Restore! Renew! Revive!

The Year of Restoration was launched today with a moving service.  It was orginally to be held on the lawn of the Deanery but our Heavenly Father wanted us closer together and herded us inside the Cultural Centre through the use of some early morning showers.  All the Parish Churches were there, Bethel, Good Shepherd, St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. James and of course St. John. 

Restore! Renew! Revive!

The Gospel reading  (Luke 15: 13-32), the parable of the prodigal son and his brother was touching and the Bishop's sermon was laced with metaphors.  My favourite of which was one he borrowed from Bishop Desmond Tutu.  The church is much like an ochestra with each member playing his or her part.  Sometimes there is a member holding a triangle whose only part is to strike it once in the entire piece they are playing.  Yet if that one "ping" is not heard during that piece, that piece is incomplete.  This restoration of the church building and the church the body of Christ is greater than any of us can imagine.  Whatever part we play at whatever time, we must realise that like that triangle player we have a valuable and necessary part to play.

While this is the Year of Restoration, the restoration of the church building and the church the body of Christ will take years.  The latter the rest of our lives.  We must stay committed.

We Walk by Faith.....

 and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
 Fitting words to live by from blessed St. Paul.  They ring very true with this Restoration. 

Here is our progress to date.  As you will see with the last picture, the first kingposts are up.  Rafters will start going up next week.

East Gable Wall Part II

Great News!!!  The engineers have figured out a way to replace the beams without us having to demolish the wall.  The Dean is so relieved.  So am I.

There are two sets of beam trusses that are supporting the stones in that wall.  The wall will be propped up and then one wooden beam truss will be removed and replaced with a reinforced concrete beam.  Once that beam can support the weight of the stones then the other will be removed and replaced.  Work will begin shortly.

New Roof Trusses

Cross beams erected over south balcony

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Flat truss erected over north balcony

Twin towers

Post and beam structure viewed looking through the balcony floor into the foundations