Glorious Day!

July 13, 2008 by Andy Lunt.

Dear Glen Mar Friend,

What a special, glorious day today! After many years of praying, planning and working, we made the move today to our new home virtually without a hitch. It would be hard to imagine things going any better than they did today. Both our Service of Leave Taking on Glen Mar Road and the first worship in the Spirit Center praised and honored God, while moving and inspiring many people.

And the walk in between was surely something to be remembered for a long time. More than 500 persons gathered in the sanctuary where we have worshiped for the past 19 years to sing, pray, and give thanks to God for all God’s goodness to Glen Mar on that site. Then between 300 and 350 hardy souls–more than I would have anticipated–walked the one and one-quarter miles to our New Cut Road site on a beautiful, but hot, morning.

By the time worship began in the Spirit Center, our numbers had swelled to more than 700. And did we ever praise God! The music was great and inspiring, the Spirit was clearly present, and the preachers were absolutely magnificent. I’m very grateful to Taylor Burfeind, Hannah Hardin, and Paul Behrens for providing just the right message to get us launched from our new “base” on New Cut Road.

Such a powerful, moving, and nearly flawless morning didn’t just happen by accident. I want to express my thanks to the many, many people who put in countless hours of planning and work to make everything come together today the way it did. To the many musicians and worship leaders who offered their gifts to God, to those who helped move equipment, set up chairs, and provide refreshments, to those who served as greeters and directed traffic….to everyone who volunteered their time and effort, thank you very much.

And I especially want to thank the members of Glen Mar’s Transition Team who have worked hard for the last six months (and furiously for the last two weeks) to put together the complicated logistics for today’s move. Though much of their work was behind the scenes, what you saw and experienced today couldn’t have happened without their efforts.

In addition, I want to thank my colleagues of the Glen Mar Church staff. Without exception, they have worked themselves literally to the point of exhaustion (and sometimes sickness) for endless weeks trying to prepare for our move under trying circumstances and shifting dates. I trust you know this, but I just want to affirm publicly that God has been honored, and you have been well served, by the members of your church staff.

And, lastly, I want to thank you, the members and friends of Glen Mar Church. Nothing that occurred today would have been possible without your presence, your prayers, your gifts, and your service. Your support through this long (8-year) process has sustained me through many dark nights. And the promise of what lies ahead for us together fills me with energy and enthusiasm for this next year.

As I said this morning during the Service of Leave Taking, “God is good all the time; but God has been extraordinarily good to Glen Mar Church.” What a great time to be part of Glen Mar! To God be the glory; great things God has done.

See you in church!

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