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Week seven of the Tomorrow First HVAC project brought a milestone moment: new boilers arrived at the church this Monday and were moved into the basement mechanical room the same day. With new pumps already in place and concrete pads poured, the mechanical room is transforming from an empty shell into the heart of our new heating and cooling system.

What's Happening

The sanctuary air handling units (AHU-1 and AHU-5) are being removed and replaced this week. The old units served the building faithfully for decades, and the new ones will provide improved air circulation for worship. By early next week, the fan should be running again in the sanctuary — no controls yet, but fresh air moving through the space once more.

On the second floor, insulation crews continue wrapping ductwork and piping, and ceiling tile reinstallation begins next Monday (April 13) in Hess Hall. That's a visible turning point — spaces that have been open for construction will start looking like finished rooms again. Four second-floor rooms and likely portions of the Serve Center will need ceilings lowered about four inches to accommodate equipment placement, and the P1 team is working through those details this week.

Fan coil unit installation is now complete in the east area offices, the STEPMC Coach office, the food pantry area, and the choir room area. The two replacement units for the second floor (damaged during shipping) are back in production, with delivery expected in late April.

Leave Your Mark

The Leave Your Mark signing of the sanctuary air handler continues — come add your signature, a prayer, or a message of encouragement. The unit will be available in the Serve Center through at least this Sunday, April 12. Once signed, the P1 team will build scaffolding and carefully install the unit in the sanctuary ceiling — a process that will take several weeks given the size and complexity of the installation.

What to Expect

There will be no air circulation in the sanctuary this week while the old units are removed and new ones are connected. With cooler weather in the forecast, the timing works well. Construction crews continue working Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Hess Hall and the second-floor rooms remain active work areas through the week.

Looking Ahead

April 13 brings the start of ceiling tile reinstallation in Hess Hall and the second floor. Hot water pumps are scheduled to ship April 15. The rooftop energy recovery ventilators ship April 20, and a crane will set both the ERVs and the new chiller when they arrive — a significant milestone that brings the cooling side of the system closer to completion. The vertical stack fan coil units have been pushed up to a May 12 ship date, nine days earlier than originally scheduled. The project remains on track for the system to be fully operational by the end of June.

By the Numbers

As of this week, 110 households have committed to the Tomorrow First campaign, with $1,844,683 pledged and $894,228 received — 51% of the $1.75 million goal. Every gift, of any size, moves this project forward.

How to Give

Give online at mcphersonfirst.org/give (select "Tomorrow First"), by mail to 1200 E Kansas Ave, McPherson, KS 67460, or place gifts in the worship offering plate marked "Tomorrow First."

This project is possible because of the generosity and faith of this congregation. Each piece of equipment installed, each pipe insulated, each ceiling tile replaced brings us closer to a building that will serve our mission for generations to come. Thank you for investing in what God is doing through this church.