Getting The Details Nailed Down

Much of the activity around the "ground work" of the new Family Life Center addition is being completed in quick fashion.

Crews have substantially finished the storm sewer, identified the existing downspout drains and properly routing them, received the metal building materials, and have completed the family life center foundations.

While work continues outside, there is a tremendous amount of energy that continues to go into the final design and pricing portion of the planning process. This is a crucial part of the planning process because it enables the building committee to make the best-informed decisions to make your "Journey of Faith" commitments build as much as possible.

So when will we see the steel frame start going up? Likely late December or early January.

Keep the project in your prayers as crucial planning and decision making tasks are completed by the building committee this month.

CONSIDER GIVING AHEAD ON YOUR JOURNEY OF FAITH COMMITMENT:

One way you can help the project and our financing plans is to "give ahead" on your Journey of Faith commitment. The more commitments we can collect ahead of schedule allow us to lower the long-term debt load on the church.

Thank you for your sacrificial commitment to support the ministry and future of the Marysville Church!

Steel Frame Arriving

On Sunday night, more than 250 of us gathered in the high school cafeteria for the 2007 Thanksgiving Dinner. It is exciting to think that next Thanksgiving, we will be able to gather together in our new Family Life Center.


The project took another step closer to reality bright and early Monday morning as the pre-fabricated steel frame for the building arrived. Crews will be erecting the steel skeleton of the addition over the next several weeks. Meanwhile, work continues on the drainage system and the building pad this week.

Design Update

Over the past several weeks, the building committee has been working with our design team at Meacham and Apel to refine the building design to meet several site-specific issues.

One of the major developments in the plan involves the connector between the new facility and the existing building. The original plan called for an 11 foot wide connector hallway to join the two structures......(click on the pictures for a closer look)

As the design process moved forward, it became apparent that the "tunnel" solution was inadequate for a variety of reasons, mainly because the slope of the connector would have been too steep for easy passage.

So the creative minds went back to the drawing board and created a better connector that feels more like a narthex and less like a tube. The new design includes a wide connector hallway with stairs and a handicap accessible ramp. It's a great solution that falls within the approved project scope and also creates a larger gathering space before and after services.

Cost effective, dynamic solutions like this one prove the value of working with a great design team!

Keep the project in prayer as major portions of the project are in full swing.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact a member of the building committee for more details.

Let the Games Begin

If you've dropped by the church this week, you've noticed a flurry of activity.

The first of the permits have come through and work is underway to update drainage around the construction site.

That's why you see all the pipe and tile on the property. (click on the pics below for a closer look)

It's also why the main entrance was blocked from traffic through the week. Hopefully, the Maple Street entrance will be accessible for service this Sunday. Just in case, be prepared to zip around the block to enter through the entrance on the backside of the property.















Additionally, you'll notice that the construction crew has shipped in and built up the pad upon which the new Family Life Center will sit. The elevated pad is especially noticeable from the rear of the church property....















Coming soon....laying the foundation and the arrival of the steel frame. Stay tuned and keep praying for our church and good weather!

An "Eruption" of Activity Predicted

In the words of Randy Marker, from our general contracting firm Thomas & Marker, we can expect an eruption of activity on the building addition site in the next several days.

"We have received partial plan approval to begin foundation work from Union County and expect the City’s zoning approval this week," Marker said Thursday. "We are hopeful to begin building the foundations next week."

As the Building Committee has been working diligently with Marker and our architectural team from Meacham & Apel on technical designs for the project, crews have been working hard to prepare the building site for some real construction action.

"Soils have been imported and the building pad has been completed," Marker added. "The materials are on site for the storm drainage system and the building steel is slated to arrive the third week of November."

Meanwhile, work is also wrapping up on the new roof over the existing building.

Stay tuned for more details as the work continues....

Journal-Tribune Coverage of the Groundbreaking

The Marysville Journal-Tribune published a photo and a short story regarding our recent groundbreaking ceremony.

Click on the picture to the left for a better look. Better yet, go buy a copy of the Monday edition of the Journal-Tribune or visit their website.

It is certainly an exciting time to be a part of our church family!!!

Site Prep Update

As you head into church this weekend, you will notice many things are happening on the project. Thomas and Marker has moved in and is preparing the site for construction to begin as soon as the permit process is complete. An office-trailer is now on the property along with heavy equipment to prepare the ground for work to begin.

