교회설립 50주년을 맞이하는 준비의 하나로 예배공간을 손질하는 과제가 올해 큰 과제 중의 하나였습니다. 누구나 할 것 없이 가장 먼저 떠올릴 수 있는 부담의 하나는 비용이 만만치 않다는 것이고 과연 그런 비용을 들여서 꼭 손질을 해야 하는가 하는 문제였습니다. 그러나 대부분 성도들이 동의할 수 있는 점은 우리 교회 본당 예배공간이 여러모로 불편 한 점이 많으므로 과다한 비용을 들여서 사치하지 않는다면 1983년 초에 현 건물에 입당한 후 23년의 세월이 흘렀기에 이제는 한 번 손을 댈만한 시간이 되었다는 것입니다.
그래서 당회의 결의로 개보수 위원회(위원장 김종익 장로)가 구성되어 성소의 안익상 사장님을 모시고 자체 감독 김재원 집사님을 세우고 위원 강영기 장로님을 비롯해서 여러 위원들의 참여로 여기까지 오게 되었습니다. 이번 공사 가운데 특기할만한 점은 하루하루가 기도로 시작되었다는 점입니다. 아침 8시 15분이면 담임목사를 비롯해서 교역자, 장로, 장립집사, 권사님들이 오셔서 기도를 인도하면서 관심과 공감대를 넓혀 갔습니다. 성소의 안 사장님도 그동안 참여한 십여 곳 교회 공사 가운데 처음 시도한 경우이며 그 결과 팀워크가 좋아서 작업지원이 아주 원활해서 짧은 공기 가운데 많은 일들을 할 수 있었을 뿐만 아니라 때때로 감탄할만한 아이디어를 얻어서 일들을 진행시켰다고 고백했습니다.
공사 범위는 본당 예배실(2,3,4층) 뿐만 아니라 본당 부대시설로서 음향, 조명, 영상 뿐 아니라 엘리베이터, 그리고 종탑 모든 창틀까지가 포함되었습니다. 음향은 앉는 위치에 따라서는 들리지 않아서 힘든 것을 개선하려고 노력했습니다. 이전에 앞에서 한 방향으로 소리를 증폭해서 발산시키던 방식에서, 각도가 주어진 스피커를 사용해서 모든 자리에서 잘 들리도록 바꾸었습니다. 그 결과를 판단하실 분은 오늘 예배를 드릴 여러분들입니다. 영상은 우선 보기 흉한 가로세로선이 뚜렷했던 스크린을 제거하고 새로운 고휘도 스크린을 설치하고 앞에 내려온 긴 막대 끝에 달린 프로젝트에서 망원렌즈를 달아서 뒤에서 쏘는 방식으로 개선되었습니다.
또한 앞의 강대상 부분도 낮추고 필요한 경우에는 예배뿐 아니라 성가 발표나 다양한 공연이 가능하도록 했습니다. 그리고 장의자를 계속 사용하지만 방석이나 의자 색깔을 고려해서 등받이를 새로 만들어 붙였습니다. 그리고 창문에는 페어글래스를 설치해서 열효율을 대폭 높이고 덧창을 만들고 스테인드글라스를 붙여서 보기에도 아름답게 했습니다. 그리고 참으로 감사한 것은 나이 드신 분들을 위해서 엘리베이터를 설치한 점입니다. 물론 다음 주일부터 가동되는 것은 아쉽지만 어르신들께 좋은 성탄선물이 될 것입니다.
As part of preparing for our church’s 50th anniversary, renovating the worship space was one of our major undertakings this year. The foremost concern that naturally crossed everyone’s mind was the formidable cost, leading many to wonder whether such an expense was truly necessary. Yet, most of our congregation could agree on one thing: our main sanctuary had become inconvenient in many ways, and twenty-three years had already slipped by since we first dedicated this building in early 1983. As long as we avoided extravagance and excessive spending, it was indeed time to give this space the tender care it deserved.
Following the decision of the Session, a Renovation Committee (chaired by Elder Jong-ik Kim) was formed. We invited President Ik-sang Ahn of Sungso, appointed Deacon Jae-won Kim as internal supervisor, and welcomed the dedicated service of committee members, including Elder Young-ki Kang, which brought us to where we are today. A particularly remarkable feature of this construction project was that every single day began with prayer. At 8:15 each morning, the senior pastor, pastoral staff, elders, ordained deacons, and senior deaconesses gathered to lead prayers, cultivating shared care, concern, and fellowship. President Ahn also testified that in all his experience renovating more than ten churches, this was the very first time he had seen a project anchored in such daily prayer. Thanks to this heartfelt teamwork and seamless support, an enormous amount of work was accomplished within a tight schedule, and inspiring, admirable solutions emerged along the way.
