Pictorial Progression of Building Project

January 5, 2009 photo updates:

Don hard at work.

Norm unpacking.

Go Purdue!

Steve just standing around…

Almost done…

December 29, 2009 photo updates:

Dec. 29 – Alter in it’s new place.  Looks good Andy and Matt!

Dec. 29 -Different view…

Dec. 29 – Head-on view…

Dec. 29 – Another view.

Dec. 29 – Hey Don, I thought you specialized in lawnmowers nowadays?

Dec. 29 – Infrastructure…

Dec. 29 – Essentials…

Dec. 29 – Carpet going into the hallway.

Dec. 29 – Kurt waiting for lunch to be served

Dec. 29 – New lights…

Dec. 29 – No more 40′ ramp!

Dec. 29 – Another view…

Dec. 29 – Jim supervising the job (consulting fees?)

Dec. 29 – Alter being installed….

Dec. 29 – Sanctuary without pews.

Dec. 29 – The Matt Lawrence aerial show…

December 11, 2009 photo updates:

Cuiado is Spanish for Caution….

Dec. 11 – Carpeted hallway.

Dec. 11 – Alter in its new place.

Dec. 11 – More carpeted hallway.

Dec. 11 – Cabinets look nice.

Dec. 11 – More cabinets.

Dec. 11 – Nice green color for the walls.

Nov. 30 – Stain glass being reinstalled by Window Creations

Nov. 30 – Never looked better!

Nov. 30 – Scaffolding in the sanctuary.

Nov. 30 – Different angle…

Nov. 30 – Another different angle…

Nov. 30 – Windows facing West.

Nov. 16 – Sanctuary being painted.

Nov. 16th – Repair of peeling plaster.

Nov. 16th – The alter is back!

Nov. 16th – How many farmers and engineers does

it take to move a pulpit?

Nov. 16th – Kurt takes the pulpit for a test drive.

Nov. 16th – Andy, if that engineering thing

doesn’t work out, you look good in the pulpit!

It’s sad to see the windows leave, but they’ll be back in better shape.

Roger hard at work.

Roger still hard at work.

Digging begins.

Where did the playground go?

Inspector Marsha on the job site!

This size crane is a rare sight in Lake Township.

Gutted church building.

Framing begins.

New platform for alter.

Sanctuary view looking Southeast.

More framing.

And even more framing.

Building inspectors Max and Rose onsite.

View from South bean field.

 

Sue Dowling, Co-Chair Capital Campaign Committee writes…

Welcome to St. John’s Lake Township Evangelical Lutheran Church where we are currently “Building on Our Heritage: Building for Our future”.   Over the last three years, we have been busy with an extensive process of evaluating the goals and needs of our ministry while designing a remodeling plan.  Step by step asking God to lead us, our 125-year-old congregation has decided to give our beautiful old building an upgrade while adding some additional space for growing needs.
A special Ground Breaking Service was held on April 26, 2009, which coincided with the one-year anniversary of our successful stewardship fundraising campaign and the 46th anniversary of ground breaking for the Fellowship Hall.  So, we have now “officially” begun the work.  Here on this website you will find photos and even some video streaming now and then.  We want to keep all who are interested up to date with our building project!  Please continue to pray for all of our members, hard working committees, and volunteers as the plans take actual form.

Sue Dowling, Co-Chair Capital Campaign Committee

 

The Ground is Now Officially Broke!

Ground Breaking Ceremony

Sunday – April 26, 2009

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Lake Township officially “broke ground” on it’s building renovation and addition with a ceremony followed by a potluck dinner.  The renovation, which is projected to take place over the next nine months, significantly expands the Church while preserving the heritage of the 125+ year building.

Facility Committee:

- Co-Chairs: Don Harter and Alan Kuehnert.

- Members: Jim Dowling, Alan Felger, Edward Fick, Vicki Gilbert, Francis Harter, Bill Hibben, Cindy Houser, Roger Kuehnert, Matt Lawrence, John Mattes, Paul Meyers, Andy VanEvery, Sam VanEvery, Pastor Ralph Easterhaus.

