Exciting things are happening with our new building! The Demolition began a week ago and by Monday all of the walls in the lobby were down. I can already picture people hanging out in that space having coffee, getting information, making life changing connections!
This week construction begins! We are at 62 days till Easter and counting…..please continue to pray for Columbia (construction company) and all of the subcontractors to work effiently and effectively together.
Here are a few more Updates:
1. Josh Blumenshine jsblumenshine@yahoo.com is working on putting together a “sweat equity” team to do wallpaper stripping, cleaning, Café wood flooring installation and some HVAC ductwork insulation etc saving about $25,000! If you would like to volunteer, please contact Josh.
2. Jon-Mark jmmclaughlin@fhperry.com is working with our Youth Staff, Isaac Milton to take down a few walls and fix up the Youth Space. If you would like to help with the Youth Space, please contact Jon-Mark.
3. Brooke Sulahian bssulahian@gmail.com has been soliciting donated items for Kidstown. If you have stuff you would like to donate, please contact Brooke.
4. The big sign on 93 and the street sign on West St. are being repaired and fabricated…..hopefully up by the end of Feb/first of March.
5. Chairs and carpet have been ordered (I got them to send one demo which some of you have seen). Everyone seems to really like the look and feel of the chair.
Miracles: As I have mentioned, I am keeping list of “miracles” (everything God does is really a miracle but I am keeping some of the most extraordinary!) One of these was the sell of the curtains/chandeliers….remember those? Tim was great to get them up on Craig’s List but after numerous interactions/snowed out appointments from buyers wanting to separate the items, I pursued an auctioneer that Robin the former owner put me in touch with. He connected me to a function hall owner who came and bought all of the drapes and lights for $5000! We saved money by not having to take them down ourselves and they were out of the building one day before the demo began…..wow.
A few other items on the miracle list:
1. We have received a number of donated items including a sofa, love seat, pool table for the Youth Space and some excellent condition kitchen appliances (stove, microwave, dishwasher).! If you have Youth Space items (ping pong table, video game set up, sports equipment, sound system) , office desks, rocking chairs or kitchen appliances, please contact Richard Rhodes richard@grace.org
2. We learned from the Elevator company that our elevator will pass inspection!
Well I hope this note encourages you and helps you to feel caught up!
May God continue to bless His work.
Richard
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wilmington Campus Gathering - Feb. 27
We would like to welcome all of you to join us on Sunday Feb. 27 at 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall. This will be an opportunity for you to get caught up on the latest information about the Wilmington campus. We will have a brief (20 minute) presentation from campus pastor Tom VanAntwerp and other ministry leaders. The presentation will include:
-Building update
-Staffing update
-Vision for the campus in Wilmington
-Information on Kidstown, Fusion, and Gravity
-Service opportunities
After the presentation, there will be light refreshments and an chance to meet ministry leaders in the lobby. If you are looking for ways to use your gifts at the new campus, this will be a great time to meet other volunteers and connect with ministries.
We look forward to seeing all of you on the 27th!
-Isaac Milton
Wilmington Campus Director of Youth Ministry
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sunday's Boston Globe Article
This past sunday, there was an article in the Boston Globe about the campus in Wilmington. Here's the link: Boston Globe Article
Thursday, February 3, 2011
We're on Google!
Want to find us? Google "Grace Chapel Wilmington MA" and you'll see that we're now a marker on their map!! Pretty cool, huh?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
And this is my prayer
Philippians 1
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
Philippians 1:1-11 was part of my devotional on Monday morning and I thought it was so neat because it is all about intercessory prayer!
Here are a couple of things that I took away from the passage:
1) The sense of intimacy that Paul and Timothy feel towards the church at Philippi. The people are in the apostles’ hearts, Paul and Timothy long for the church with Christ-like affection. They remember the people of the church often, praying for growth in love, discernment, and righteousness, for the glory of God.
2) The common ground or unified purpose and vision that Paul and Timothy share with the church. Together, they are partners in Christ, following Christ’s leading daily as He continues to work towards completing His purposes in their lives.
Ways you can be praying:
- Pray continually for details regarding the construction project including décor decisions, coordination and work of the construction company, permit process, sign installation, etc.
- Pray for collaborative work between Grace Chapel Staff, Wilmington volunteers, and our pastors. May we make unified choices as one church, multiple campuses.
- Pray for volunteers to respond to God’s prompting to serve at the new campus.
- Pray for our leaders, that they may remain rooted in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit to discern God’s will and love one another.
Praying with you,
Kirsten McLaughlin
p.s. If you are interested in being a member of the prayer team for the New Campus, please contact Kirsten McLaughlin, jdashkmclaughlin@gmail.com to learn about upcoming prayer meetings and ways that you can serve.
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
Philippians 1:1-11 was part of my devotional on Monday morning and I thought it was so neat because it is all about intercessory prayer!
Here are a couple of things that I took away from the passage:
1) The sense of intimacy that Paul and Timothy feel towards the church at Philippi. The people are in the apostles’ hearts, Paul and Timothy long for the church with Christ-like affection. They remember the people of the church often, praying for growth in love, discernment, and righteousness, for the glory of God.
2) The common ground or unified purpose and vision that Paul and Timothy share with the church. Together, they are partners in Christ, following Christ’s leading daily as He continues to work towards completing His purposes in their lives.
Ways you can be praying:
- Pray continually for details regarding the construction project including décor decisions, coordination and work of the construction company, permit process, sign installation, etc.