Our renovation spanned not only the main sanctuary (2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors) but also ancillary facilities—acoustics, lighting, visual media, the elevator, and the window frames throughout the bell tower. For sound, we focused on resolving the issue where audio was barely audible depending on where one sat. Moving away from the old method of merely blasting amplified sound forward from the front, we installed angled speakers to ensure clear audibility from every seat. The true judge of this outcome will be all of you who gather to worship today. As for visual media, we replaced the old screen with its unsightly vertical and horizontal grid lines with a modern, high-luminance screen. Furthermore, instead of hanging a projector from a long pole in front, we equipped it with a telephoto lens to project clearly from the rear.
In addition, we lowered the pulpit platform so that, whenever needed, the stage could host choir presentations and various performances alongside regular worship services. While retaining the wooden pews, we added newly crafted backrests designed to harmonize with the seat cushions and color scheme. Double-glazed glass was installed in the windows to significantly improve energy efficiency, complemented by storm sashes and stained glass that add a touch of grace and beauty. Above all, we are deeply grateful to have installed an elevator for our elderly members. Although it is slightly regrettable that it will only begin operation next Sunday, it will surely be a wonderful Christmas gift for our seniors.
As deel van die voorbereidings vir ons gemeente se 50ste bestaansjaar, was die opknapping van die aanbiddingsruimte vanjaar een van ons grootste uitdagings. Die eerste las wat by elkeen opgekom het, was vanselfsprekend die stewige koste en die vraag of dit werklik nodig was om soveel daaraan te bestee. Tog kon die meeste lidmate saamstem dat ons hoofaanbiddingsruimte in baie opsigte ongerieflik geword het, en aangesien daar drie-en-twintig jaar verloop het sedert ons hierdie gebou vroeg in 1983 betrek het, was dit—solank ons nie in oordaad en luuksheid verval nie—inderdaad tyd om aandag daaraan te skenk.
Na aanleiding van die kerkraad se besluit is ’n herstelkomitee (onder voorsitterskap van ouderling Jong-ik Kim) saamgestel. Ons het mnr. Ik-sang Ahn, president van Sungso, genader, diaken Jae-won Kim as ons eie toesighouer aangestel, en met die getroue toewyding van verskeie komiteelede, onder wie ouderling Young-ki Kang, het ons hierdie mylpaal bereik. ’n Besonder merkwaardige aspek van hierdie projek was dat elke liewe dag met gebed begin het. Om 8:15 elke oggend het die leraar, pastorale personeel, ouderlinge, diakens en senior diakonesse byeengekom om die gebede te lei, waardeur ons meelewing en eenheid verdiep is. Mnr. Ahn het self getuig dat dit die heel eerste keer was, uit meer as tien kerkbouprojekte waarby hy al betrokke was, dat ’n werk op hierdie wyse aangepak is. Danksy die uitstekende spanwerk en gladde ondersteuning kon geweldig baie werk binne ’n baie kort tydperk voltooi word, en het wonderlike, vindingryke idees dikwels die pad vorentoe belig.
Die omvang van die bouwerk het nie net die hoofaanbiddingsaal (2de, 3de en 4de verdieping) ingesluit nie, maar ook gepaardgaande geriewe soos klank, beligting, visuele media, die hysbak en al die vensterkosyne tot bo in die kloktoring. Wat klank betref, het ons hard probeer om die probleem van swak hoorbaarheid op sekere sitplekke reg te stel. In plaas van die ou metode waar klank slegs van voor af versterk en vorentoe uitgestuur is, het ons sprekers onder spesifieke hoeke geplaas sodat almal oral duidelik kan hoor. Diegene wat die uiteindelike oordeel hieroor sal vel, is u wat vandag hier saam aanbid. Wat visuele media betref, het ons die ou skerm met sy hinderlike strepe verwyder en ’n nuwe, hoëhelderheidskerm geïnstalleer. Verder word die beeld nie meer vanaf ’n projektor aan ’n lang paal voor in die saal gegooi nie, maar van agter af met behulp van ’n telefotolens.
Daarbenewens is die verhoog voor verlaag sodat die ruimte, wanneer nodig, nie net vir eredienste nie, maar ook vir kooruitvoerings en verskeie opvoerings benut kan word. Alhoewel ons steeds die tradisionele kerkbanke behou, het ons nuwe rugleunings laat maak wat pragtig by die kussings en kleurskema pas. Dubbelglas is in die vensters aangebring om die hitte-isolasie drasties te verbeter, aangevul deur stormvensters en loodglas wat ’n estetiese skoonheid bring. En waarvoor ons waarlik innig dankbaar is, is die installering van ’n hysbak vir ons bejaardes. Alhoewel dit ’n bietjie jammer is dat dit eers vanaf volgende Sondag in werking tree, sal dit vir ons senior lidmate ’n pragtige Kersgeskenk wees.