Please save this date: SEPTEMBER 21ST! At 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 21, 2008 St. James’ invites you to a Welcome Home Concert to celebrate the return of our 1911 Skinner Organ. In addition to our beloved organist, Marion Cavanagh, the concert will feature K. Bryan Kirk, organist and music director of The First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls and our advisor on our organ’s long journey to renewal. This concert will delight music lovers of every age.

This captivating afternoon will also feature an informative Show ‘n’ Tell on the subject of the tremendous effort made by the Spencer Organ Company to restore, then reinstall the instrument. Our friend, Joseph Rotella and other members of the firm will attend and share their experiences with us. We’re expecting some other special guests including George and Claire Stahler, Bishop David Ball and Jack and Tillie Freeman.

A reception in the Parish Hall will follow the performance. This event is open to the entire community, so please mark your calendars, tell your friends and plan to join us on this festive occasion!

Dear Friends in Christ:

It is with deep joy and gratitude that I invite you all to join us this Sunday, August 3, as we hear for the first time the renewed voice of our beloved 1911 Skinner organ. If you cannot be here this Sunday, you will have lots of other opportunities, as we hope to showcase this beautiful instrument in a variety of ways in the years ahead.

I wish you all could have been here to see the amazing work that went into reestablishing the organ into its chamber. Joseph Rotella and his dedicated crew from Spencer Organ spent the month of July painstakingly piecing her back together, wire by wire, pipe by pipe, in very warm, cramped quarters. Their work was meticulous, and their love for their profession and for this glorious instrument, was obvious. They were consistently cheerful and patient in the face of a variety of adverse circumstances. We are incredibly blessed to have made what was clearly a great choice in awarding them the contract. Thank you, Joseph and team!

Thanks also go out to our sexton, Doug Cunningham, and to Dale and Tyler Clothier for their good work in building the housing for the new blower in the church basement, upgrading and reestablishing electrical connections, and repairing and repainting the chamber. Special thanks go out to warden Tracey Clothier, who oversaw the various preparations while I was on sabbatical. Her dedication to this parish and her unfailing grace under pressure are a gift to us all!

Our faithful organist, Marion Cavanagh, has been here almost every day as the finishing touches were being done, rediscovering her new “toy” with some guidance from our consultant, Bryan Kirk, organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls. She is thrilled, and looking forward to ongoing exploration of the many facets of our newly rebuilt instrument.

We expect to have an official dedication of the organ at a later date yet to be determined. We envision a glorious concert with some honored guests, and we hope that our friend Joseph will be on hand to share some restoration stories with us. Stay tuned for more details.

Great thanks to each and every one who has made this happy day possible! We are very grateful to the Bradley Foundation, whose generous grant enabled us to reach our lofty goal. For those of you who chose the three year pledge option, please know that your ongoing gift is important to us. Last, but surely not least, kudos to our Organ Committee, and in particular to George Stahler and Tillie Helms Freeman, without whose commitment and persistence this project would never have happened.

Please join us this Sunday or whenever you can to help us celebrate our newly and gloriously renovated organ! How very blessed we are! Thanks be to God!!

Unfortunately the tuning is taking a little longer than anticipated, so the organ will not be rededicated this week. It is far better to get it right the first time!

Look for this happy event in the near future. We will keep you informed.

The organ reinstallation is almost complete. The tuners will be here this week to finish up and we will officially rededicate our beautiful Skinner organ on July 27th, St. James’ Sunday! How appropriate is that?

Special thanks to Joseph and his crew from the Spencer Organ Company who over the past few weeks have worked steadily on the reassembly of our organ. It appeared at first as though there were enough pieces scattered throughout the church to make three organs. However, Joseph and his team managed to put each piece in its proper place, although we will never know how they accomplished that feat!

We sincerely hope that you will join us next week as we welcome back our beloved organ. We have all been eagerly awaiting its return. Thank you to everyone whose generosity contributed to this joyful day. We could not have fulfilled our dream without you!

We received an e-mail from Sean O’Donnell telling us that our Opus 193 has arrived safely back in Boston, and is catching up on family news with some of its younger siblings – Op. 208, 883 & 885 – which are currently there as well.

Great thanks to the folks from Messiah who have loaned us their digital piano for our use while the organ is away and more thanks to Mary MacDonald, who will be playing for us until Marion returns from her vacation. We will be venturing out of the hymnal on occasion as a way of deepening our Lenten worship. Please come, let us sing to the Lord!

