Few can deny the natural beauty of true wood-crafted furniture. Even if made from the same species of wood, each piece is unique, with its own fingerprint of markings. When produced properly, a quality piece of wood furniture can last for decades or longer, as long as proper care is taken throughout its life.

Cleaning

Some popular household products on the market claim to clean wood furniture, but you must be careful to avoid harsh chemicals that might hurt the wood finish. Always start small and as gentle as possible. Very slightly dampen a soft, cotton cloth and apply one drop of mild dishwashing detergent and apply it to a small, inconspicuous place on the furniture. Rinse well and immediately dry with a separate, dry cotton cloth. If the finish still looks healthy, you can try a mild solution of dish detergent and water to the entire surface. Rinse the solution and dry quickly.

For tough stains and grime, try applying mineral spirits to a cotton cloth, wipe in a circular motion until the dirt is removed, lightly rinse and dry quickly. Only use pure mineral spirits and not products that contain mineral spirits along with other ingredients.

Never use any wood product that is in an aerosol can. The silicone contained in these products will damage your wood furniture over time.

Protecting

As a natural product, wood behaves in certain ways in different environments. It expands in heat, contracts in cold, and does not thrive in harsh conditions, such as high levels of humidity. The first step in protecting your wood furniture is to keep it in an environment with consistent temperatures that are comfortable to humans and low in humidity.

 To further protect wood furniture, more effort is necessary. The application of safe waxes and polishes can help protect the furniture from changes in temperature and moisture levels. As varnished wood expands from being exposed to heat, it will eventually crack. Cracks allow moisture to settle into the wood, which can lead to further cracking, splitting and even warping. It’s recommended that you apply a reputable wood furniture wax twice a year to help protect against these conditions.

In addition to heat and moisture, bright sunlight can damage your wood furniture over time. If your wood furniture is in the path of direct sunlight on a regular basis, consider using window blinds or window coverings of a moderate to heavy thickness during these hours of the day.

These few simple steps are not time consuming and will not strain your finances, yet will help keep your wood furniture looking its best for years to come.

Choosing Seating for Your Church – Weighing the Advantages of Pews and Chairs

Starting a new church or even updating your existing church is a very exciting time. Whether you are building a new church building, adding on to an existing one or simply remodeling your current sanctuary, you have some important decisions to make. You might be considering pulpits, communion tables and minister’s chairs for the pulpit area, carpet, or maybe even a new baptistery. Perhaps one of the most important furnishings you will choose for your church is sanctuary seating.

There are several options for church seating, but two of the most popular choices are pews and chairs. Both have excellent benefits, but you will need to decide which is better for your church, depending on your church’s unique needs.

Pews have been seen as old-fashioned in many new churches in recent years, but this traditional sanctuary furnishing is making a comeback in the 21^st century. Pews are extremely customizable with a lot of options. You can choose to have padding on your pews or leave them unpadded. There are numerous styles of pew ends, featuring cantilever, traditional, or colonial styles, intricate wood carvings, your choice of colors and stains, cap rails, etc.

If you choose to have your pews upholstered, you can choose your fabric and even your cushion thickness. Customizable fabrics and stains can help you better match your existing church furniture.  Additional accessories, such as communion cup holders and book racks can be added to the pew back. Because pews are often built to suit, more options might be available to your liking.

Church chairs might be customizable as well, depending on the manufacturer. Most manufacturers automatically offer chairs in a selection of certain colors, but might be able to use a custom fabric if requested. Some chairs come with built-in under seat book racks, ganging devices, and card pockets. If there are specific features that you are looking for in a chair, ask the manufacturer if it can be added. Many chair makers and distributors can have card pockets, rear pouches and book racks added during manufacturing.

An important factor to consider when choosing between pews and chairs is whether the sanctuary

space will be used for any events other than regular church services. If so, you should consider whether the type of seating you choose will be appropriate. If your church plans to host concerts or other community events, would chairs or pews be the better choice?

