April Parking Update

For the last three Sundays in April (4-11, 4-18 and 4-25) please take note of the following construction plans around Redeemer:
- The West Entrance will be closed. All other entry doors are available, including a new door (pictured above) on the west wall of the gymnasium that will allow building access, via the gymnasium, to the Kitchen/Great Room hallway.

- A construction fence around the West Entrance will temporarily eliminate 10 parking spaces, including 2 handicap spaces. A construction fence around the back of the gymnasium will temporarily eliminate another 12 parking spaces. If necessary, please consider parking in the retail parking lot on the east (chapel) side of Redeemer.

- Special parking spaces for those that require proximity to church doors will be marked beginning Sunday, April 12. These are for anyone that requires their use.

- The driveway behind the gymnasium will be narrowed by the construction fence around the back of the gymnasium. Limited driving passage will be available around the back of the gym until Memorial Day.

- The hallway that leads from the gymnasium and library (past the courtyard) and up the stairs to the sanctuary will be closed beginning Monday, April 5th.

- Access to the sanctuary is possible through the staff office hallway, through the church office hallway, through the music wing hallway, through the lower level Fellowship Hall and of course through the front doors/narthex.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

One down and two to go ...

One down and two to go … this Sunday marks the one year anniversary of our three year Sacred Space capital stewardship campaign. The second year upcoming will be one characterized by change and not just a little construction dust and noise. It will be easy to get lost in the “bricks and mortar” issues that characterize any construction project. But before that happens, lets take a look back at our original mission and all that we have accomplished this first year.

- We have committed over $3.8 million to the project through the sacrifice, love and generosity of so many Redeemer families. More than half of this total was collected in the first year!

- We have retained a top notch team of professionals -- architects, construction managers and tradesmen – that will lead us through a successful implementation.

- We have gained the overwhelming support of not only the requisite city officials, but most importantly, the Redeemer families that call this Sacred Space their church home.

- We have attained the original project scope outlined more than a year ago, including:

o The addition of two pre-school rooms that expand our Westmaple Nursery ministry and resulting outreach opportunities,
o The renovation of our gymnasium, including a new stage, for our recently introduced mid-week worship service, Redemption,
o The creation of a new central meeting space we call the Town Square, for both visitor outreach and member fellowship,
o The addition of two new large classrooms for bible study, confirmation, VBS and Sunday School,
o The addition of countless convenience and safety features that make Redeemer an even more attractive place for worship and fellowship.

Now is the time to keep focused on the end result. You might find it interesting to watch the video we created one year ago to kick-off Sacred Space: That all may find a place at His table. Just hit the triangular 'play' button at the bottom of the video screen. Enjoy.

A Message from our Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

I just looked down at my watch to check the time and I noticed I had put it on upside down. It confused me for a second or two – okay a couple of minutes, but I figured it out eventually.

Soon Redeemer, too, will be temporarily upside down. The coming improvements are exciting, but I know it will be a challenging time to work amidst the construction dust and noise. We’ll have to embrace that energy, and keep our eyes focused on the end result, which I know will be a great blessing to Redeemer.

The challenge will be working through it and being flexible. We know on the other side of construction our ministries will continue to grow and have greater impact on the people to whom we minister. The journey that takes us there is not an easy one, requiring sacrifice and a commitment to our vision. The inconveniences will be short-lived, though, and the finished product a gift for the generations to come.

As the ground is broken open and walls demolished we are reminded of the great heritage of ministry that has been a part of Redeemer. It feels very real to us, this sacrifice of those gone before us. Now it is our turn to grow our church, continuing to build on all of our past blessings.

I know that the disruption to the building will change what we are accustomed to, but don’t let the dust, noise and unfamiliar bring you down. We are a part of a great moment in Redeemer history. The people of God in this generation will leave their mark as a witness to our love and appreciation for all the Lord has done for us.

The work begun so long ago by a faithful few, continues through us now. Let us be ever aware of our past, so that we may influence the future.

To God be the Glory! Pastor Randy

p.s. Become a part of history … join us Easter morning, April 4, as we all sign our names to the coming chapter of Redeemer’s Sacred Space. A steel beam to be used in the coming construction will be placed in the gym for signing after each of the morning services. Come make your mark on our future.

