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| 4/29/2007 | St. John's holds Dedication Ceremony |
A Dedication Ceremony was held on April 29, 2007 for The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John in Sycamore, Illinois. Ringland-Johnson was the General Contractor for this project. A Brief History of Our New Church Building By David Van Buren February 9, 2004 is a day that will long be remembered in the life of St John. As we watched the destruction of our former beautiful church home many of us wondered how such a terrible thing could happen but we also began talking about how we had to rebuild. The next day a meeting of the Board of Administration was held in the basement of the Sycamore Center to discuss plans for continuing weekly church services and plans for creating a Building Committee. One of the first orders of business for the Building Committee was to discuss where to rebuild. Our original location had sentimental value and was in the heart of Sycamore but had several disadvantages that included inadequate land for expansion and limited parking. The Property Task Force reviewed the pros and cons for over twenty potential building sites. Eventually, the voters of the congregation approved relocating to the corner of Brickville and Motel roads. This fifteen-acre site provides the congregation with space for current and potential future missions of the church, as well as ample parking. Now that the future church site had been determined, the Building Committee set to work to select an architect. After interviewing four architectural firms, the decision was made to select Larson & Darby, LLC from Rockford to help design our new church. In October 2004, the stewardship drive began, enlisting the help of dozens of congregational members led by Pastor Jock Ficken. The goal of the drive was to get broad-based financial support for the building project in the form of pledges over a three-year period. Over 130 pledges were initially made totaling over $1,200,000. Since that time, additional amounts have been given by both members of the congregation and the community to help with the cost of construction. In the days and months following the fire, the local community was very supportive of St John's. There were dinners and bake sales hosted on our behalf along with general contributions from individuals and organizations. By June 2005, the project was ready to be let out for bid by five contractors selected by Larson & Darby and the Construction Task Force. Due to a strong economy and recent natural disasters, the initial bids for the project came in at $800,000 more than originally projected. The contractor selected for the project was Ringland-Johnson Construction of Cherry Valley. During the next six weeks, the Building Committee, working with Larson & Darby and Ringland-Johnson worked to reduce the cost of construction while maintaining the square footage of the building and the functionality of the space. As the construction progressed, many of the components originally eliminated from the project in August 2005 were subsequently added back including the build-out of the education wing, the canopy over the front entrance and additional flooring and cabinetry throughout the building. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 28, 2005 attended by over 100 people. Actual groundbreaking by Ringland-Johnson began in September 2005. The project superintendents for Ringland-Johnson were Matt Nilles and Jeff Blanck with Matt Farris acting as Project Manager. In October 2005, the first concrete footing was poured in the building. The building was substantially closed in by the end of September. Over the next four months interior finishes were completed. On December 17, 2006, a cornerstone laying ceremony was held. Two cornerstones were installed: 1876 to signify the date of the founding of St. John's, and 2006 to signify the date of the new building. The first service was held on February 11, 2007. This was just over three years since the fire had destroyed our previous building. Since that first service, the congregation has continued to complete projects around the building, getting remaining furnishings installed and outdoor landscaping. The installation of the organ by Berghaus Organ Company was completed in early April. Fellowship Task Force
Thoughts on our new church building from our 7th & 8th Graders "I felt that it was a pleasure to be in the new church. If was a gift of God! I like the ceiling in the new church!" - Jeff Flanigan "This new church building makes me feel very happy that Jesus Christ could be there for us after the fire that we went through. One thing in particular that I like a lot about this church is the sanctuary; I like it because it makes me feel comfortable. I love our new church!" – Kendra Johnson "When I first saw our new church I was stunned. It was so beautiful. I like it a lot more than the school. It has too many candles though to light" - Ryan Bartels "When I first walked into this church I thought, 'Wow, this is really nice.' I like how we don't have to sit in the cold hard metal chairs anymore and now we get to sit in comfy pews. I also really like the sanctuary up by where the altar is. It is also nice to be able to have our own Sunday school room and not have to use someone else's classroom. The one thing I really don't like is how when we acolyte we have to light so many more candles. But overall I really like this church." - Ashley Klewin "The church is a wonderful gift we have been given. I also enjoy the beautiful worship sanctuary, especially the altar area and communion rail." - Evan Bross "To me, the new church means a beautiful new sanctuary to worship God. Thankfully we finally have a fellowship hall again, so we can eat snacks and socialize after service. I am also very happy we no longer have to fold chairs and put them back on a rack. I am very grateful and happy that God has provided us with such a great place to praise the Lord." – Shannon Schmidt "This church to me means new hope. We've come a long way and learned a lot. It also means strength; strength is the least you could say how we've stuck together. Love and togetherness, we all helped one another through all the bumps along the road. It means faith and because we know God has helped us along the way. I can't wait for all the opportunities to come, and I'm so glad I can be part of the church and this glorious gift of our Lord." - Rachel Martin "I feel that the space of the parking lot is a lot bigger. I feel that this church is bigger than the old church." - Josh Helgeson "I like the old church better because of the balcony and the basement. I wish the classrooms were painted purple at the new church. I do like this church though. I feel the same at the new church. I feel that this church is too new." - Connor Hickey "I feel very grateful and amazed that the church is so big and so beautiful. The first day I walked into this church I was shocked at how big this church was. The church itself is way amazing. The glass above the door leading to the church (inside door). Though I do miss the library they had at the old church and the balcony above the church. The lights in the church shine so bright and the cross looks like it is lit all the time." - Whitney Murphy "I like that we have clear windows because they let in more sunshine. One thing I miss is the stained glass windows, but, like I said, there is a lot more light in church. I also love the gold cross in the front of the sanctuary. I feel relieved that we have a great place to worship." – John Mathey "The church is fun to worship in. It is hard to believe how nice and big the church is. Worship is easier to hear and the organ sounds good." - David Brown |