We have received confirmation from our friends at the Spencer Organ Company that they will be here on Sunday, February 17th to begin the process of removing the organ from its chamber and preparing it for transport to their facility in Waltham, MA. They expect the work to take two or three days. The restoration will take four months, so we will look forward to their return in June with our “new” organ!

Great thanks to all who have made this exciting project possible! We currently have on hand $111,197 in the Organ Fund. Just a reminder to those of you who have pledged over a three year period that your timely payments will help us keep down the amount that we have to borrow from our Capital Improvement Fund in order to pay Spencer as the work proceeds.

Another cause for celebration is the astounding success of our Be an Organ Donor Campaign. Thanks be to God! Thank you to all of you, and to the many people beyond these doors who have supported this effort. This campaign is about more than restoring a fine instrument; it is about affirming the life and ministry of St. James’ in this community and beyond. We are making a difference, and it matters to people that we are here. That is good news, news we need to hear and take heart from. The months ahead promise to be interesting, challenging, and exciting.

This seems like a good time to say a huge thank you to our staff, and particularly to the world’s best and most patient parish administrator. Bonnie has done an amazing job of keeping track this year of not only the many donations to the organ fund, but a large number of donations received in memory of those beloved people whom we’ve lost this year. She has also prepared and sent the many thank you notes that go with them. That’s on top of all her other tasks! Bonnie, you are a real blessing to us, and we thank God for you!

Marion, our organist, is away on vacation, so we can only thank her in abstentia for her faithful music ministry among us, and look forward to her return.

It is with great joy and thanksgiving that we announce that the Organ Fund has reached its goal of $160,000 with a bit to spare! We were thrilled and honored to receive a $30,000 grant from The Bradley Foundation, which specializes in donating toward the restoration of historic Skinner organs such as ours. Thanks go to Andrew Nehrbas, of the Bradley Foundation, and to Joseph Rotella of the Spencer Organ Company for their assistance in obtaining this significant grant.

We are deeply grateful to the many people whose generosity helped make this exciting project possible! We have received gifts and pledges from over 200 people and organizations whom we can identify, as well as numerous anonymous gifts of cash to the Organ Donor Box from hot dog wagon customers, dinner patrons and visitors over the summer and fall. Huge thanks to everyone for making this dream possible, and especially to God, who continues to bless us with an abundance of grace!

So what happens next? We are awaiting word from our friends at Spencer as to when the removal of the organ will take place. We’ll keep you posted!

The Organ Fund Drive is moving right along. As of November 27th we have acknowledged 34 pledges in the amount of $73,844. We have received $59, 003.76 in single donations and $15,607 in pledge payments for a total of $74,610.76 received. The Projected Amount (Single Donations + Pledges) is now $132,847.76. Our goal is $160,000.00.

It is never too late to become an organ donor. Self-addressed envelopes are available on the back table along with some organ pledge cards. Please feel free to take one with you and send it back to us in the self-addressed envelope. Every little bit will help us to reach our goal. If you have any questions, please call the office at 668-2001.

Editor's note: The “Be A (Skinner) Organ Donor” campaign began on August 26th, 2007 and to date has raised over $130,000 toward our goal of $160,000. The following letter, which was read at the luncheon on Organ Sunday, is from Bryan Kirk, our Consultant. Bryan is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance, and is currently the Music Director and Organist at First Presbyterian Church, Glens Falls.

Dear Members and Friends of Saint James’ Church:

This is an important and historic day in the life of your parish and I regret I am unable to be with you to help celebrate the kick-off to your Skinner Organ Restoration Campaign. It has been a pleasure to work as your consultant with Rev. Julie, George, Marion and the organ Committee over the last year as we have striven to research, learn, and evaluate various options about the beautiful 1911 Skinner organ in your church. We have not only educated ourselves about the organ and its need, but have also considered the needs of the church and its future.

I laud your efforts as you begin the task of raising the funds to properly restore this little gem, perfectly suited for your church’s liturgy. Ernest M. Skinner was the finest organbuilder in the USA for decades and his work is highly regarded, respected and retained. His surviving instruments are renowned and prized by churches, organists, teachers and music lovers for their integrity, reliability, tone and musical beauty.

