Subcommittee Contact Person:

Kristin Jones | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 301-572-0896 (work, direct line)

Subcommittee Members:

Clinton Anderson, Greg DuRoss, Timothy Elig, Jan Fetter-Degges, Marc Ford, Jeffrey Franke, Christian Garcia, Doug Hansen, Matt Jarvis, Timothy Johnson, Kristin Jones, Phillip Kronstein, Brad Latham, Hardee Mahoney, Kevin Montgomery, David Park, Jason Rios, Jean-Luc Santos-Sansfaute, Stephen Schembs, Katie Sell, Robert Sheavly, Amy Whitford, Gregory Zitterkob, and Emil Zuberbueler

Topics Addressed at Last Meeting:

The meeting was attended by Jan F-D, Christian G., Doug H., Kristin J., Hardee M., Kevin M., Katie S., and Amy W.The subcommittee was joined by guests Nancy Lee Jose and Doris Whitford, a St. Thomas’ alumna.

Nancy Lee provided notes on her perspective on essential elements for St. Thomas’ worship space. These recommendations included reverence for our environment and going green, green, green.We discussed retaining intimacy as an important goal, with seating for at least 300, perhaps with a balcony.Our definition of accessibility was expanded to include access to and around the Sanctuary for all: including people with disabilities related to vision, mobility, age, and obesity. We need amenities to be easy to find as well as easy to access, including restrooms, the nursery and child care.

Included on Nancy Lee’s wish list are a separate chapel, and space for a side altar.She commented on how a balcony can offer a place for newcomers and teenagers to be a part of the service at a comfortable distance and pointed out that a generous space allows us to pursue creative ways to experience God.She expressed her interest in a permanent baptismal font, aligned with the altar and cross. If we expand into the park, she would like to see some garden/green space retained.Neighbors who walk by should be able to observe the worship, with an inviting entry from the street and sidewalk.This visibility, and the space itself, can be enhanced using natural light, stained glass, clear glass, prism glass and/ or artificial light.Surfaces that provide economic acoustic surfaces should be explored.

Nancy Lee suggested we visit Wesley Seminary, next to American University to view their use of art and wall hangings and pointed out the seminary’s commitment to religious art, with an Art and Spirituality sub-major, guest resident artist and gallery.They personify being surrounded by the voice of God expressed through visual art.

She also recommended a trip to St. Stephen & the Incarnation’s sanctuary with its striking alignment of cross, altar and baptismal font.She asked the group to consider what our physical space says about the presence of God, and about how our Sanctuary speaks to what it means to be an Anglican.She recommended looking to the Anglican tradition, which is elegant and simple in its architectural forms.Architecture tells a story, as Nancy Lee reminded us, “If our sanctuary, our physical plant, our gardens could speak, what would they say? The truth is, they do speak, every day.”Nancy Lee would like them to speak in the voice of prophetic hospitality.She recommended pursuing timeless design, design for our grandchildren’s children, a gift and legacy to the Dupont area, a reflection of St. Thomas’ history and a beacon of the future and the everlasting love and abundance of God.

The group asked Nancy Lee about what to keep and what to change about St. Thomas’ worship space.She commented that it was a hard adjustment when she came here, for instance: our space challenges what it means to have a procession, as there is no procession space.It is hard to step up to the Chancel (the dais), and hard to be seen and heard.The carpet deadens sound.The pillars are in the way of worshipers’ line of sight.Even placing the Ambo for readings can eliminate some sight and voice lines.The space for choir and musicians is very congested.The ceiling is too low for comfortable use of incense, making it a challenge to use it appropriately for sacramental and teaching purposes.The use of only one lectern for the spoken word means we cannot distinguish between the sermon and the readings being proclaimed.There is very small space to process the Gospel.

On the flip side, we have a very good space for intimacy.No one is more than six rows from the table.The semi-circular layout provides great proximity to the table and to the worship leader.

The lack of space makes it hard to embody the sense of mutuality of ministry, which needs spaces for all of us, none more important that the others.Nancy Lee shared her early worship experiences.As a young girl, she was not allowed to participate in the service, but she was fascinated by every aspect and the people who were allowed to participate, where they went in the sanctuary and what they did there all told parts of the worship story.The story is told through all the senses, space, smell, sight and hearing.

Nancy Lee contributed an article, “Church Building is God’s Calling Card,” Architecture Determines the Message.” She pointed out that our physical presence is “How we claim who we are.”

Subcommittee members asked Nancy Lee questions.She replied that she prefers the Sanctuary to be used for worship space only.She mentioned St. Patrick’s in Georgetown as an example of well-designed expanding worship space (using sliding walls).This is an example of a “both/ and” solution, rather than “either/ or.”She also said she does not favor worship in full-round, since someone always has to look at the celebrant’s back.

Nancy Lee told the group about a trip John Johnson led to the Quaker Administration Building, which provides a model of green building practices, including a geothermal energy source which cost $250,000 for 10 cylinders (high initial cost) but paid for itself in 4 years. Doris recommended we consider the Episcopal Cathedral in Burlington, VT as a model, as it offers contemporary space and great acoustics.

Katie asked about possible financing for green construction.John Johnson is championing this possibility.Amy suggested we expand the building and rebuild the park on the roof, maybe even glassing in part of it for outdoor worship in winter.Hardee brought up the tradition of orienting the Sanctuary on an East-West axis, so that the congregation is facing East when looking at the altar.Kevin explained this tradition is based on the premise that at the second coming, Christ will come out of the East (Jerusalem). Some members of the subcommittee consider this an important issue.

The committee discussed the use of art in the Sanctuary and found consensus around moderation. We welcome art in the worship space, either seasonally or year round, but would not want the space to resemble a gallery.Christian pointed out that less is more – the architecture provides the art/inspiration.

We noted, in discussing our inclusion of children in worship by allowing them to play on mats under the windows by Church Street, that when a child needs to be removed to be comforted in the nursery, it can be very difficult to maneuver through the space, including getting past the piano and choir.

In discussing light in the current worship space, we learned from Doris that the outside wall behind the altar has 4-6 large, multi-pane classroom-syle windows that flooded the room with light.This was screened off with the current wall (which runs a couple of feet away from the outside wall) in the early years after the fire when the Upper Room was first being used for worship, possibly in part because the light shone directly into the eyes of parishioners.

The subcommittee did a review of the final draft of our report, made a few changes and agreed to add Nancy Lee’s input.

Next Meeting:

June 30 was our last meeting.

Feedback Needed:

Thank you for your input and support!!!!Our subcommittee’s work is done, but please stay tuned as the Discernment Process continues!