ORGAN RESTORATION PROJECT
73 years ago coming up on Sept. 13th, the people of Immanuel Lutheran walked into this church building and dedicated it to the glory of God. The architect designed this building specifically for this congregation. The people approved the beautiful steeple, the bells, the pitched roof, the brick inside and out, the magnificent wood plank ceiling, the arches, the amazing stained glass window, the altar area, and the wonderful pipe organ placed in this nook with its pipes behind the stunning wall of woodwork and metal.
As with all structures, during the past 73 years, there has been a need for repairs, replacements, and maintenance to the various parts of the building….such as a new steeple, roof replacement, stained glass windows repaired, new flooring, etc.
Now, after 73 years of excellent performance, it is the organ’s turn for repair and maintenance. For a few years now, the keys have not been connecting properly to the wires inside the console. Fern, Dale, and I have been able to bypass some of the issues, and the repair man has tried to make adjustments, but they don’t hold. The cotton coated wiring, which is a potential fire hazard and not up to electrical codes, just needs to be replaced…among other repairs and maintenance. This is going to be a big job! The total bid came in at $77,000. Realistically, the total for the job will be closer to $80 –to 85,000, because the floor will need to be removed to get to the wiring and then replaced after the job is over.
There is a display in the narthex that explains how the organ works, along with an explanation of what the job will entail.
Today, we ask for your prayers as we go forward in being good stewards in preserving this amazing instrument so that it can bring beautiful music for 73 more years.
-Rhonda Johnson