Growing Together

March 21st Update!

2009-03-21T21:33:00.001-07:00

SPRINGTIME
It is springtime and new life is springing up all around! Join us for a special service in the morning as we baptize Joy Huddleston and celebrate with her about the new thing God is doing in her life.

PRAYER AND FASTING
Thank you for the spiritual investments you are making through our 40 days of prayer and fasting. If you have been in service with us this month, you have witnessed the very special presence of God. When we search for God, He responds. What an amazing opportunity we are afforded each time we gather with the church family for worship!

BUILDING IMPROVEMENT UPDATE

EXTERIOR
Parking Lot - Additional parking will soon be available on the east side of the church. The remaining section of parking lot should be completed this coming week.
Landscaping - Having the the parking lot completed will allow us to start on the landscaping projects and sow grass. We will be completing a small retaining wall to protect the large evergreen next to the parking lot. We'll let you know what evening we can start the work. If you enjoy "yard work" and the fresh air, this will be your time to shine. :)

INTERIOR
Red Room - Things are beginning to look like "home" inside also. Be sure to stop in the red room to see the new magnet boards, and glass dry erase boards.
Wall Art - Also, you won't want to miss the new wall sayings and graphics in the Family Restroom, Family Lounge, and Ladies' Restroom.
Entry - We now have comfortable benches for you to rest on in our entry and we hope to have the donor tree, as well as some signage and photographs on display in the next few weeks.
Auditorium - Our lighting/speaker trusses have been ordered and are scheduled for delivery this week. It will be wonderful to have our speakers "flying" and our projector mounted as well. In the coming months, we will be adding two additional projectors; one that will project on the other right side of the front wall, as well as one that will serve the praise and worship team and be projected to the rear auditorium wall. We will also add fix mounted screened frames so that the projectors aimed at the front will project images and lyrics more brightly.

BROTHER JACKSON
We received news that Brother Tom Jackson is now home from the hospital and doing well. We are grateful that things have gone so well for him. Thank you for your continued prayers for him as he regains his strength and heals from surgery.

GRAND OPENING/DEDICATION WEEKEND UPDATE
Please be watching for flyers in the mail regarding the details of our Grand Opening/Dedication weekend. We will have extra available for you to pick up in the morning to distribute to any family and friends you would like to invite. This is going to be a landmark weekend for our church family and we cannot wait to celebrate together. Details about the events of the weekend are included on the flyer. We will also be sending email updates as well, so be watching for those as well. Special thanks to all those who have volunteered to help. It will take a small army to complete preparations.

MEN'S BREAKFAST UPDATE
If you missed the men's breakfast this morning, you missed a spread! A very special thanks to Brother Cagle for ministering to our men.

MISSOURI YOUTH CONVENTION - APRIL 8-10TH
If you are a young person that is planning to attend youth convention, we need your RSVP right away. The cost to attend youth convention is $175. This cost includes travel, hotel, breakfast, dinner, registration, and the lock-in fee. You will need to bring money for lunch out each day and for any souvenirs you wish to purchase. If you would like to sponsor a youth who might not have adequate funds to attend, please see Pastor Lesh.

SUMMER TIME BIBLE STORY ADVENTURE
We are so excited to share about our "Summertime Bible Story Adventure" series coming this summer! Our Youth Sponsors and parents will be involved in a really special series of Friday night events to literally "bring Old and New Testament stories alive" for our youth and children through drama, movies, and creative object lessons. We hope to be able to do much of this out-of-doors. (Think "movie theater" on the parking lot!) If you are looking for something meaningful to do on Friday evenings, I cannot think of anything more fun. Young and old will enjoy these evenings. If you would like to help teach some bible basics to our youth in a fun and creative way, please see Pastor Lesh.

NEW CHURCH INVITE CARDS!

Our new church business cards are in! They are plastic, so they won’t tear, wrinkle, smudge, or be water damaged! They have our service times, address, web address and even a map on the back! Feel free to grab a stack to take with you! Be sure to distribute them!

KITCHEN SHOWER!

Don’t forget about our kitchen shower! You are welcome to bring your gift to any service. See Kris Harrell for details!

