Spring 2010

SECOND CHURCH SAVIORS

“I can work anytime – all night.”

“If I didn’t love this place and these people so much …”

“Teamwork Exhaustion Dedication”

“Tides go in, tides go out. Tired goes out like a light!”

“These anti-fludde devices make a lot of Noyes.”

These are a few of the reflections written on the Second Nursery School board as over 40 of our church family kept rising waters in check for over 3 days.

People arriving for worship on Sunday March 14, were met with the news that water was collecting in the steeple and that the Nursery School was in danger of flooding. Many of us thought about the devastating flood of 1996 when sewage flowed freely through the entire downstairs Nursery School and into the boiler room effectively shutting down the Nursery School program basement classrooms for 5 months.

However, this time it was going to be a different outcome. With the new check valve firmly in the closed position at 8AM Sunday morning, we did not have to fear any threat of sewage backup into the building. We could then focus our full attention on the groundwater buildup that was coming through the floors of the two Nursery School lower bathrooms. Thanks to quick action and amazing volunteers coupled with multiple vacuums and pumps we were able to literally stem the tide. From approximately 8AM on Sunday morning through 3AM on Wednesday morning, vacuums and pumps ran NON-STOP. Tracy Summerer took the initiative on Sunday to round up volunteers so that we had coverage throughout the first critical 24 hours. Rev. Shin (Pastor of the Korean Presbyterian Church) and his lovely wife did a solo session on Sunday for three hours from 7PM-10PM. John Malone, of Born to Clean (our cleaning service) even volunteered to provide coverage from midnight through 3AM on Wednesday morning. Barbara Cancellieri quickly took over the communication command post on Monday morning working e-mail and the phones to locate volunteers and assemble a schedule so that we would have continual coverage, but not duplicative efforts at specific hours. Finally at about 3AM on Wednesday morning, Laura Foote sent out the good news that the ground water had receded. With this good news in hand we were able to then redirect our efforts to ensure that we could reopen the check valve and return the east side of the Parish House to full water/toilet capability. This required multiple communications with the City of Newton sewer department who were able to finally give us the green light to reopen the valve at about 9PM Wednesday evening. Full service to the building was restored at 7AM Thursday morning.

Remarkably, throughout this crisis and the very long hours, spirits remained high and the vacs and pumps never failed us. Working together we literally were able to push back the tide and save the Nursery School program.

Additional good news. We were able to get our organ maintenance company into the organ loft first thing on Monday morning. The technician was able to remove the specific dampened stops and allow them to dry out. There may be some additional repair costs associated with this damage; however, it does appear that we were able to avoid a very expensive re-repair situation. Hopefully very shortly we will be able to listen to the full range of the organ each Sunday along with the delightful laughter of the young children attending the Nursery School each weekday.

“Many volunteers make the work so much more efficient. Thank you, thank you!”