Creative Uses of the Cross

Throughout the new building we have used the symbol of the cross creatively reminding all who come to the church both in obvious and subtle ways that we serve the God of the cross. When the building is complete I want to count the various expressions of the cross in the architecture. Even the window grills reflect the cross throughout the building. You can see it in the picture below of the entry windows in the lobby that were just recently installed. You can also check it out in the windows of the worship center.

Portable Baptistry Woes

Well we are getting a portable baptistry for the new church. There are a lot of plusses to a portable system. Obviously the biggest one is flexibility. We could utilize it throughout the church (ie a special youth baptism service in the youth wing), we can use it in multiple locations in the worship center, and could even take it off site for church picnics etc. The problem is there are just not a whole lot of good options out there. I'm surprised no one has come up with a good system. We even checked with a local pool and spa place to see if they would custom build something for us. Nothing. I have a clear favorite out of the three choices below but am open to any votes you may have!

Driveways and Parking Lots and Sidewalks, oh my!

As sad as it may sound, one of the things I'm most excited about on Grubb Road is the parking. It has been such a problem here at our 38th Street building for so long - that it seems like one of the great blessings of the move! No more parking for miles lined up along side the roads, no more neighbors complaining about Grace people parking too close to their grass, no more trying to coordinate snowplowing to go around all the cars lining the roadways. Ample parking is a beautiful thing.

The whole issue of surfaces on the driveways and parking lots has been under discussion since this project began. We have gone round and round about whether to blacktop the whole area, whether to leave it gravel, or some other option. We have decided to blacktop all the driveway surfaces and put a different finish on the parking lots. It is called "tar and chip" but it is not what you're imagining right now when you think about that term. If you drive on the Whispering Woods Golf Course driveway that goes through our property you will be driving on the surface that we will have in our parking lots. It's going to be very cool and it's scheduled to go down sometime around September 16th. It's going to make getting around the new site that much easier. Hurray for parking lots!