Updates and "Heads Up"After weeks and months of mostly patient waiting, we are entering and exciting, landmark time in the life of the congregation. What is happening now will enable us to do more effective ministry for decades to come. Here, in summary, are events to get excited about:
Property Development:
- Construction documents have been received from the architect and accepted by the session.
- Request for necessary city permits have been filed with the City, thanks to Jim Koch.
- Bids have been received from five Dallas-area general contractors.
Five contractors were chosen form a larger list and invited to bid the project. All responded with very close total amounts. Each bid was within our projected "need to contain" cost amount. (The fact that the bids were close together is due, in large measure, to the attention two of our Property Development Committee members, Hollis Jacobie and John Eversole, gave to working with the architect. Their experience in architectural planning and construction has served us well. Thanks, guys!
As of the writing, the Property Development Committee is comparing the specifics of the bids and will meet with the contractors. Based on these comparisons and meetings, the committee will recommend a contractor to the session.
A groundbreaking date will be set after permits have been received and the general contractor has been identified.
Consecration Sunday, October 26:
I cannot emphasize too much the importance of this special day. And I ask you to be present for worship and the catered lunch to follow.
The emphasis will be upon funding, through our projected estimates of giving, for the church's ministries for the coming year, 2004. As exciting as the quickly developing events related to property are, they are not the most exciting, challenging or even the most important thing that is happening among us. Developing our ministry, reaching out to the community in the name of Jesus Christ and offering hope were people experience needs and hurts-now those are truly worth getting excited about. And they are what we are to be about.
Remember our Mission Statement:
Jesus told us..."Go and make disciples"
Remember our Vision Statement:
Serving God together by
Reaching out, Loving, Caring and
Inspiring Spiritual and Personal Growth.
Consecration Sunday is key to your church’s future. Your response will allow us to move together into the coming year with confidence. Yes, you will be given the opportunity to express yourself through your Estimate of Giving for 2004. I ask you to think carefully and pray conscientiously about your part.
Now on a related subject, you should have received a letter on the status of your 2003 gifts to God through the church. Please review it. If you are behind in the goal you set for yourself, please make every effort to catch up before yearend.
Oh yes, one more thought: As we move closer and closer to the beginning of construction, now would be a good time to review your giving to the Capital Stewardship Campaign. You'll soon see those gifts put to work in very concrete ways-pun intended. By this time next year we and our ministries should be in our new refurbished church home.
-- Robert E Shelton