The transition for us – from being the landlord to being a tenant — continues. The Soup Kitchen – our landlord – has been very accommodating to our needs and before too much longer we’ll be moving into our new offices. As someone who once was chief property worrier I am very aware of the freedom that not having those worries brings. Freedom to concentrate on ministry and the things a church should be doing and not on finding those large sums required to replace the roof – or the boiler – and who will empty all those swimming pools — and will it rain on our breakfast eggs!
Our office move from the old parsonage building to the newly partitioned space in the Harry Crowther Community Room will be happening before long. We just learned the layout of our new office so space planning has begun. Based on my experience in design/build construction I’m sure we can make the space work well for us. Moving always has its traumatic aspects and our office move is no different. It also provides all sorts of opportunities: To make more workable and efficient use of space; to get rid of stuff you don’t need and haven’t used in years; to find interesting stuff you didn’t know you had (historical stuff, blueprints that no one could find when I needed them…).
The kitchen operation is working out reasonably well and getting better. We still haven’t fully recovered from the mess created by the peak construction activities when everything in the kitchen that wasn’t in a cabinet had to be moved into the robing room for temporary storage. At least we’re back to the point where we mostly can find the stuff we use regularly!
Big move coming and at this point we have way to much stuff (in the office, in the kitchen and in the robing room)! Getting rid of the excess is going to take some work. Some is trash, some we can give away (anybody want an electric slicer?), and some we probably can sell on craigslist. Lots of help needed!