Properly restored and maintained, this organ like all original Skinner organs, will last for generations, as this one has served the church for more than 95 years! Mr. Skinner lived from 1866 until 1960, and while he was in his seventies until his death, he witnessed the unfortunate destruction, drastic alteration or improper ‘restoration’ of many of his instruments, both large and small. We now know these were unfortunate acts that robbed the world of great musical instruments. Be assured that if Mr. Skinner were alive today, he would be most pleased that you have kept your instrument, and that it will be beautifully restored by the Spencer Organ Company, a Skinner restoration specialist. As restored, the organ in Saint James’ Church will be a true Skinner in both mechanical and tonal areas, as no modern technological additions will be made. All parts will be made as the originals were and all pipes will be Skinner, so it will play and sound as the builder intended. You will be well rewarded in your efforts to retain and use this historic musical instruments once it returns, as the sound will be refreshed and even more beautiful.

Time will look back on these activities with kindness, I am sure. As God’s people, we are called to offer our best, whether it is for worship, mission work, or for our daily living. Saint James’ Church offered its best in obtaining a Skinner when no other church in the area did nor could, before nor since – they were forward thinkers.

Your recent window restoration project is a testament to your commitment to serve and maintain the integrity of your historic building. Dirt-laden glass keeps the light out and tends to darken our spirits. Your restored windows bring in beautiful, inspiring, colorful and spiritual light each day. The same happens with pipe organs, and after restoration, the musical life will enliven your worship and inspire your music making to the glory of God for a long time.

As we know, the church itself is its people, but its material fabric serves to house, enhance, protect and inspire those people and welcome those from the community. I know you have had many other projects, and as a small congregation, it is challenging. However, out of challenge, comes the reward of opportunity. A hundred years ago and throughout your history, people were generous to provide whatever was needed. Many of you have come forward to serve and support this effort in the last year, and I thank you for doing so.

I join with your Rector’s call to commitment and encourage all of you here today and those out there waiting to join in concert and be a ‘Skinner Organ Donor’ as I have. This instrument and this congregation can then go forward with its mission in the community of Lake George, resounding a more positive impact upon people’s lives each week. Breathing new life into this Skinner organ will enrich your liturgy and worship for decades and the long-term benefits will be great. I look forward to the day when your Skinner returns renewed and ready for another century of quality service.

It has been a pleasure to work with you all, and I offer my sincerest best wishes, support and encouragement on this day and into the future as you forge ahead in this worthwhile project.

K. Bryan Kirk, Consultant

Dear Friends in Christ:

Great thanks to all who made “Be a Skinner Organ Donor Sunday” such a wonderful celebration of our life together! Special thanks to Bishop Ball for his words of wisdom, humor and encouragement, and for some great stories! It was a joy to have him with us as our honorary campaign chairman. Hats off to Marion Cavanagh on the organ and Tillie Helms on the oboe for glorious music!

We are deeply grateful to our friends at Taste of Poland for their most generous gift of delicious blintzes and pierogies, which were a big hit! Thanks to Mrs. B’s for the pastries, to Claire Stahler for green salad, Tracey Clothier for fruit salad, and Ken McPartlin for the eggs, kielbasa, and sausages.

Hats off to our excellent set-up and clean-up crew: Tom and Virginia Griffin, Jamie and Eric Beecher, Marlyn Bray, Ann Davran, Grace MacDonald, and all whose efforts made the brunch such a lovely occasion. Thank you!

Joseph Rotella of the Spencer Organ Company of Waltham, MA, did a fine job of explaining the restoration process and answering any questions which arose. I am deeply grateful to the Organ Committee, George Stahler, Marion Cavanagh, Tillie Helms, Ilene Hoerning, Al Strack, and Debbie Tatro who gave so generously of their time and energy to get us to this point.

We are thrilled to announce that, due to the generosity of so many, the organ fund is over $100,000, though we don’t have exact figures yet. If you have not had a chance to contribute, it is not too late, as we seek to reach our goal of $160,000. Great thanks to you all who are making it possible for us to “sing to the Lord a new song”! How blessed we are!

The organ barometer outside the glass doors of the Parish Hall says that we have now reached the $120,000 mark for our organ restoration!!! We have accomplished this with the help of God, and by the generosity of our parishioners and friends. You may take some time here to pat yourself on the back and a well deserved pat it is!