Another factor is the longevity of the furniture. Chairs should come with a manufacturer’s warranty, and pews might have a warranty as well. With pews, the wood can be restored after several years of wear and tear and can also be repadded and have fresh fabric placed on them. While it is possible to reupholster chairs, performing this task to 100+ chairs can be tedious and extremely time consuming.

Once you have decided between the more traditional look of pews and the contemporary look of chairs, it’s time to think about quantity. But to decide on the best quantity for your church, you must look into your state’s code for maximum occupancy. Adhering to these codes will help ensure your congregation’s safety and comfort.

In deciding on a number of pews or chairs, you must also consider your congregation’s comfort. If purchasing pews, how many people can you realistically see sitting in one pew? A common complaint of pews is the unwillingness of strangers to sit in the pews with people they do not know. In some churches, families might “claim” a pew and other members of the congregation will feel that they are not welcome to sit there. This can be an issue if space is limited.

Similarly, when chairs are used in a sanctuary, members of the congregation will often leave a seat or two in between themselves and someone that they do not know. However, when choosing a chair, you can opt for slightly smaller chairs to accommodate more people, but again, you might be sacrificing your congregation’s comfort in doing so.

Another important point to consider is whether the amount of seating you choose offers enough space to account for growth. Growth for churches is always a great thing and a goal, but if there isn’t enough seating for them, or if they are uncomfortable, those potential members might look elsewhere for their church home. This is why considering all of the available options for seating in your church is such an important decision.

Pulpits and Lecterns

Featured product article from Church Furniture Store

“And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam” (Nehemiah 8:3-4).

Walk-In Pulpit

The word “pulpit” comes from the Latin word “pulpitum”, which means a platform or staging. Pulpits are used in the church by members of the clergy for giving sermons and preaching the Word of God. In a typical Protestant church, the pulpit is placed in front of the congregation, usually on a raised platform, and any other pulpit furniture is placed around the centrally located pulpit. A communion table is generally placed in front of the pulpit and sometimes off of the raised platform. Minister’s chairs and associate pastor’s chairs are placed behind, yet away, from the pulpit.

In other types of churches, such as Catholic churches, the pulpit might be set off to one side of the raised platform in front of the congregation. In this type of set up, there might be a lectern set off to the opposite side of the raised platform. Lecterns are similar to podiums, which are speaking stands that are typically smaller and less grand in appearance than the pulpit. When lay people make presentations to the congregation, they often use the lectern instead of the podium.

The official origin of the pulpit is not known, although there is a progression that can be seen through parts of history beginning with a piece of furniture known as the ambo, which might have been a small table from which scripture was read. There is reference to a “pulpitum” by Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage, within one of his letters. In this case, however, the pulpitum referred to a raised wooden platform on which clergy delivered the message, but surely played into the practice of elevating the pastor above the congregation in what is today known as the pulpit.

Church Furniture Store features many styles of pulpits, from the modest and traditional to

the intricate and grand. For a church seeking a more reserved, smaller pulpit, the Chapel

Lion of Judah Pulpit

pulpit is ideal. Measuring 35 inches wide, 16.5 inches deep and 48 inches tall, this pulpit features an adjustable bible rest, back-side storage and shelving on compact wings in a budget-friendly package.

However, if your church is looking for something with more pizzazz, we have many pulpit styles to choose from. Our Lion of Judah Pulpit features cross pattern carvings for a bolder statement. Or you might prefer the stately elegance of our #830 pulpit, which features an acrylic center which can be adorned with your choice of a customized logo or our signature three-cross emblem.

Elim Pulpit

Just like our wood pulpits, our lecterns are made by hand in our on-site woodshop. Our announcement stands are made of solid oak wood, and are available in more traditional styles or a curved style. The 720 adds a contemporary look to your sanctuary or classroom with two curved down posts that give the piece an open design.

If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for on our website, contact us to see if we can customize a piece specifically to your liking. Give us a call at 540-484-4913 or reach out to us through our website: https://www.churchfurniturestore.com/index.html