The last day for services at Main Post Chapel on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lewis Main, will be Sept. 18, but the JBLM community has little reason to be concerned. The closure is temporary.

Meanwhile, Evergreen Chapel has reopened and will provide space for services and meetings until renovations are complete.

Major changes are in store for Main Post Chapel, most of them on its interior. While services at the chapel will come to a halt for an undetermined period, more will commence at other chapels on the installation.

Though there are is no specific timeline, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Dave Causey, I Corps chaplains resource manager, confirmed that a majority of religious services will be moved to Evergreen Chapel on 2nd Division Drive until further notice. Weekly programs normally held at Main Post Chapel - including Protestant Women of the Chapel and various Bible studies - will likely be held at (Lewis) North Fort Chapel.

Causey said the same services and programs will be conducted by the same personnel - just at a different location.

"Nothing will be stopped, canceled or postponed as a result of the renovations," he said.

Main Post Chapel has three floors and is ADA-compliant, but needs better accessibility, Causey said, especially since a large percentage of its attendees are retirees who require special assistance.

The chapel needs more ramps, and its two chairlifts move slowly and cannot handle the demand. Elevators and more ramps are in renovation plans, as well as an extension to the kitchen and fellowship hall, air conditioning and classroom improvements. The chapel's exterior will remain the same except for outside ramps and repairs to the annex roof.

"The intent is not to interfere with any of the historically significant components of the chapel," Causey said. Evergreen Chapel will be open and ready to receive the community Sept. 25. Built in 1957, the building was designed to be a troop chapel and until recently could not sustain a congregation. Renovations to Evergreen Chapel have increased its capacity to 350 people.

"They've made it so it can service several congregations, and it will do that over the next year or so," Causey said.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the upcoming changes is encouraged to call 967-3718.

"We've really tried to be as accommodating as possible, understanding the large number of folks that are affected by this," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Steve George, deputy garrison chaplain.

Chapel service schedule

Changes to chapel service schedule during closure of Main Post Chapel, effective Sept. 25 until further notice:

Catholic services

• Reconciliation - Saturday, 4 p.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Mass - Saturday, 5 p.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Mass - Sunday, 11:45 a.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Life Team (middle, high school) - Saturday, 6 p.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Youth Group (high school) - Sunday, 3 p.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Daily Mass - Monday through Thursday, 12:00 p.m., Lewis North Chapel
• Mass - Sunday, 8 a.m., Lewis North Chapel
• CCD - Sunday, 9:15 a.m., Lewis North Chapel
• RCIA - Sunday, 10:30 a.m., Evergreen Chapel
• CWOC/MCCW - Thursday, 9 a.m., Lewis North Chapel

Orthodox services

• Vespers - Saturday, 5 p.m., Soldiers Memorial Chapel
• Divine Liturgy - Sunday, 8 a.m., Soldiers Memorial Chapel

Protestant services

• Liturgical Protestant - Sunday, 8 a.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Protestant Sunday School - Sunday, 8:45 a.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Traditional Protestant - Sunday, 9:45 a.m., Evergreen Chapel
• Grace Gospel - Sunday, 12 p.m., Lewis North Chapel
• Grace Gospel Sunday School - Sunday, 10:45 a.m., Lewis North Chapel
• PWOC - Tuesday, 9 a.m., Lewis North Chapel

For more information:

Call 967-3718, or visit lewis-mcchord.army.mil/chapel.