After many months of planning, repair, re-repair and frustration, our front lighted sign has been repaired. Sometime during the first couple of days in November, 2004, somebody tossed a fair size "Colwood Potato" (rock) through the plexiglass on our sign. Not only was this a pain, but it was also especially disappointing since it had only been about 6 to 12 months since Ralph L. had personally repaired the sign with all new plastic and letter zip track strips.

After some delay in our getting the project going, Nathan S. and Pastor Tim removed the old, broken plastic and took it to Mark R.'s shop in Mill Bay to see what, if anything, could be salvaged. Once it was determined that all new materials were going to be needed, everything was measured and ordered up and Mark manufactured the replacement sign. Nathan S., Nathan's step-dad Rod, and Pastor Tim then put the remanufactured sign pieces into place in the frame of the sign - installing all new florescent bulbs while everything was apart.

Unfortunately, nightfall (and the turning on of the sign lights) revealed that the plastic company had sold us the wrong kind of white board for the sign - a kind which would not let light shine through it. After a call to the company, it was time to take the sign apart once again so the sign board could be remanufactured by the company (at the company's expense).

Once the board was re-made with the proper kind of plastic for a back-lit sign, it was time to put the sign together again. Once again it was hoped that the job was all done. This proved to once again be premature hope as it turned out one of the light tubes no longer worked. Once again Nathan opened up the side of the sign, discovered a cracked bulb, closed the sign, purchased a new bulb, re-opened the sign, replaced the bulb, and then closed the sign up.

Finally, we are happy to report that the sign is fixed, the lights all work.  A great big thank-you to everyone who helped in the various steps and stages of getting the sign back into tip-top shape. And God bless the person who broke the sign in November!

On a related note, you can now see a slide show of pictures of various sayings that have appeared on the church sign by clicking here.