M.O.D.E.L.

Our next meeting will be THIS Monday, March 23rd!

FAMILY BIKE RIDE

Saturday, April 4th— Katy Trail. See Andy or Tina Grace for details!

EASTER PICTURE

On Easter Sunday, we will be taking a group photo of our whole church, so please don’t leave that day until the photo is taken!

INFANT CARE CENTER APPLICATIONS

We are needing two or three more volunteers for the Infant Care Center to complete a very light schedule for providing care for our infants. Please see Tina Grace for details!

WORK DAY

A huge thank you to all those who were able to help us several week nights and on Saturday this week! We appreciate your every effort to help us care for this place God has blessed us with! We'll be doing some landscaping next week, so if you have a green thumb, we will need you!

We cannot wait to worship with you in the morning!!

We Are In!

2009-03-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

On the first Sunday in February, we held our first service in our new facility! We love being in our new home. Up Next? Working like mad to get things in order, furnished and completed in preparation of our Grand Opening/Dedication weekend to be held Friday, April 17th through Sunday, April 19th. If you are in the St. Louis area, we would love for you to come out and share this celebration with us! If you are not in the area, we would still love for you to come! We can recommend a great hotel right around the corner. Contact us for details!

For more information on our Grand Opening, click here!

January Expansion Images!

2009-01-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

BUILDING PROGRESS

A lot has been done since the last time we posted images. We're nearly finished! (still have to landscape as the weather permits, signage, etc.)

Currently working on: carpet, touch-up painting after drywall touch-ups, mirrors & shelving, window blinds, interior signage & decor, parking lot lighting, and still trying to finish the sewer project.

After posting these, I realize that we didn't have a good image of the entry chandelier. Here is the stock photo..it's beautiful..about 2 feet wide and 18" tall..I believe.

To say we are chomping at the bits to get moved into this building is an understatement. We have been out of chairs the last two Sundays..we need to be in our new space so badly. Your prayers for us are greatly appreciated! Click here to view the complete set. Hope you enjoy these!

SCRIPTURE AND PRAYERS

We also uploaded some images of the favorite scriptures and prayers of CHOSEN and church members. They were written on the concrete foundation and on the platform and altar area before the carpet was laid. Take a few moments to read them..you will be blessed!

Pictures taken Sunday!

2008-11-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures taken Sunday morning. Will post updated ones asap!

We're getting there!!

2008-10-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

Exterior Progress: The majority of the brick is finished, the dryvit is now is now being applied, and the parking lot is being poured(sidewalks too)! Once the dryvit is finished, the stone and remaining brick can be applied.

Interior Progress: The drywall has all been hung and they are taping and mudding. It should be ready for paint soon!

Check back soon for new interior images.

Brick!

2008-10-02T01:25:00.001-07:00

Exterior Update: The brick was started today and the crew should be finished tomorrow sometime! Next up? Soffit and gutters, dryvit, and then the stone.

Interior Update: Recessed lighting fixtures were installed in the auditorium. Next up? Miscellaneous electrical work and then drywall.

Here are some pictures of the progress made today! You can view the complete set here.

Check back soon for updates and more photos!

Much done..much to come this week!

2008-09-28T01:16:00.001-07:00

It has been a busy month on the church project. Roughed-in plumbing was completed, heating and cooling ducts were run, and the roughed-in electrical work was completed. Also the angled walls, media booth, and platform were built, as well as the cathedral ceiling. Please go check out the complete image set on Flickr!

Roof decking!

2008-08-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

The crew has nearly all the decking on the roof..it is looking like a building now! Captain Jackson flew over and took some more great aerials for us too. We've added a few here, but you can click on this link to view the whole set.

Tower roof and trusses set today!

2008-08-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

If you visited the new church site this weekend, you will want to come again soon! The construction crew set the tower roof and trusses today with the help of a large crane! Exciting to watch.

Here are a few photos. You can click here for the complete set.

The tower

2008-08-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Most of the trusses have been delivered and we hope they will be able to put them up this coming Monday! The builders have been busy on the top of the tower..pretty intricate but it's going to add some character to the building.

This is the top of the tower that will put in place by a crane.

