October Organ Update: The Pipes Are Coming Home!  

The Pipes Are Coming Home!

The exciting update to share this week is that the return of our beloved Opus 414 pipe organ is currently scheduled to begin later this month. The organ has been in the process of a complete restoration at the Schantz workshop in Orrville, Ohio, for the past several months; in fact, it has been almost a year since the organ was removed from the sanctuary. 

As you might imagine, putting the pieces of the organ in a newly configured arrangement in the organ chamber is going to take some time. The week of October 26 is the target for the work to begin, and it will last for approximately eight weeks. Even after the pipes of the restored organ are returned to their perch high above the sanctuary chancel and the new console is in its place (Have you seen the preliminary designs on display in the Mabuhay space?), the instrument will need careful voicing, meticulous regulation, and precision tuning before we hear this magnificent instrument in its full glory. Maybe by Christmas? Maybe not until early 2027. Stay tuned as we will keep you informed!! 

As noted in the inspirational messages from Senior Pastor Jane Eesley and Erik Nussbaum, Director of Music Ministries, Worship & the Arts, on Homecoming Sunday, September 13, some unexpected challenges of renovating the organ chamber in our 102-year-old building resulted in higher expenses than anticipated.

Please watch their video here.

We appreciate everything donors have contributed thus far to this campaign! We are now in the final push and could still use your help. Gifts to help complete the organ chamber preparation can be made online here or checks can be sent to Erik Nussbaum’s attention at the church office: 77 W Washington Street, Floor 2, Chicago, IL 60602.

We look forward to the return of the pipe organ to our sanctuary later this fall!

In Christ’s love and peace,

The Committee for the Restoration of Opus 414     

10/1/2026