FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 763 County Road Waynakee, WI 53897503 “Telephone: (58) 849-4625 ARK W. MORIEDGE, Ps Fax: (0) 49-4608 From: Pastor Kirk ‘To: FPC Members and Friends Monday, April 11th, 2011 follow-up to the events ofyesterday morning, Sunday. April 10th: ‘As many of you know, smoke was detected entering the sanctuary through a floor vent during ‘the second service yesterday. We have learned this was the result ofa malfunction ofan HVAC unit. am grateful for the Church members who responded, closing the vent and finding the source of the problem. Though we have learned that no one was in any immediate danger, the worship service was ‘ended and the building evacuated as a precaution, untl the fre department could investigate and determine that the building was safe to occupy. The church building was declared safe or oceupaney again approximately 30 minutes after the fire department arrived. It is worth noting that just last week the Session had begun a discussion about the need for'a church-wide ire dill at FPC. Now we have had one. And, by God's grace, we have learned some ‘things. there isa next time (and let's hope there is nota next time) I would evacuate the sanctuary sooner than Idi yesterday. I regret waiting fora situation report from the ushers before calling the service off. Large public evacuations can cause people to pane. The Waunakee Fire Dept Assistant (Chis did reasrure me that common sents should be weed in verifying the nature of a problem before ‘evacuating a crowd froma public space. That wasa part of my thinking. But! feel waited too long. | would dismiss worship more quickly next time. We've learned some other things. Ihave asked the Building and Grounds Ministry Team of The Session to review FPC's evacuation procedures And recommend a new and improved pian tothe Session. Priority ONE obviously has tobe safety, We ‘may make actual ire dis apart of our life at FPC. As the Boy Scouts say, “Be prepared.” ‘The first-service folks got to enjoy their full worship hour yesterday, They heard the message | preached. As they stood in the parking lot during the evacuation some from our second service asked Ime if could preach the same message next week. I old them I'l have to save it. This coming Sunday {is Palm Sunday, which ealls fora different message. Ifyou are interested in accessing what you may hhave missed yesterday, you may go to wweamyfpe.org and listen tothe message online. Our service also arson TV on the Waunakee eable Channel 96 analog and digital) and Channel 979.1 (cable and ligt) every Sunday at 9:00 am, and 7:00 pm, ‘We were given a good reminder yesterday: that we never know what a day will bring forth Which is why itnever hurts to remember the verse from Proverbs: “Trust the Lord with ll our heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Inall your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” ‘We have a chance to straighten our path moving forward, to give thanks that no one was hurt and to increase our effectiveness in serving God. ‘Thank YOU for your calm and cooperation yesterday and your continued commitment to FPC. “A place to believe, to-beTong, to become.