Dear Peacemakers,
“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord“ (Psalm 122) Going to the house of the Lord means traveling to a different place this Sunday! YES, WE ARE MOVING! We had an open session meeting last Sunday morning and invited everyone present to participate in a discussion about this exciting possibility. The Peace Session and Admin Team have been involved all week in negotiating a great deal for Peace’s future.
For more than a year, we have searched for a ministry outpost for Peace to use all week. Thanks be to God, we now have it! We will have access to the 300-seat auditorium on Sunday mornings from 8 am until 2 pm free of charge while we lease 2500 square feet of attached office/ministry space. We are committing to three years for the nine-room suite, at a flat rate for more than we would be paying for the college. So we will need all of you to do what you can these next years to support our new mission to reach out, grow strong, and send our congregation out beyond the confines of SCF (MCC) to a more visible and hospitable venue.
What new opportunities for ministry will be ours at a central location during the week? Youth activities, music groups, after school ministry, support groups, movie nights, counseling, ministry team meetings! The rooms are not large, but they will be ours 24/7! We will still have some set up for worship, but this Sunday should be our last trailer unloading/loading, as next week we can move into the building when all legal lease documents are signed. Thank you, Jesus!
Peace’s new home is in the Manatee Association of Realtors Conference Center at the corner of Lakewood Ranch Blvd and Technology Terrace. It is one mile north of Lakewood Ranch High School and one mile south of Crowders Ace Hardware. We expect to be able to put a large sign on the north face of the building, but this Sunday look for our small Peace signs.
This Sunday we will have worship only – starting with a celebration of singing at 9:30 to allow the lost to find us before the full service begins at 9:45. In addition to on-site greeters, we would like to have a volunteer or two to go to SCF from 9:00-9:35 to bring any guests who might show up there. After worship and fellowship, we will tour the space and imagine the possibilities of our new home.
Moving is stressful, whether moving out of a personal home or moving to new church house. I am excited and a little nervous. But hearing the enthusiasm of the congregation, session, staff, and Admin team this week has reassured me of the wisdom of this move, as I hope it does you. Write back with any questions, concerns, or joys. May the Holy Spirit continue to carry us into the future!
Hope to see you Sunday at Peace, 10920 Technology Terrace on a corner of Lakewood Ranch Blvd near Central Park. 34211.
See attached images.
Joyfully yours,
Pastor Elizabeth
Attachments:
New Home for Peace!.pdf