We are getting much closer to the goal, but now is not the time to rest on our laurels, although in these hectic times, we might be inclined to wish to do so. We still need to raise another $40,000, so if you know of anyone who is interested in worthy causes such as ours, please give us a call.

Last Sunday was “Be A (Skinner) Organ Donor” Sunday and we are pleased to announce that we have hit the half-way mark as you may have noticed on your way in. Our Organ Donor “barometer” is the creation of George and Claire Stahler and will help us to monitor our progress.

This morning we celebrate a new and exciting time in the life of this parish as we officially kick-off our fund raising campaign for the restoration of our historic 1911 Skinner Organ. We are delighted to have with us as celebrant and preacher this morning Bishop David Ball, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, and Joseph Rotella, from the Spencer Organ Company, who will give us an overview of our project after brunch. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the members of the Organ Committee, Marion Cavanagh, Tillie Helms, Julie McPartlin, Al Strack, Deb Tatro, and especially our chairman, George Stahler, for over a year of hard work which has brought us to this day!

Special thanks to Marion Cavanagh and Tillie Helms for the glorious music this morning!

Great thanks to Taste of Poland, and Mrs. B’s for their generous and delicious contributions to our brunch, to Tom and Virginia Griffin, Marlyn Bray, Joy deLagarde, and Grace MacDonald for set-up, to Claire Stahler for our table decorations, and to all who have made this day possible!

Informative letters about our organ fund campaign have been mailed to our out-of-town members and friends.

Letters to our regular attendees may be found in the box on the back table in the church. To save postage, we would appreciate it very much if you would pick up your envelope before you leave.

There is also a sign-up sheet on the table asking for the names and addresses (if known) of people that you feel we might add to our list of possible donors.

Please remember that August 26th is “Be a (Skinner) Organ Donor” Sunday and plan to join us at a combined 9:00 am service followed by a celebratory brunch in Tuttle Hall. If you have any questions, please call the office at 668-2001.

Dear Friends in Christ:

As summer blossoms once again, we welcome our returning seasonal members and guests. It is always a joy to renew cherished relationships and meet new friends.

St. James’ project this year is to get “ORGAN-ized”! As many of you know, our historic 1911 Skinner organ, which has served us well for almost 100 years, is badly in need of restoration. In the spring of 2006 we appointed an Organ Committee, which has been working diligently since then to become informed about the various options open to us. After many meetings and consultations with top organ companies, we have made the bold decision to restore the organ. In May, we signed a contract with The Spencer Organ Company of Waltham, MA, an expert in the field of restoring Skinner organs. Work will begin in early 2008, and take about 4 months to complete. The organ will be completely dismantled and taken to Spencer’s facility for rebuilding and restoration. While the organ is out, we will need to repair and refurbish the organ chamber, build a new blower room in the church basement, and update the electrical system which supplies power to the organ. The contract price of the organ restoration itself is $146,500, and we anticipate that the total project will cost in the neighborhood of $160,000, including the work mentioned above, and the seeding of a future organ repair/restoration fund.

Clearly, this project is a major undertaking for this faith community. It is, hopefully, the last major piece of property restoration work which needs to be done to ensure that St. James’ physical plant is in good working order for the years ahead.

Over the past ten years, we have endeavored to be good stewards of the property and of the resources available to us. Necessary completed projects include the new church furnace, the rebuilding of the rectory, major roof work on both church and parish hall, interior repair and painting of the church, refinishing of all pews, updating and remodeling of the kitchen, and restoration of seven of the stained glass windows.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, August 26th, 2007, which we have designated “Be a (Skinner) Organ Donor Sunday!” That will be our official kick-off of the fund-raising effort for our organ restoration. We will worship together at one 9:00 am service, followed by a delicious meal. Special guests that day will include our retired bishop and good friend of St. James’, The Rt. Rev. David Ball, who has agreed to be the honorary chairperson of our organ campaign, and Mr. Joseph Rotella, from the Spencer Organ Company, who will give a brief presentation on our project, and be available to answer any questions you may have about the project.

We very much hope that EVERYONE will plan to be a part of this important event in our shared life. It promises to be a lovely celebration, an interesting presentation, and of course, great food and delightful fellowship. It is also an enormous, exciting challenge for each one of us!

