Transitions
The word “transition” may be defined as “a movement or
development from one stage or style to another.” The word is also used in the
field of music to describe “a musical passage leading from one section of a
piece to another.” I like these concepts as they relate to our upcoming
transition to our new worship and children’s center. A transition does not have
to be an abrupt change, it can resemble more of the idea of a pleasing musical
passage leading from one section of a piece to another. In music and in life,
it’s the familiar along with the “transitions” that make life always
interesting and always a journey.
On March 1st
when we have our first worship service and when our children move to a new
place, we will be leaving some things that are familiar, “notes” and “stanzas”
that we know well. And we will be entering into a new “section” of our ministry
together as God’s people. In some respects, we will be singing the same song but
we will be adding some new “sections” to our faith journey.
What Remains the Same
Some things won’t change come March 1st. We will
still be God’s people on mission. We will still be seeking to be the presence
of Christ in our community and world. The structure and format of our worship
service will be similar to what we’ve been doing for the last few months, it
will be a blended experience combining the best of our traditional and
celebratory services. Our adult Sunday morning Bible studies will continue in
their current buildings and rooms.
What Will Change
Our Sunday morning times will change. Sunday School/Bible Study will meet from 8:45-9:45 a.m. and our one worship
service will be at 10:00 a.m. Aside
from worship space, our new facility includes two wings. Our nursery and
preschool through first grade Sunday School classes will move to the new
preschool wing (the wing closest to our current educational building), and our
“Kids Time” ministry will move to a new “Kids Time” wing (the wing that is on
the right after entering through the main entrance). There will be a covered walkway leading from
our educational building to a side door which takes you into the main foyer
area.
The main foyer area will have a “Welcome Center,” “Coffee
Shop,” and several sitting areas. The facility will be very open and “user
friendly” for both our members and our guests. Throughout our building process
the following vision sentence has been kept at the forefront. At HBC we want to
be “A welcoming place for families to connect with God and others, growing into
the full measure of Christlikeness.”
One significant but I believe positive change for us will be
that our two separate services will be combined into one new beautiful unity!
The combination of wisdom and energy has the power to make our new “piece” of
music together exciting and dynamic.
New Facility “Blitz”
On February 15th
after our second service, we plan to deliver 1,500 packets to our neighbors
inviting them to celebrate with us as we move in to our new facility on March 1st.
I hope that you will make plans to join us. The plan is to have a brief lunch after
church and then go out in some selected areas of our church field to prayer
walk and share our packets. The church will provide the main course and we are
asking you to consider bringing a side or desert. We want to keep it pretty
simple and respect your time. Families are encouraged to take part. Here’s an
example of how this could work. If we have 100 people total to participate,
each team of two people could deliver 30 bags. That comes to about one street
in an area subdivision which could easily be done in less than an hour. We can
do this! Let’s all be a part. If because of health you are not able to prayer
walk, perhaps you could be a driver and person of prayer or come help put our
packets together. You can call Kim at the office for the details on when this
will take place.
Dedication Day Is
March 22nd
Some people have asked why we are having our dedication day
this far into the month. First, we will have a special prayer of dedication on
March 1st when we have our first service. Second, the other Sundays
in March were just not as conducive to holding a dedication for the following
reasons. On March 8th the time changes and we spring forward one
hour. It’s never a good idea to start something new or have something special
on a time change day. Also, there is a major wedding on the night before (the 7th)
that many of our members will be involved in.
On March 15th we have a major concert tour coming
to HBC. They will need to be in the worship center as soon as possible on that
Sunday. This is a huge event and will require the energy and efforts of many of
our members. Also, the day before is the Upward Banquet which is very labor
intensive for many of our folks. March 22nd is the earliest Sunday
that we will have an uninterrupted time to dedicate our facility and to have a
time of fellowship afterwards. Even though we will have our Disciple Now group
finishing up on this Sunday, this will not hinder us at all. In fact, their focus on this weekend is ministry
and missions which will go along nicely with what we want to communicate to our
community on Dedication Day.
These are exciting days to serve the Lord together. Let me
encourage you to pray, praise God for His wonderful working and grace, and participate
in the great work that God is doing. See
where He is working and join Him. “To Him
be the glory in the church . . . forever”! (Eph. 3:21).
Pastor Joe
“I thank my God every
time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3
1 comment:
They say that people who live to be a 100 are people who have been able to adapt to change. I think we all need to plan on making it to 100. 😊
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