- Pray for collaborative work between Grace Chapel Staff, Wilmington volunteers, and our pastors. May we make unified choices as one church, multiple campuses.
- Pray for volunteers to respond to God’s prompting to serve at the new campus.
- Pray for our leaders, that they may remain rooted in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit to discern God’s will and love one another.
Praying with you,
Kirsten McLaughlin
p.s. If you are interested in being a member of the prayer team for the New Campus, please contact Kirsten McLaughlin, jdashkmclaughlin@gmail.com to learn about upcoming prayer meetings and ways that you can serve.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Second Chance to Meet the Youth Director
Parents,
We had a great dessert night on Monday night at Bret and Corri Ogburn's home. I was great to meet other parents and youth workers who will be at the new campus. If you missed the opportunity on Monday, we will be meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 20th at:
Kurt and Sharon Drescher
33 Woodland Street
Reading, MA 01867
7:00-900pm
Please let me know if you will be attending.
-Isaac Milton
imilton@grace.org
We had a great dessert night on Monday night at Bret and Corri Ogburn's home. I was great to meet other parents and youth workers who will be at the new campus. If you missed the opportunity on Monday, we will be meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 20th at:
Kurt and Sharon Drescher
33 Woodland Street
Reading, MA 01867
7:00-900pm
Please let me know if you will be attending.
-Isaac Milton
imilton@grace.org
Monday, January 10, 2011
Prayer Team Update
Matthew 6:10-14 "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Today I am struck by the theme of “forgiveness” within this prayer, as it is used 6 times throughout the passage. Forgiveness seems to be reiterated over and over as if to emphasize its central importance in shaping our behavior and character as followers of Christ. As sinful people, we have the tendency to offend, act selfishly, and become irritated by the actions of others. Honestly, this is likely to happen in the months ahead as Satan attempts to bring temptation upon us as a congregation. Let us hold strongly to this scripture, forgiving one another in all circumstances, with the mind of Christ.
May God be glorified and honored as we communicate with Him about the desires of our heart and may our vision become so influenced by Him that we move forward in His wisdom and with His eternal perspective.
The following are some relevant ways in which you can begin to pray:
• That God would touch each person who is working on this project (town officials, architect, construction company, workers, etc)
• Pray that God gives us wisdom as to how to prioritize our limited building budget and that He multiplies the funds
• Pray for work to be accomplished in our tight time frame so that we can open Easter ‘11
• Pray for the Building Team as they research give input to the design and outfitting of the building
• Pray for the coordination and gift of workers donated time/expertise and “sweat equity”
• Pray for the ongoing interview process and identification of ministry leaders for the new campus
• Pray for the youth that will be joining the new campus, leaving a solid core group in Lexington to step out in leadership at a very vulnerable time in their lives. May they be empowered by the Holy Spirit to unite as a group and share a passion to actively participate and shape the new youth ministry.
• Pray that the Lord will shape a mission-minded congregation with an outward focus to serve others in our local communities.
• Pray for our neighbors in Wilmington and the surrounding towns – that God would be actively at work in their lives and that their hearts would be receptive and open to Him.
• Pray for humility, open hands, and surrendering of ideas to the will of God. May our visions and plans not distract us from what God finds most important-reaching others for His Kingdom.
Thank you for your prayers!
Kirsten
p.s. If you are interested in being a member of the prayer team for the New Campus, please contact Kirsten McLaughlin, jdashkmclaughlin@gmail.com to learn about upcoming prayer meetings and ways that you can serve.
Today I am struck by the theme of “forgiveness” within this prayer, as it is used 6 times throughout the passage. Forgiveness seems to be reiterated over and over as if to emphasize its central importance in shaping our behavior and character as followers of Christ. As sinful people, we have the tendency to offend, act selfishly, and become irritated by the actions of others. Honestly, this is likely to happen in the months ahead as Satan attempts to bring temptation upon us as a congregation. Let us hold strongly to this scripture, forgiving one another in all circumstances, with the mind of Christ.
May God be glorified and honored as we communicate with Him about the desires of our heart and may our vision become so influenced by Him that we move forward in His wisdom and with His eternal perspective.
The following are some relevant ways in which you can begin to pray:
• That God would touch each person who is working on this project (town officials, architect, construction company, workers, etc)
• Pray that God gives us wisdom as to how to prioritize our limited building budget and that He multiplies the funds
• Pray for work to be accomplished in our tight time frame so that we can open Easter ‘11
• Pray for the Building Team as they research give input to the design and outfitting of the building
• Pray for the coordination and gift of workers donated time/expertise and “sweat equity”
• Pray for the ongoing interview process and identification of ministry leaders for the new campus
• Pray for the youth that will be joining the new campus, leaving a solid core group in Lexington to step out in leadership at a very vulnerable time in their lives. May they be empowered by the Holy Spirit to unite as a group and share a passion to actively participate and shape the new youth ministry.
• Pray that the Lord will shape a mission-minded congregation with an outward focus to serve others in our local communities.
• Pray for our neighbors in Wilmington and the surrounding towns – that God would be actively at work in their lives and that their hearts would be receptive and open to Him.
• Pray for humility, open hands, and surrendering of ideas to the will of God. May our visions and plans not distract us from what God finds most important-reaching others for His Kingdom.
Thank you for your prayers!
Kirsten
p.s. If you are interested in being a member of the prayer team for the New Campus, please contact Kirsten McLaughlin, jdashkmclaughlin@gmail.com to learn about upcoming prayer meetings and ways that you can serve.
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