Did you know?
This past Tuesday, October 21, marked the beginning of the installation phase of our Sanctuary light canister refurbishment. The work started with carefully moving a lift into the Sanctuary and maneuvering it into position to reach each fixture as electrical cabling was installed.
This project represents an actual act of stewardship and collaboration—an effort that reflects more than 1,800 combined hours of commitment and craftsmanship from those involved. Did you know our Sanctuary holds nearly 500 individual lamps?
Among the parishioners leading this effort is Scott Johnson, a longtime friend and parishioner, and John Martin, an optical engineer with decades of experience designing advanced lighting systems for the U.S. Air Force. John and Scott have worked together for over 20 years in vision and illumination technologies—from night-vision systems to UV sanitation lighting.
Their expertise, along with that of the talented and skilled parishioners mentioned below, has guided this intricate refurbishment. The team discovered that the Sanctuary’s lighting system, initially installed in the early 2000s, was never fully commissioned. The original conception of refurbishing the cannister lights began in 2018. The Covid pandemic placed a long pause, but over the years, wear, fixture replacements, and wiring issues compounded, leading to inconsistent lighting performance.
Now, with the help of our volunteers and professionals, all 43 main canister fixtures and 78 spot fixtures are being re-engineered to accommodate LED light engines. Once complete, the original lighting manufacturer, Lehigh, will return to commission the system—ensuring every fixture functions properly and can be independently controlled to create different settings and moods for worship. Once completed, the system is expected to consume at least 63% less electricity, and the LEDs will have at least a 40,000-hour mean lifetime.
We are deeply grateful to our parishioners Pat Dodds, Chris Falkenstein, Jay Harris, Scott Johnson, Laurel Kimball, Sharon Johnson, Lee Kolstad, John Martin, Dave McClintic, and Hank Parker for their time, talent, and dedication to making this project possible.