It will be attached to the top of this tower.

Exterior Walls Raised!

2008-08-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken from the west(road) side of the building. A crane help set the extremely heavy walls. The smaller section of the South wall measured approsimately 4,600 pounds, so with both sections combined on the South wall, the total weight is probably around 10,000 pounds. It is amazing to see it actually physically built.

Walls are going up!

2008-08-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

Here's a smattering of photos taken on Tuesday and Wednesday. You can actually see how big the auditorium is going to be now..exciting!

Captain Jackson flies again!

2008-08-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

Slab and some walls!

2008-08-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures of the slab that we promised and there are now walls being built!

Parsonage is now ready for occupants!

2008-07-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

In other news, the parsonage is complete enough for us to move in, so we'll be moving this weekend! (we'll post updated pictures asap)The inspectors came this morning and gave us a final permit. We were hoping for a temporary but were granted the final permit. We have to finish minimal siding, fascia, and gutter work on the back and left side of the house, but the front and right side really look great. We also have some painting to do, landscaping, and a few other things to do as well. Painting the interior doors and a few touch ups here and there are all that remain on the interior. This house has made a transformation. When things are a bit more settled, we will plan an open house so that everyone can come through and see it.

Special thanks to all those who volunteered their time, sweat, and energy on the parsonage remodeling. (Larry and Diana Dunlap, Bruce Worzel, Scot and Alex Hudgens, Steve Dunlap, Michelle West-Davis, Wes Dunlap, and Billy Babb.) Many of you have worked over there day after day and we appreciate it so very much. Thank you!

Update!

2008-07-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

The rough-in plumbing is now complete for the church building! (courtesy of Jeff Silverberg, pictured left)

The slab was also poured yesterday! I will try to get pictures this evening to upload. For now, here are pictures of the gravel that was laid. It functions as a base for the concrete slab.

Aerial Views!

2008-07-10T17:08:00.001-07:00

Our very own Brother David Jackson (pilot) did a flyover and took some pictures of the church property! It is so great to have aerial images of it all! Look at that!
From the entrance of Crimson Oaks Subdivision.

This is a view of the flooded properties close to the river...I'm guessing.

His Piper!

View from the South side of the property!

View from the west.
View from North side of property
Flying over Crimson Oaks subdivision

Video Coverage!

2008-07-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

Video Greeting by Pastor Lesh

Additional Video

Foundation Walls!

2008-07-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

Additional Images! Updated at 3:22 p.m.

They are pouring three of the four foundation walls today.

Much is happening over at Duello Road today! Workers have been putting up concrete forms for the walls this morning and I just received this photo from Pastor Lesh, so I'm assuming they are getting ready to start pouring the walls! If you haven't been over there in a while, you need to go check it out. (The photo was taken from the center/north side of the property.)

Footings are poured!!

2008-07-04T01:45:00.000-07:00

We did get the basic footings poured! Pray for it to dry up next week so the concrete workers can finish our foundation.

Lights, Camera, Action!

2008-06-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

There is some digging going on! "Digger Dave" (of Country Mile Excavation), as he is affectionately known, has arrived and is busy digging up dirt for our foundation! (See previous posts for parsonage update.)

Status Update, Week of June 1, 2008

2008-06-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Progress for Week One (June 1, 2008)
Site Engineer staked out building on property.
Call was made to Missouri One Call for stakes to identify existing utilities.
Meetings with subcontractors on details to begin project.
Meeting with Engineer to determine equipment to be used for soil compaction.
Bottom Line: Lots of construction prep work was completed and there are tiny flags all over the property!

Utility Flag

More flags!

Champion Bank's recently added signage
Check back for before and after pictures of the parsonage!

Parsonage Remodeling

2008-06-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, we've been busy remodeling the church parsonage for quite a few months now. It has made some transformation! We'll be posting more pictures later, but here is a before and nearing the finish shot for you to see.

BEFORE (panoramic paste job)

AFTER (still need gutters, fascia, soffit, shutters and the eventual stone, landscaping, etc.)

Come along for our Growing Together blog journey!

2008-06-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Check back soon for Growing Together updates with pictures and videos!