Community Confirmation: Guiding Concepts for our New Space
VERBAL INTRO
“As a culmination of the visioning, small group and other work done over the years, we are seeing an
increasingly clear image emerge of what we want in our new space. Our congregation is expressing a
strong desire for a worship space that is beautiful and evokes a sense of sacredness, yet is also highly
flexible and versatile so that a wide array of events can happen in it. As we prepare to select an architect
we seek final confirmation from the community on a few key concepts that will impact building structure
and overall design of this space.”
Concept One: MOVEABLE ALTAR
In order to give us the highest degree possible of flexibility in creating liturgy and using the space in
multiple ways, our new main worship space will have a moveable altar.
Concept Two: PERMANENT BAPTISMAL FONT
Our baptismal font will be a permanent fixture in the worship space. A permanent fixture may or may
not be plumbed for water. (verbal clarification: size, type, materials and other details will continue to
be discussed as we continue this refining and focusing process in the future.)
Concept Three: MUSIC – NO PIPE ORGAN
Our new space will be built with high-quality acoustics to accommodate a wide range of musical styles,
instruments, and vocal options and will not include a pipe organ.
Concept Four: PHASE 1 & PHASE 2 DEVELOPMENT
Phase 1 of our building project - Sanctuary, Gathering space and some Offices. The gathering space will
serve as the primary area for social activities (such as dinners, etc.)
Phase 2 - additional Social space (hall)/Gym or Other space as/if needed based on our ministry and
community needs at that time.
Ideas for Further Discussion and Prioritizing
Bells or Carillon
General Description: The idea has come up for a bell/carillon tower to be part of our new space.
Considerations: Bells may not be welcomed by the neighbours and a thorough conversation with the
community will be needed. Building the space to accommodate bells or a carillon will increase the cost
of the building as will the purchase of the bell(s)/carillon.
Support of our vision: Bells or a carillon will primarily impact our worship (rung before, etc.) and give us
the option to mark occasions (such as Remembrance Day or Earth Day) by ringing them.
Miscellaneous: Given our land’s zoning as a Special Purpose District—Community Institution, we could
negotiate with the city for a height relaxation to allow for building a tower and possibly receive
permitting to build one. The community standards noise bylaws do not prevent the ringing of bells in
churches or religious establishments (Bylaw #5M2004, Section 38).
Café or Coffee Bar
General Description: This could mean anything from a simple self-serve bar with coffee and tea to a
small espresso bar with staff (paid, volunteer or job-training, etc.).
Considerations: a coffee bar could be quite informal and with minimal costs, or as formal as requiring a
significant investment in equipment and the maintenance/staff to use it properly. There will be
questions around electrical and water needs, permitting, health regulations, and so forth and their
scope will be dependent on the nature of the coffee service.
Support of our vision: Such an option will serve as a focal gathering point for the community by
providing a place for social meeting, sharing, and conversation for the neighbourhood. A café setting
could further allow for musical events, readings, discussions, etc. for all ages, meeting a need for
community interaction and connection that could be advertised, bring in outside groups, and increase
visibility in the community. It could also be a place to raise funds for mission, provide modest
employment and possibly support organic/fair trade coffee and tea producers, in line with our vision of
environmental stewardship.
Miscellaneous: Cafes are increasingly a part of our culture across all ages, providing comfortable places
for people to meet, talk, and enjoy the arts or discussion on a variety of issues. A good number of
churches (here in Calgary and farther afield) have successful cafes in their spaces.
Columbarium
General Description: A structure (often a wall) for the interment of cremains (ashes) of the deceased. It
can be outside (often part of the green space/garden) or inside, with design ranging from simple to
elaborate.
Considerations: There will be additional costs for building the structure. Location will also need to be
determined and how it will alter the building design and impact future expansion. Columbariums
generate income. Costs of spaces in a columbarium can be fixed or varied so that people with fewer
financial resources can obtain a space.
Support of our vision: Providing spiritual and practical care to people at the time of death is an essential
work of the Church and a columbarium could support this in a very tangible way. Cemetery space is at a
premium and in-ground burials are becoming increasingly expensive and thus out the reach of many. A
columbarium would provide holy space for people to bury their loved ones and also meet a need for
burial space overall. Given our inclusive nature our columbarium would welcome people of all/no
traditions. If there were a range of prices we would be providing a much needed service to persons with
limited financial means.
Miscellaneous: Some detailed research has already been done on columbariums by the strategic team.
There are local churches that have columbariums in use, which we can visit and learn more about.
Indoor Garden Space
General Description: A new idea coming out of our work with our liturgical consultant, after seeing
other churches that had live plants growing indoors, and seems to be focusing on a specific area
designated as an indoor garden/green space. Work needs to be done to refine what this could look like:
simple (green house plants), or more varied (flowers).
Considerations: There are many questions regarding scope and associated costs. There will be irrigation
and lighting needs as well as the question of who will maintain the space and the cost to pay a potential
gardener. There may be permitting and other construction issues to address.
Support of our vision: Would provide a gathering place for people for quiet and prayer in a natural
setting especially in the winter months. Depending on what is built it could provide greenery and/or
flowers for our sanctuary in the form of living plants or flowers grown and thus have a positive
environmental impact.
Miscellaneous: This could be a job-training opportunity in horticulture. It may also be attractive to
those transplanted from warmer climates.