Too Hot, Too Cold, To Much

As most everyone who has stayed around Valparaiso these past few months realizes, the weather….one of my favorite blog topics… has been too hot. Temperatures have been in the 90’s on more occasions than in recent years. And, of course, that is when our aging air conditioning system chose to give up and quit trying to keep us cool in the sanctuary during worship. Thank goodness the early hours of Sundays are usually cool enough that the inside temperature doesn’t rise during services.

To avoid being too cold this coming Winter and too hot in future Summers, we needed to finalize our HVAC system strategy that has been in development for most of this year. It was not an easy decision, but, Buildings & Grounds has concluded, based on multiple inputs and the recommendations from the Engineering Study commissioned at the end of 2024, FPCV is going to move away from its boiler system, in a measured way, over the coming year(s). It will be done in stages to avoid the financial burden becoming too much.

The current system, and its equipment, has been able to have its life extended beyond what may have been originally expected, but now, the frequent service calls and band-aiding have become too much, and a more permanent solution is needed. A recommended solution is being proposed to Session at a meeting in the near future.

This was not an unexpected situation with all our current equipment installed before the year 2000; only the timing has been uncertain. The Sharing Table Project identified ‘care of our building and its HVAC’ as a key component in the physical vibrancy of this church. It anticipated an HVAC major decision would be forthcoming and the cost would be substantial.

The process has been to first determine a recommended path via the study and research by the Buildings & Grounds Team; then let the Finance Team suggest the best way to finance that recommendation; and finally, Session will take that information and approve both the best direction and the best financing approach.

This congregation has been blessed with dedicated Team members all around and the final recommendation is the result of good information, careful discernment, and prayer for the Lord’s guidance that the optimum solution for this congregation to emerge.

The vibrancy of this congregation and its members with the help of God is at work.

Blessings to all,

Jim Hubbard