The deconstruction project was successfully completed on December 7, 2011–almost 16 weeks after it all began.  This week, the foundation and cement floors were broken up and used as clean fill.  Truckloads of dirt were brought in to bring the level to grade.  The only thing left to do is to transport the remaining wood to the Rebuilding Exchange and the pallets of bricks to Colonial Brick.  That will happen this week.  All this was concluded prior to our first hard freeze.  Thank you, Lord!  

Final pictures are posted a http://www.flickr.com/kimballavenuechurch.  Thank you for your prayers for us. Now the work begins to plan for rebuilding.  We’ll still need prayer (and funds!).  

Yesterday, the main phase of deconstruction concluded.  All that remains are bricks that will be bundled and hauled away and the foundation that will become part of the fill.  Our deconstruction graduates will be reassigned to other projects and the wood will become furniture, art and building materials.  This has been a long and difficult journey, yet the Church remains.  We stand upon a foundation that is not made with hands–a foundation that cannot be shaken.  I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:11:  “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ,”  We are and will remain built upon the Rock.

On November 12, 2011, five men were awarded their certification in deconstruction, marking the completion of their training at the church project and and the first step into a new future.  Our Harvest Home Dinner and Program was a celebration of their success and a time for us to thank God once again for the blessings that God has poured out through the deconstruction project.  We wish our new certified deconstruction workers the best as they embark on their journey to find work in this new field.  At the beginning of the project, Pastor Ray reminded the trainees of Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord.  “Plans to prosper you and not harm you–to give you a future and a hope.”  We are so grateful that we were able to provide this training to bless these men and offer them an exciting future.  May these men prosper in the Lord.

We’ve watched as the frame of the building has been taken apart and laid in the church yard–piles and piles of reclaimed wood–some of it 28 feet long.  A furniture making cooperative has purchased some of the wood for tables and chairs.  Several artists have purchased small amounts of shorter boards for their projects.  Everyone seems to be benefitting from the harvest.  But there are five neighborhood men who have benefitted the most. 

These five are the trainees who will conclude their deconstruction training on Friday, November 11.  Previously, they were unemployed, at risk of homelessness, and all with some kind of past.  Now, they are certified deconstruction workers.   They will “graduate” and receive a certificate of completion at our annual Harvest Home Dinner on Saturday, November 12.  This is a huge milestone for these men and we are so proud of their accomplishment.

Ken Ortiz, the trainer from The ReUse People, said that normally only 20 percent of people who begin the deconstruction training complete it successfully.  Kimball’s training project has had a 45% completion rate!  This is in large part due to your prayers for the men.  Thank you.

Our project has reclaimed the building materials, but more importantly, God has reclaimed lives.

Work has progressed and the portion of the building erected in 1904 has been dismantled completely.  Our deconstruction crew has been removing nails from lumber–some of it up to 30 feet long!  They won’t want to see another nail for a long time.  The wood is amazing.  We are happy that others will be able to reuse it.  This week, we sold some of the shorter pieces to a cooperative that uses reclaimed wood to make furniture.  Several other companies have expressed interest in the longer boards.

Now that so much of the building has been removed, more and more people on the street are noticing and asking questions.  Most people express sadness that the old building is being torn down, but when they hear that most of the materials will be reused and that neighborhood residents are being trained in the skill of deconstruction, they are completely supportive.

Only a few more weeks to go.  More pictures of the process are available at www.flickr.com/kimballavenuechurch.

Progress has been obvious as all the exterior clapboard was removed during week 6 and the front tower was torn down during week 7.  The first step in bringing down the tower was the removal of the metal cross at the top.  Years ago, a gust of wind had blown the cross off the building and it was found embedded 10 inches into the parkway upside down.  Thanks to the creative work of Bill Knight, Sr. and Gene Paoli, the cross was reinstalled at the top and bolted securely–so securely that it was impossible to unbolt the cross to remove it last week!  The workers had to cut the top of the tower off below the bolts.

