you will continue to enjoy the beauty of the building. Sincerely, Margaret Letts.” We will Margaret, we will.
And finnally Marguerite Lussenden wrote to us about how much more prominent the windows are now that they are cleaned up. Not only cleaned, but also now seen…on the second level, the hand-painted glass scenes were once covered by risers and pew backs extended over four feet that we removed.
I catch myself at least once a day taking a second look at a window, a stream of sunlight breaking through the colored glass. Whether it is the large gothic arched painted scenes, or a simple window in a stairwell that the sun has illuminated sending a burst of color across the floor. I pause and stop to look at its splendor.
Grace is a masterfully crafted space where people gathered in spirit for over a 130 years. That will never change. So many of us here now enjoy its proud presence, its renovation, its renewed spirit, and continue to build upon the memories of its past—a bit differently, but with respect and through the professionalism of our craft.
Paul Meinke
Look what else we’ve been up to at:
Wow.. what an innovative and creative design. I used to attend services in that building and always knew the potential.