Three environments receiving new life at HPUMC this winter

You may have noticed some recent upgrades taking place across Highland Park United Methodist Church’s Mockingbird campus. In particular, three areas are being upgraded to kick off the new year: the historic Sanctuary, the Margaret E. Jonsson Sanctuary Garden, and the Wesley Hall basement. From new floors to new pews, all of the recent renovations are designed to create more welcoming environments for everyone who visits HPUMC.

The Sanctuary

Installation began in January on newly restored pews and updated flooring for the Sanctuary worship venue. The new seating and new flooring material are being added in stages, several rows at a time, in order to limit the disruption to the Sunday worship experience. In addition to refinished pews, all of the Sanctuary candlesticks are being refinished, as well as new seat cushions added to the congregational seating areas and choir loft.

These changes, the first major renovations since 2008, come as part of the effort to preserve and maintain the beauty and spiritual appeal of this sacred space for decades to come. Renovations are anticipated to be completed this spring.

The Margaret E. Jonsson Sanctuary Garden

One of HPUMC’s most prominent and lovely green spaces, located between the Sanctuary and Cox Chapel venues, has also benefitted from recent updates. The Garden, as it’s affectionately known, serves as a gathering site for various church events including fellowship on Sundays, holiday photo shoots, wedding photos, a play area for children with HPUMC’s Day School, and many more activities throughout the year.

In February 2021 the harsh winter weather caused significant damage to the Garden. But, thanks to the generosity of an HPUMC family, the garden was able to be restored in January, recapturing its original beauty and serenity. Updates included everything from regular maintenance on the walkways and grand staircase to new artificial turf, benches, and custom handrails.

The Wesley Hall Basement

Thanks to the opening of the Tolleson Family Activity Center in 2019, HPUMC’s Youth Ministry had a new home, leaving the Wesley Hall basement open to become a new multipurpose space. Renovations to the basement included new flooring throughout the welcome areas, family space, and back of house, creating a modern environment that can be used for fellowship on Sunday mornings, overflow during major holidays, and more.

In addition to receiving brand new flooring, changes were made to the worship venue to make it more easily accessible for those with disabilities. Since these changes were made in January, two new Sunday morning classes were started in the basement area at 9:30 and 11 am, creating environments where more than 100 people have found new community as part of HPUMC.