A Great Sunday Afternoon!

What a great day it was this past Sunday at the New Campus Open House! Thanks to all who came and for everyone who pitched in to provide warmth, hospitality, grace and fun! We hosted over 300 throughout the event, and everyone had a chance to see the building that we'll be voting on purchasing on Sunday, November 7.

A few highlights from the day:

• The event was hosted by our New Campus Team - it was the church being the church! Thanks team!
• People who have committed to the New Campus were able to meet one another - some for the first time!
• Many committed and engaged people came to see the building for the first time. It gave them a chance to see how their faithful vision and generosity will contribute to the forwarding of God's kingdom in metro-Boston.
• Cars in the parking lot and bodies in the rooms helped us envision what church would look like here. I had someone tell me that that they drove by on 93 and saw the full lot and prayed for us!
• 8 more people made a commitment to the New Campus - bringing our total now to 108!
• 50 more people indicated that they are considering the New Campus as their church home.

All in all, a very good day!

Don't forget the two upcoming Congregational Meetings after the 11am service on Sunday, October 31 and Sunday, November 7. The first will be for us to hear a full update on the building and to open the floor for discussion and the second will be for members to vote.

For current information, including a power point presentation that details the specifics of the purchase proposal of 128 West St. Wilmington, go to www.grace.org/newcampus

Tom

Join Us On Sunday!

This coming Sunday from 1-3pm, we are hosting an Open House at the 128 West St. property in Wilmington. (the Casa Di Fior property).

Our primary goal is to allow the congregation a chance to see the building before the upcoming vote (Sunday, November 7). A second goal is to give those who might have an interest in being a part of the new campus a chance to meet people who have already decided to worship and serve with us!

If you are able to come and join us, we'd love for you to be there! At the open house, I will be providing an overview of our plans and progress, we will offer site tours throughout the afternoon, and refreshments will be available as well! I encourage you to come to see this exciting place for yourself! (and besides, the Pats game doesn't start until 4:15!)

Expectantly,

Tom

Building Update!

After an extended process of due diligence on the 128 West St. Wilmington site which is nearly completed, we are ready to move forward with the process that will lead towards a congregational vote on the purchase of this property.

This Sunday, October 24 from 1pm-3pm we will be hosting an Open House at the property (128 West St. Wilmington, the former Casa Di Fior) which will include a light reception, informational sessions, and tour of the building. In addition to having many from Grace Chapel come, we would also love to have everyone who has made a commitment to the new campus to join us as well! It will be a wonderful time for you all to meet one another - maybe for the first time!!

In the weeks to follow, we will be holding two Congregational Meetings on two consecutive Sundays at the Grace Chapel sanctuary immediately following the 11am service:

The first will be held on Sunday, October 31 and it will be the Information and Q&A meeting where people can gather information, engage in discussion, and have questions answered about the property and the process.

The second meeting will be held on Sunday, November 7. The purpose of this meeting is for Grace Chapel members to vote on the purchase of this property.

We look forward to seeing many of you at these upcoming events!

Continue to pray for God's leading!

Tom

Youth Director Search is Underway

As we continue to move forward with the New Campus, we will be hiring staff to serve in the areas of Children, Youth, and Worship - with some administrative support as well. Currently, we are in the midst of a search for a full-time Youth Director. We view this position as a critical one in the early stages of our development, since so many people that are joining us have kids who are involved in the decision-making process in their families! The new Youth Director will jump into the current GC Youth Ministry programming for the purpose of cultivating relationships with kids whose families will be transitioning to the new campus. We've received over 70 resumes and have begun to interview some very good candidates. Pray for our search team as we continue this process!

Our First Prayer Meeting!

We had a wonderful time in the cool drizzly parking lot of 128 West St. last night. With about a dozen folks, we lifted the new campus before the Lord and asked for His power and guidance seeking His leading for Grace Chapel, the new campus, the current owners of Casa Di Fior, the people who lived in the surrounding towns that will be reached by the witness of our new campus, and each of us as we begin to form a new and vitally connected congregation.

It really felt like another first. . . the new campus’s first prayer meeting!!

I would ask your continued prayer for three things:

1. For the Grace Chapel Elders - as they continue to provide guidance and oversight of the New Campus process.
2. For our congregation - as it readies for a vote on the potential purchase of the building. Allow people to understand the vision for the new campus and respond favorably to God's leading.
3. For the New Campus leadership - as we begin to work to create a unified congregation from a variety of circles of people who are enthusastic about seeing God do a new work!

In Christ,

Tom

Come and pray with us!

We all know the importance of prayer, and we have A LOT to pray about as we move forward. There are some important meetings and major decisions in the weeks ahead and our hope and confidence is in God's guidance and the power of His Spirit. Join us at the Casa Di Fior parking lot (128 West St., Wilmington) from 5:00-5:30pm on Sunday night, September 26. Feel free to bring your kids if you’d like. This will be a simple and special time for all who can make it!

Open House and Vote Postponed

This Sunday at Grace, we announced that the congregatoinal vote on the purchase of the building in Wilmington has been postponed to a later date. The reason for the change is that we are getting reports back from our due diligence team - some of which require additional follow-up. Because we want to have all the necessary information to give to the congregation so that we can make an informed decision about the property, we're holding off for a bit until we have clarity on these issues.

This does mean that we will postpone the Open House that was scheduled for Sunday as well. We'll soon be letting people know when we will be rescheduling both of these.

In a recent email, Brooke Fowler sent me this encouraging word: "I read my daily devotional and it talked about God providing manna to the Israelites...no one ever had too much or too little. Reminded me that God is in control of all we are doing and He knows the perfect location, timing, etc...we just need to trust and obey."

Let's continue to pray that God brings the manna we need for each new day!