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Starting Sunday, October 5, we will temporarily be holding our worship services in the second-floor meeting room at the Elgin History Museum! We are so excited to be back in the heart of our downtown neighborhood and can't wait to see you there. Our service will begin at 10:00 am, so please arrive a few minutes early to find a seat and say hello.
The museum is located at 360 Park Street, Elgin, IL 60120. There is plenty of parking available on the street and in the museum's lot. The back entrance to the building is mobility accessible and there is an elevator for access to all three floors. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Why Are We Worshiping at the History Museum (for now)?
Due to unexpected delays with our building's restoration, our Sunday worship services are temporarily being held at the History Museum. We know it's not ideal, and Pastor Felicia and the Governance Board are working tirelessly to get us back into our sanctuary as soon as it's safe and possible. This temporary move is a strategic and cost-effective solution, allowing us to continue our spiritual community while ensuring our building's restoration is completed properly. Please read on for more details about our current situation and why we believe this is the best path forward for our congregation.
Construction Status
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The ice and water shield on the sanctuary roof was just completed.
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ServPro must use the choir/quilter room as a staging area for crews and materials. Taking it down for worship each Sunday would delay progress.
Insurance Delays
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Travelers’ opening negotiation amount is only one-third of what our contractor estimates for the agreed-upon work.
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The back-and-forth has been over the entire project (mitigation + restoration), adding at least six weeks of delay.
Why Not Other Spaces in Our Building?
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Choir/Quilter Room: Will be needed for main contractor and subcontractor staging, meetings, etc.
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Parlor: will soon be filled with construction staging; damage would not be insured.
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Small dining room: safety risks due to scaffolding and stairs, especially for older members.
Why Are Our Ministry Partners in the Building?
Why the History Museum?
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They gave us a deeply discounted rate and invested over $4,000 to accommodate us.
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Lease is month-to-month so we can move back or relocate quickly if needed.
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Trial period: If the space proves inadequate after the first month, we will find another location.
Why Not Other Churches (e.g., Journey of Hope)?
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Would mean very early or late-afternoon services, not workable for our congregation.
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Journey of Hope has absorbed multiple congregations in recent years; to avoid confusion and out of respect for those sensitivities, we are not pursuing that option.
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The annual conference is committed to keeping a vibrant ministry in downtown Elgin.
Finances and Online Growth
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We are working with Elgin Community College to secure digital marketing interns to help us grow online engagement.
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Our hope is that the online community will also begin contributing to regular tithes and offerings.
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All gifts given to the Building Fund are restricted to repairs and restoration, not day-to-day expenses.
Bottom Line
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No one is more eager than Pastor Felicia and the Governance Board to be back in our sanctuary.
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The Museum is a temporary, cost-effective solution while we press through construction, insurance, and safety concerns.
Spotify
Worship and connect through our music playlist.
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YouTube
Find a new way to worship. Explore our video playlist and connect with us.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Click Here to learn more & to see videos from the various groups at First UMC Elgin
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