It was a significant moment to see the cross removed.  Even the crew that worked on the project seemed to feel the importance of the act.  They all showed a deep respect for the cross as they gently laid it on the roof.  Removal of the tower followed.  Trees now obscure the view of the church building from a distance.  In many ways, the building seems invisible amid the orange glow of the fall foliage.  However, it is our prayer that the Church will remain visible–not by the presence of a cross 60 feet above the sidewalks but by the presence of the people of God living the good news of God’s reign.

Last week, bright red caution tape surrounded the church building in preparation for the removal of the asbestos transite shingle siding. Work crews suited up in hazmat coveralls and face masks.  Bags and bags of removed shingles awaited removal to a hazardous waste processing facility.  All of a sudden, the building that had been a place of safety and healing was a dangerous and toxic environment!  (For pictures of the project, visit our online photo sharing site: www.flickr.com/kimballavenuechurch.)

Of course, no one knew the dangers of asbestos when the shingles had first been installed back in the 1940s.  Asbestos shingles were “state of the art”, fire retardant and durable.  Unfortunately, asbestos shingles, when broken, release a toxic powder that can cause illness.  As a result, it is extremely expensive to remove and throw away.  Along with the plaster, it is one part of the building that it is impossible to recycle, reuse or renew.

The placement of a “danger” sign outside of the church is ironic.  Jesus, the founder of the Church, was perceived to be dangerous.  Though his ministry was healing and welcome, his message of an alternative Kingdom got him hung on a cross.  The New Testament church in the book of Acts was definitely perceived to be dangerous.  Though they were on a mission of mercy, compassion and “resurrection life”, their message of “Jesus is Lord” was understood as subversive—both to the religious hierarchy and to the empire.  As a result, early church Christians were arrested, jailed, beaten and killed.  The church’s good news of the kingdom was not welcome news to those currently holding power.

The “danger sign” outside the church reminds us that our role in the world is (as Dorothy Day observed) to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  The church will be a place of safety for those who have been left outside—the sick, the poor, the imprisoned, the hungry and thirsty.  But the church should always be a sign to those who have grandiose visions of their permanence and power that one day their structures and systems will be torn down to make room for the King of kings.

May the church always be a safe and dangerous place at the same time.

Deconstruction moved to the basement of the church, and it is now gutted just like the sanctuary.  The building is just an empty shell with nothing left to identify it as a place where the church met, held services, enjoyed fellowship around the tables, prayed, played games, and shared our spiritual life together.  It reminds me of a barn from my childhood.  There are times when it is hard to watch and there is a sadness that fills my heart.  Yet, the church lives and we continue to meet, hold services, enjoy fellowship around the tables, pray, play games and share our spiritual life together.  It no longer happens at 2324 N. Kimball, but it happens wherever and whenever we gather.  Let the church rise from the ashes!

Deconstruction became visible to the community as the work moved from the interior to the exterior of the building.  The vinyl siding on the lower portions of the building and the front entrance canopy were removed.  As it became visible, numerous people stopped by to ask what was happening, giving us the opportunity to talk again about the steam rupture and the way God led us to deconstruction rather than demolition.  Every time I share the story, I hear the same response: “That is so cool.”  And when they hear that men in the neighborhood are being blessed with training in deconstruction, it only adds to their ‘cool’ response.  Our church is pretty cool.

Today, 9/10/11, we moved the stained glass that we are saving from the basement of the church to storage.  The windows are fragile, but thank God none of them broke.  We also took remaining metal items to the scrap yard.  We’re making progress.  Next week, work begins on deconstructing the interior of the basement.   Pictures of the progress so far are posted at www.flickr.com/kimballavenuechurch

Today, the Alderman of the 26th Ward–the Ward where our church is located–visited the work site to take a tour, to meet our trainees and to learn more about deconstruction.  It also gave us the opportunity to express our gratitude to the Alderman for taking the initiative to get a waiver of the required fees from the Building Department.  Thank you, Alderman, for all your support.