Sierra Valley Mechanical is busy installing our carbon-neutral upgrades. They replaced all our lighting with 290 LEDs, which are 80% more efficient than fluorescent lights. They are also all the same color, where our old lights were a mix of white colors.
They are replacing six gas heating and electric air conditioning systems in the sanctuary with more energy-efficient heat pumps, which should save us a lot of money in operating costs. They will also replace all our thermostats with ones that allow us to access them via Wi-Fi and do a better job managing our system.
The last thing they will do is replace our gas water heater in the kitchen with a heat pump water heater, which will cost us zero dollars after all the rebates.
Working with the crew has been a real treat, and I love watching how well they work together and how efficient and organized they are.
I was hanging out in the sanctuary while they worked, but I moved to the parish hall today because it’s cooler. While I was hanging out, I had a chance to observe St. Michael’s members quietly working behind the scenes. Our church relies on volunteers, and ours are exceptional. Ross Buchanan volunteered to clean out all the old pencils and the holders in the pews so he could replace them with new, sharp pencils. He showed up with his tools and a great attitude, and now visitors can fill out cards or amuse little people with supplies in our pews. That’s a thoughtful and welcoming thing to do.
Yesterday, Sue Davis popped in to check on the donated backpacks and organize them. We can call Sue the backpack fairy, making sure students at Starr King are well-supplied this year.
I saw Gail McMichael in the kitchen pantry the other day. She keeps our kitchen organized and makes sure we have all the supplies we need. She is also helping us move to a more carbon-neutral place by choosing sustainable supplies over those made of plastic. We depend on Gail’s hard work but take it for granted because it’s often behind the scenes.
When I pop into the church office, I enjoy seeing the rotation of office volunteers who show up like clockwork to give Michelle, our secretary, a helping hand. You don’t usually see them because, like other members, they serve quietly behind the scenes. Michelle is one of our stars. You’ll see her touch in nearly everything that happens in our community, and she made sure we had no conflicts with the calendar during all this, which is not an easy task. She is always cheerful and professional, and it doesn’t hurt that she sometimes has a “mini-me” helping her in the office.
In a world that often seems full of chaos and not-so-good news, we are an island of volunteers working together to support members and our greater community. We see what needs to be done, and step up without waiting to be asked. And we have fun doing it. Volunteering together strengthens our bonds, and it’s a great way to get to know fellow travelers in our spiritual journey. Thank you, angels.
Peace, Pat Cole
