Dear Cornerstone family,
Last week, you, the congregation, overwhelmingly approved the session’s unanimous recommendation to pursue the purchase of 203 3rd Avenue South, the gray two-story antebellum home cattycorner to the chapel. This past week we informed the current owner of your approval. As particulars regarding the closing date are firmed up, we will let you know.
In addition to the property across the street, the plans for slight changes to the chapel and renovations of the 1st and 3rd floor continue to move forward. Several meetings with the architect and various teams happened this past week. If all the various approvals from the city come through and the crews and materials can all be lined up, the plan would be to begin and finish the renovation over the course of the summer.
Now, you’ve probably heard the old Woody Allen line, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” That’s doubly true when talking about construction timelines! Thankfully, our owner’s representative, The Riverstone Group, has done a fabulous job ordering and directing the process thus far. That said, we still have a number of ducks to get in a row (ducks don’t queue easily!) before we get a clearer read on the timeline. So, for now, we’re diligently nudging things forward resting in God’s sovereign control every step of the way.
Before I go, a few thoughts on moving through a season of change. First, let’s own the fact that change can be scary. Whenever change is on the horizon, we know a “new normal” is coming down the pike, and life will be topsy turvy for a bit. Whether it’s sending a kid to college, moving cities, entering retirement, the reality is the same––there will be losses and gains, joys and sorrows.
When a community – like a church – moves through a season of change, those same realities are present. Add to that the complexity that people respond differently to change. Some love change, others don’t. In change, some will focus on the gains; others on the losses. People will even disagree on gains and losses. (One person’s gain may be another person’s loss!) This is normal and should be expected.
So, as we move through this season as a congregation, I want to encourage you (as you already are doing) to exercise an extra measure of wisdom and care with your fellow brothers and sisters. Due to space constraints, let me offer just two (brief) instructions.
First, be patient and respectful with those who respond differently than you (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Just because someone doesn’t see or experience a certain change in the way you do, doesn’t mean they are wrong. The goal is not to convince everyone that you’re right and they’re wrong, but to ensure that Christ is honored and that your brother or sister is loved well and built up in the faith (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Second, stay focused on eternal matters in the midst of temporal changes (2 Corinthians 4:18). The physical church building pales in importance to the true and lasting temple of God, the church (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). Therefore, let’s set our mind on things above and commit to relate to one another as if the church and its mission is far more important than its meeting place. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). If we do these things, I have no doubt that we will grow together all the more through this season of change.
Your servant,
