Groundbreaking symbolizes new possibilities at St. B's.

Several of the St. Barnabas faithful gathered to break ground on the new addition. Asked what it meant, Candidates for the Priesthood David Glaser and Bill Stech, vested in black cassocks, beamed in unison, "All are welcome." "We have worked together for a long time to make this happen, and it is becoming a reality," said Bill.

The addition will provide for Sunday School and meeting space, and most importantly, a handicap-accessible unisex restroom. Right now not everyone can attend services because the meeting space and restrooms are in the basement, reachable only by a narrow stairwell.

"We considered a chair lift but the stairwell is too narrow and has a turn. An elevator would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a modular unit would not look like the rest of the building. So we decided to do a stick built addition," said Senior Warden, Nancy Harris.

"It will be a mess for awhile. We have to build a temporary handicap ramp off the west door of the main building to enter the sanctuary. We'll use the exterior stairwell to get to the basement while the back of the church is under construction. The old narthex will be torn off. We put up two stakes to show where the new corners will be on the north wall," said David Glaser. He will oversee the construction project along with Jerry Kaufman, Treasurer, and parishioner, Marcia Ledford, Esq.

"Several members have volunteered to serve on the Addition Committee. We are lucky to have parishioners who are generous with their talent and time as well as treasure. Everyone has input in this project, and it truly embodies our commitment to that portion of our motto which states, 'Affirming Hearts,' and that indeed, all are welcome," said Ledford.