Capital Campaign Committee:

- Co-Chairs: Sue Dowling and Matt Lawrence.

- Members: Steve Blessing, Rosy Blessing, Jim Dowling, Vicki Gilbert, Bill Hibben, Cindy Houser, Kristi Schlatter, Becky Shuler, Sam VanEvery.

Congregational Representatives:

- WELCA Representatives: Margaret Fick, Jean Shuler.

- Youth Representatives: Vaugh Crapser, Emily Wise.

Professional Assistance:

- Church Growth Services: Dick Beall

- Design Collaborative: Ron Dick

- Shawnee Construction: John Schenkel, Jr.

- The Lutheran Foundation: Rev. Art Klausmeier

Congregational members listen closely to Pastor Ralph’s speach.

St. John’s Sunday school children get in on the action!

Our respected elders were treated to front row seats for the ceremony.

Larry’s enthusiastic about something…maybe a Grandkid???

P.S., “Larry, your daughter-in-law Janine approved the posting of this photo.”

St. John’s Council Presidents – Present and past.

Representatives from Design Collaborative, Church Growth Services, Lutheran Foundation and Shawnee Construction get a workout.

Balloon launch and prayer ended the ceremony.  Dennis Klompstra from Wallaceburg, Ontario emailed to congratulate St. John’s on the building rennovation and to say that he found one of the balloons in his back yard.

 

Contractor Chosen

At the Facility Committee meeting on Monday evening, April 6, the Committee chose Shawnee Construction to be the General Contractor for our building program.  Seven contractors were given the opportunity to bid on this project; five of them submitted bids.  Shawnee’s bid was $72,000 less than the next lowest bid and 293,000 less than the highest bid.  Also, Shawnee committed itself to complete the project in 270 days (9 months) from the start of the work.  Two of the other contractors also would have completed the project in a similar amount of time; the other two would have completed the project within one year.  Shawnee’s bid came in at $172,165 less than the amount projected by the architects.

 

Property Committee – April 2009

Lowell Felger reported the basement foundation of the parsonage has been buried and a temporary fuel tank has been installed.  He is still working on replacing the signs along US Highway 30.  Lowell will check to see what the same size sign will cost.  Lowell and Andy VanEvery are going to get a lift to look at the roof to see if they can determine where the leak around the steeple is.  The septic tank at the parsonage was pumped out and the payment was made out of the maintenance fund.  Julie will ask the Facility Committee if this should come out of the building fund or the general fund.

 

Facility Committee – April 2009

Cindy Houser reported that they are in the final stages of planning and the drawings will go to the general contractors for the bidding process on March 9th.

 

Parsonage Move

For those who have traveled past the intersection of Cook and O’Day Roads over the past few weeks, you’ve noticed that St. John Lutheran Church’s parsonage is missing!  It really plays tricks on your mind to no longer see the building there.

The parsonage wasn’t torn down but moved by the Elkins Moving Company of Hudson, IN.

Per Don Harter, Co-Chairman of the Facility Committee, “We needed to move the parsonage, due that the new structure will be within inches of the east wall of the parsonage. As most people know the Keuhnert dairy Farm was the high bidder and moved the home just west of the church. Everything went very smooth. The plants around the parsonage went back to the Herb Keuhnert family ( they where a memorial for Herb) The cost and the weight was the buyer’s responsibility. Roger Keuhnert, Greg Salesman, and others on the site committee helped get the site ready for the next phase.

Mr. Fred Elkins, President of Elkins Moving Company, commented during a telephone interview that the parsonage weighed between 40 – 50 tons.

It was jacked-up, fitted with a moving suspension and trucked approximately 1/4 mile due West on the Cook Road and now resides on it’s new foundation on the North side of the road.

For congregational members who helped build the parsonage, Mr. Elkins also commented that, “This building was very well built.  It’s one of the few buildings of its size with steel I-beams in its floor”.

Vintage photo of St. John’s parsonage under new construction.  Good work  St. John’s builders!