Pastor Andy Lunt and the cross before leaving the Glen Mar site.

The procession also included drums and a bagpipe. Below are some more photos from the procession.

Pastor John Nupp outside the Spirit Center doors looking happy. (Or was it relieved?)

Here is the cross waiting to lead off the procession.

 
The cornerstone from the original church is removed and was part of the procession to the new site.

 
The procession down Route 104 was lead by the cross and followed by this banner.

Another shot of the procession. It is said that we had 300 people in the procession!

The cross is being put in a stand at the new site until it is mounted to the wall.

Praise God!

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!

Now, I’m grateful for the honor and blessing of sharing with you our move to the new site on New Cut Road this Sunday, July 13. While I regret that some will be, unavoidably out of town and unable to participate, I’m looking forward to joining with many in this historic occasion.

Remember, we will gather for a single brief service of leave-taking at our current site beginning at 9:15 am. Following conclusion of the service, all who want to walk to the new site will assemble on the upper parking lot in preparation for the walk.

At exactly 10:00 am, the walk will begin. Our plan is to be led by the cross, carried by 8 persons at a time, with individuals stepping in to relieve others along the way so everyone who wants to will have a chance to carry the cross. We will also be carrying hymnals, paraments, candles, and other elements that we use for worship. Our procession will be led by a bagpiper. After all walkers and drivers have arrived at the New Cut Road site, we will have a service of celebration in the Spirit Center. This service will begin at 11:00 am. Refreshments will be available prior to the service time. Because of the central role youth play in the Glen Mar congregation, and because ministries with youth and children have been such a high priority in our decision to relocate, I have asked a team of individuals representing our youth ministry to deliver the first sermon in the Spirit Center.

There are several options for parking. You may want to drop other family members off at the Glen Mar Road site, then drive to New Cut and park, taking the shuttle back for the 9:15 Service of Leave Taking. Or, you can leave your car at Glen Mar Road and take the shuttle back there following conclusion of the 11:00 service.

Please be aware that–as exciting as it will be to worship in the Spirit Center for the first time–the building is not yet fully ready. Over the coming weeks the work of finishing and furnishing will continue as we prepare for our grand opening on Sunday, September 7. It will be a bit like the first night in a new house with just a mattress and card table, while still waiting for the rest of the furniture to arrive, curtains to be hung and pictures put on the wall. Nevertheless, it will be a great joy, after all the years of praying and preparing to be able to worship in the Spirit Center.

I know you will want to be part of this day of celebration. So that you will have all the details regarding timing and logistics of the walk-especially information about parking and transportation-today I mailed a first-class letter with this same information and I’ve enclosed with the letter a detailed description of logistics for Sunday prepared by members of our Transition Team. Please call the church office or email me with any questions.

See you in church!

Starting on the 20th, we will start our new schedule of worship for the New Cut Road site.  Check out the home page (www.glenmarumc.org) for more details.

I have delayed sending out this week’s Pastor’s Ponderings hoping to have more definite information to share. That has not happened, however.

So, rather than risk announcing new dates that may have to be changed once again, we will wait for more definite information before announcing a new schedule. Once that information is available, we will announce a new schedule on the Glen Mar web site, in a special Pastor’s Ponderings email, with a first-class mailing to every home, and-of course-in worship.

It is our hope that a schedule can be announced this next week.

For now, we do know the following:

a. Worship services will continue to be held at the current site and current times through at least July 6.

b. The previously announced new worship times will take effect after the move to the new site.

c. The July 4 Church Picnic will be held as planned at the new site. This event is open to all, church members and community.

d. Because of the uncertainty, we have decided to hold Vacation Bible School and the first three weeks of Summer Camps at the current Glen Mar Road site.

At this point, the most important thing any of us can be doing is praying. I encourage you to pray for timely completion of the final construction details, and successful inspections that will enable us to have occupancy of the new building. Equally importantly, though, I hope you will continue to pray for the ministries our new facility will support and–especially–the many people who will come to know God’s love through Jesus as we grow in our ability to be part of God’s mission in the world.

On another–though related–issue, it appears that my beard is not in jeopardy at this point. Currently, pledges to the Capital Campaign stand at somewhere between $2.0 and $2.1 million…which is a long way from $3 million. Nearly 100 families have still not made commitments, however, so we expect this amount to grow. If you are among those who haven’t yet sent in your commitment, I hope you’ll make it a priority this week.

See you in church!

So much has happened since many of you joined in the celebration brunch and tours at the new building and wondered aloud if it could really be ready in time. This week the last of the floor surfaces are being installed–including the floor in The Spirit Center that must “cure” for 10 days. By next week, the only things left to do will be carpeting the upper narthex (The Gathering Place), finishing up odds and ends and cleaning up. We anticipate having occupancy of the building the week of June 23.

This will give us only about 10 days to move in before the first worship services on July 6, so some things might not be fully in place. We are convinced, however, that we can be sufficiently ready for worship and have decided to move ahead with the previously announced schedule. This also means that Vacation Bible School will be held at the new site, beginning on July 7.

So, buckle your seat belts and prepare for takeoff! We really are going to move. This weekend, if you’re in worship, you’ll receive more detailed information about the plans for June 29 when we’ll participate in a ritual of leave-taking at each service. Following conclusion of the 10:55 service, those who wish can walk–led by the cross–to our new site. Once there, we will have a brief order consecrating the cross in its new location. You’ll be receiving details about shuttle transportation between the two sites and other aspects of the walk.

This Sunday in worship, I’ll be preaching on “Just Doing Our Job,” reflecting on Jesus’ instructions to those who follow him and seeking to help keep our attention focused on the main thing in the midst of all the excitement and stress surrounding our move.

Lower Level Floor Plan

Main Level Floor Plan