Music, and in particular, music provided by our historic and cherished Skinner organ, is a vital part of our worship. It plays a significant part in our appeal to our seasonal friends, and to our visitors, particularly those interested in being married in this beautiful and holy place. So although the organ is currently used primarily at the later service, it is an integral part of our worship space, and a lovely, historic instrument which draws people to St. James’. When restored, it offers exciting possibilities for attracting potential new friends/members through the presentation of recitals, concerts, and other musical events. All the professional organ builders and musicians who have seen our Skinner have been greatly impressed, calling it “a real treasure”, “ a little Tiffany”, and strongly encouraging us to preserve it for future generations.

Before our August celebration, you will receive a letter and a brochure describing the organ project which will offer more details. It will include a variety of ways in which you can participate in making this exciting restoration happen. So be sure to note the 9:00 am service time on August 26th, and plan to be one of many people who are eager to sign up to “Be a (Skinner) Organ Donor!”

Together, we can indeed make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

The organ committee of St. James’ has invited four organ builders to come to St. James’ and make a presentation, demonstrating and explaining how they would restore, replace or rebuild our E. M. Skinner organ. We hope you will join us for these interesting and informative meetings.

Tuesday, January 9, at 1 pm: Michael McKeever of Foley-Baker, Inc. from Tolland, CT: This will be a demonstration and explanation of a plan to replace all of the organ components (except the pipes) with new components. The action would continue to be electro-pneumatic. This company services the organs at First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls.

Friday, January 12, 2007 at 1 pm: A. David Moore, Inc. from Pomfret, VT: Mr. Moore will demonstrate and explain a plan to build a new tracker action organ using most of the existing pipes or using all new pipes.

Tuesday, January 16, at 1 pm: Edward Odell of J. H. & C. S. Odell from East Hampton, CT: Mr. Odell will demonstrate and explain a plan to restore some parts of the Skinner organ and replace other parts with newer more modern components. Mr. Odell has worked with our consultant, Bryan Kirk, on other rebuilding projects.

November 14, 2006: Joseph Rotella of the Spencer Organ Company of Waltham, MA: Mr. Rotella reviewed and tuned the organ and discussed with the organ committee a plan to retain as much of the original organ as possible by restoring most of its parts and retaining the original Skinner design as much as possible.

The Organ Committee has been working feverishly over the last seven months to determine the best approach to addressing the problems with our 95-year-old Skinner organ. Many people have asked about contributing money to help pay for the necessary work. A fund-raising effort will not occur until the cost of the organ improvements have been detailed and an organ builder has been selected. The campaign will begin in 2007. The Organ Fund line item in our parish budget reflects the fact that a number of parishioners, as well as folks from outside the parish, have contributed to the anticipated organ work. As you consider year-end donations to your favorite charities, you too may wish to help grow the existing Organ Fund. Your contribution will help build a sound financial base for St. James’ 2007 capital fund drive for the rebuilding of our organ.

The organ committee at St. James’ is very dedicated to studying all options and finding the best solution for our failing pipe organ. The members of the committee have read a book explaining various types of organs with a lot of good advice for church organ committees. Six members of the committee drove over to Salem for a demonstration of a restored tracker organ. Two members drove into Vermont to visit an organ builder’s shop. A nice group from St. James’ attended a demonstration of the digital organ across the street at Caldwell Presbyterian Church.

Replacing the organ with a digital organ is the least expensive option that the committee has studied. However, the committee is dedicated to finding a solution for today and tomorrow. Statistics show the life span of a digital organ to be less than 20 years. Therefore, we have decided that our goal is to extend the life of our organ by rebuilding it to increase its reliability, reduce its maintenance and enhance the variety of its sounds.

All of the proposals for rebuilding our organ are uncomfortably expensive. Therefore, the committee has started studying fundraising and grant possibilities. Your organ committee has also established and contributed to an initial organ fund with faith that it will grow and make it possible to do the most responsible and long lasting reconstruction of our pipe organ for today and the next 100 years.

Education is the first goal for the Organ Committee. What are the options and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each option? Each member of the committee is reading a book that explains terminology and general differences in organ designs with guidance for understanding of this instrument and its needs.

Representatives from seven organ-building companies have crawled around inside our organ and we have also visited the shop of a builder of tracker organs in Vermont. Two of these companies recommend replacing the organ with a digital organ. One recommends a true historical restoration. Four recommend updating the organ with new materials and technology and one offers to change the organ from an electro-pneumatic organ to a tracker organ. We are studying all of the advantages and disadvantages of these options. We are not only looking for the immediate solution but also for the effect that decision will make for the future.