Meet Craig Collins, Construction Superintendent

As part of our construction management agreement with Frank Rewold & Sons, a full-time superintendent will be on-site each week at Redeemer to manage all aspects of construction.

Our superintendent is Craig Collins, pictured to the right, after a recent meeting with the professional staff (standing between Pastor Randy and Steve Schuetz.) We are fortunate to have someone with Craig's significant work experience. Note from the picture that he already had gray hair before our project started. Craig has successfully completed multiple projects within the City of Birmingham so he is quite familiar with the city planning, building and fire employees as well as the local requirements. Craig will also be supported by a Project Manager, Richard Scheck, who will be at Redeemer several days each week.

Being on-site each day, Craig will direct the activities of all sub-contractors that perform work for Redeemer. Along with our own Steve Schuetz, they will provide a smooth and safe work environment on a day to day basis. If you are in the building during the week and ever have any concerns about worker conduct, or personal safety, Craig and Steve want to hear from you.

Make sure you introduce yourself to Craig if you see him around Redeemer.

Pre-Construction Activities Begin

You may have noticed that small but important activity is already underway as we prepare for the start of construction on Monday, April 5, the day after Easter.

You may have noticed scaffolding on the west wall of the gym. A new double door is being added to the northwest corner of the gymnasium as part of the master plan. This door is being constructed first so it may serve as a temporary "west entrance" when the real west entrance is closed April 5.

What do you mean the west entrance is closed April 5! Yes, beginning with the first week of the project, the west entrance will fall within the construction fence and will be unavailable to members and visitors. In fact the hallway leading to the sanctuary from the west entrance will also be closed.

Members and visitors may still enter through the new gymnasium doors on the west wall of the gym. Later in the spring this door will also be closed as work will proceed inside the gym (after the conclusion of our Wing and Prayer Players spring production.) But our other doors will remain open, including the Westmaple door to the north, the Chapel door to the east, the office and sanctuary doors to the south, and the music wing door on the southwest corner.

Keep checking here each week for more information on parking and church entry.

Redeemer Transformation Approaches ...

You may have noticed that the countdown clock on this web page is now posted at Redeemer for all to see. Just inside the West Entrance hangs a large sign in the shape of a butterfly that proclaims: "Redeemer Transformation Approaches." Each day another butterfly is hung from the hallway ceiling leading to the sanctuary doors announcing that we are one day closer to beginning the construction phase of Sacred Space.

The last butterfly will be hung on Easter Sunday, the day before our construction begins. On Easter morning, April 4, we will all have a special opportunity at the end of each worship service to participate in the blessing and kick-off of this transformation project. Stay tuned for more details from Pastor Randy.

Congregation Gives Final Approval

At a congregational meeting held Sunday, February 28, the members present unanimously endorsed the final construction plans for our capital renovation project, Sacred Space.

No changes in project scope were introduced at the meeting. The plan still includes the four major components: two new Westmaple classrooms, gymnasium renovation for worship, a new main entrance and town square, and various site improvements.

Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 5, the day after Easter. The initial work will center on the exterior of the gymnasium and the area around the west entrance.

The project now includes more than 100 drawings and a 700+ page project manual prepared by the architectural firm of Merritt, McPherson & Cieslak. The construction budget, managed by the firm of Frank Rewold & Sons, stands at $3.2 million. Firm bids from dozens of trades, obtained through a sealed competitive bid process, underlie the $3.2 million budget.

Our capital stewardship campaign at this moment in time has expected gifts of more than $3.8 million. After expenses for architectural fees, professional engineering fees, city permits, insurance, furniture, etc. the available construction money stands at $3.1 million. That leaves an approximately $100,000 shortfall against the $3.2 million budget

At the congregational meeting three ideas were presented to eliminate the $100,000 shortfall:

1.) Find new gifts from members that may not have participated in Sacred Space to this point, including new and existing members, as well as directing existing family memorials,
2.) Accelerate 2nd and 3rd year gifts against existing three year pledges. This reduces both the interest expense on the short-term construction loan and reduces the contingency money set aside for possible uncollectible pledges,
3.) Delay individual line items within the four major project areas until a later time, e.g. the parking lot addition, refurbishing existing Westmaple classrooms, new chairs for the gymnasium, a room partition for the new lower level classroom, and the cupola/cross on the main entrance canopy.