What an exciting time to finally be occupying all of our new building and to be nearing the end of the construction and re-modeling. What began exactly one year ago (early October 2004) when permits were filed, is now almost complete. Of course there are many details still to be sorted out and tasks to be completed in the months ahead. There are yet many adjustments to where things go, what happens where, and how things look. But this is all part of the excitement of a new place, of having more space, and enjoying the opportunities that our new facility will provide.

  So what this calls for is a celebration! That is why we have scheduled an Open House for Sunday, October 23, at 3:00 p.m. This will be a time for us as a congregation to rejoice in what the Lord has done, to give thanks for all who have labored to make this a reality, to dedicate this facility to the glory of God, and to invite our neighbors and surrounding community to celebrate with us.

An Open House is an…

  opportunity to invite our neighbors to see our building and become acquainted with our ministry options. Hopefully some will see ways they can be included and find a place to belong. That is why we need to make a

  purposeful effort to reach those in our immediate community that we may have overlooked or ignored. How many of them have seen us come and go and wished they would be invited to join in or be included in our activities? What that means is that

  evangelism is always our motivation. We always seek that our programs and ministries will bring as many as possible to know Jesus as Lord. But this starts with our being a good

  neighbor in this community. We don’t want to just occupy the same street, but be seen as a place of friendship, support and encouragement to those who live near our building.

Through an Open House we hope to show our neighbors…

  hospitality—by bringing others into our space we are saying we are generous with both our possessions and time. This communicates that they are welcome in our place and in our lives, and that we care about them.

  openness—we can be viewed as either the people in the big building or the people with a big heart. Do others see a wall that shuts them out or a door that invites them in? We need to open our doors and hearts in order to begin relationships that lead to new life.

  unconditional love—which has been offered to us by Christ, and which we are to offer to the world. We don’t invite only those who are already saved, but those who need the Gospel in their lives, which means we start right where they are, loving unconditionally as we are loved.

  salvation—where we hope every new relationship or contact we have in our community will lead. We seek to introduce our neighbors to the One who can save.

  eternity—the length of time we hope our relationships will last. All who come into God’s forever family will spend eternity together in the presence of our holy God.

  Now isn’t all that something to celebrate? Not just a new building, but the possibility of new relationships and rejoicing as more come into the Kingdom of God!

Denis Whittet