Please join us by offering your suggestions, comments and questions. Please fill out a comment slip on the organ committee’s picture bulletin board, or speak to someone on the organ committee: George Stahler, Marion Cavanagh, Debbie Tatro, Al Strack, Jackie Bovair, Grant Fish, Ilene Hoerning, Tillie Helms and the Rev. Julie McPartlin

The Organ Committee has contracted with Mr. K. Bryan Kirk to be our consultant as we explore the various options open to us in this significant, complex project. Bryan is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance, and is currently the Music Director and Organist at First Presbyterian Church, Glens Falls. First Presbyterian is well known for its very fine organ, which was installed a few years ago under the direction of their organist Hugh Wilson, now retired.

Bryan Kirk met with the organ committee recently and explained the three “R” options for our 94 year old organ… RESTORE, REBUILD or REPLACE. To restore the organ, we would use all of the original parts and use the same 1912 techniques to replace the leathers, and valves. The bellows and windchests would be cleaned and get new leather. The organ sound would remain the same but it would be more reliable.

To rebuild the organ all parts, except the pipes, would be replaced with new parts and modern technology. The organ sound would remain the same but it would be more reliable.

To replace it, a new organ would be designed to fit inside the space available. Perhaps a new organ would have new pipes or perhaps it could use some or all of the existing pipes. A new organ would perhaps have more variety of sounds available. As we study these three R’s, our vision for the organ of our future is reliability, ease of maintenance, and an instrument that effectively invites the congregation to sing. The historic organ that we have enjoyed since 1912 was built by Mr. E. M. Skinner & Co., one of the premier organ builders of his time, and was a gift from the Shepard family, a prominent Lake George family, in memory of their father, Edward.

This wonderful instrument has recently been described by representatives of two highly regarded organ builders as “a treasure” and “a little gem”. Its lovely sound has warmed the hearts and lifted the spirits of many, richly fulfilling its calling to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Our intent and our prayer is that it will be at least another 100 years before the congregation at St. James’ will face an organ dilemma, and we hope that they will look back at the 2006 decisions and say “well done”. We welcome your comments and any fund raising suggestions as we move forward. Stay tuned for more details.

Ernest Martin Skinner (1866-1960) is recognized today as one of the United States’ leading organ builders. His contributions to the world of organ music took place during the first half of the twentieth century. St. James’ is fortunate to have one of his earlier organs, Opus 193, which was built in 1911. The Skinner organ replaced our first church organ which was sold to the Caldwell Presbyterian Church.

Our original Skinner organ served St. James’ congregation until 1956. However, as an organ builder recently said “basically, though, the majority of the instrument is still very much Skinner” despite those 1956 efforts to rebuild and enlarge the organ. Fifty years later, in 2006, we find that our organ is again in need of significant work in order to continue to meet our present and future liturgical/musical needs. Marion Cavanaugh has had to work her magic, skillfully playing around dead notes, sticky keys, squeaking pedals, and other mechanical issues in her effort to enhance our weekly worship.

Our Vestry understands the important relationship between a quality organ and the congregational worship experience. It has appointed an organ steering committee to develop and to implement plans that will address the organ/music issues. The Committee of nine parishioners began meeting in early April to develop a strategy in response to the charge given to the committee by the Vestry. The Committee has: identified all options regarding either renovation or new organ, explored the hiring of a knowledgeable consultant, sought proposals from several qualified organ builders, and targeted a capital fund-raising effort to support the desired organ work.

The Committee members have approached our work with open minds as we seek to develop the best possible solution (financially and musically). We are evaluating these options: a new tracker pipe organ, a total rebuild of the existing organ, the renovation of the organ with the addition of three stops, a hybrid organ (combined pipe and digital), and a new digital organ.

The Committee met with Hugh Wilson and with Bryan Kirk (the former and present organists of the First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls) seeking their input about the status of our organ. Out of this meeting has come an agreement with Bryan Kirk to act as our consultant, advising the Committee and verifying the plans and work of the organ builder. To date, five organ builders have visited the Church and evaluated the organ. Three firms submitted proposals and two are in process. While other proposals may be sought, none are anticipated at this time.