You'll also notice preparations are underway to replace the roof on the existing church facility. This is part of the approved project.

The roof on the existing building suffered hail damage during storms in 2005 and 2006 and we have several leak issues as a result. Insurance is covering a portion of this part of the project as well as some "Journey of Faith" funds. The goal is to complete this part of the project as quickly as possible, so our existing facility is ready for winter weather.

For more photos of the current site work...click on the video box below and then hit the play arrow...

Continue to pray for our church and the project as we proceed.

Groundbreaking Slideshow

Click on the video below for a slide show of pictures from the Groundbreaking Ceremony on October 21, 2007.....

A Beautiful Day to Break Ground

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the Family Life Center addition was held after the morning service on October 21st, 2007.

Northwest Ohio District Superintendent Larry Fairbanks joined the congregation for the special ceremony. Also on hand was special guest Randy Marker. Randy is with our general contractor, Thomas and Marker, and is helping oversee construction of the project.

In the past week, the old parsonage has been cleared away and the ground is being prepared for actual project work to begin. The building committee continues to work closely with our design team to work through details on the final blue-prints of the project.

Meanwhile, Ambrose Phillips has agreed to watch over the construction process day-to-day over the next several months. Ambrose brings years of construction/project experience to the job and we are blessed to have his eye on things as we move forward.

Below are a few photos of the ceremony.

(click to enlarge and enjoy)....

Parsonage Demolition Clears the Way for the Project to Begin

On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the demolition of the old church parsonage began to clear the way for construction of the Family Life Center addition to begin. If you missed the action, click on the video below for an eye-witness view of the action. Once you click the frame, click the play button. (This should work on any broadband or cable internet connection. It will take some more time if you use dial-up.)

Update: Project Financing Approved/Groundbreaking Ceremony Sunday, October 21 (note date change)

Late on Thursday, we received confirmation that our lending institution has approved the loan application for our expansion project. This is a tremendous answer to prayer and clearly opens the door for our construction to begin very quickly.

What’s next?

Please spread the word that the Building Committee will host a special ground-breaking ceremony Sunday, October 21, 2007, immediately following the 10:30am worship service. The ground-breaking ceremony will be held in front of the old parsonage and will mark the latest step in the ongoing journey upon which our church family has embarked over the past few years.

Note: We were originally going to hold the groundbreaking on October 14, but needed to reschedule to accommodate project needs. (That is the great thing about this site. We are able to provide you updates quickly and efficiently, so keep coming back for the latest details.)

Demolition of the parsonage has already commenced so that our construction team can begin to prepare the site as much as possible before Old Man Winter makes a mark.

This is an exciting time for our church. Please continue to pray that our project is completed safely and efficiently over the next several months.

And stay tuned to this site for updates……

Progress Report: Financing Update for the Project

In the wake of the positive vote by the congregation to move forward on the project, the Building Committee is working to secure and finalize financing so we can begin preparing to build.

PRAYER REQUEST: On Thursday, October 11, 2007, the board of the financial institution with which we are working to secure financing will consider our loan request. Please be praying that this meeting goes smoothly and that all the proper decisions are made so our project can move forward.

Building Project Overwhelmingly Approved

The ballots have been counted.

On Sunday, September 30, 2007, the congregation of the Marysville (Ohio) Church of the Nazarene voted 83 percent to 17 percent to move forward with a proposed expansion that will include a new Family Life Center on the south end of the church property at 1126 North Maple Street. The overwhelmingly supportive congregational vote was preceded by unanimous votes by the Northwest Ohio District Buildings and Grounds committee and a unanimous vote of support by the Marysville Nazarene church board.

Working with general contractor Thomas & Marker and architect Meacham & Apel, a design was developed that will create a new, 9,000+ square foot multi-purpose facility that will expand the Marysville Nazarene Church's ministry capabilities for years to come. The planned expansion will include an additional entrance to the existing sanctuary, more parking, and easier access.

The expansion is a major implementation of a comprehensive master plan approved by the congregation in September 2006. As resources become available, the plan is to fully implement the 2006 master plan to further enhance ministry outreach to the community.

Within the next few weeks, a ground breaking ceremony will be scheduled, demolition of the parsonage will occur, and preparation for construction will begin. Updates on project progress will be posted on this web log in the coming weeks and months.

Please pray for the church as it undertakes this historic expansion of ministry facilities.

A Closer Look at the Approved Project