March 21 Church Conference Report

On Sunday, March 21, 2004 following worship, the Preliminary Master Building Plan proposal designed to address our 73-year-old deteriorating building and space problems was presented to Gary's Church community-at-large. Simplified, the motion had three components: 1) Accept the general concept of the Preliminary Master Plan, 2) Proceed with a fund raising campaign to determine our congregational commitment and 3) Begin funding necessary drawings for building systems.

The written ballot revealed 247 yes's and 17 no's. Truth is, I consider them to be qualified "yes's" and qualified "no's." We lift banners of caution together --- about size, cost, spaces, building values, what will this mean for us? Together, we have miles to go in scrutinizing and hammering out hard details. Yet, through the Focus Group Meetings, Church Council meeting (with 100+ present), and the Church Conference there has been resounding support.

In Luke 14:28 Jesus admonishes, "Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" Jesus said that. We must listen. For that is now where we find ourselves.

All of this is to report, we're moving ahead! Hard dreaming now begins. We'll all be pressed -- at the heart and in the purse to define our values, what it is in our lives that is really our "ultimate concern." I, as pastor, with my wife Beth, have already committed our pledge to what's being called "Cornerstone of Faith". The reasons for that title will emerge soon enough. Dare I say, I can't imagine embarking on a journey such as this with a band of believers other than those at Gary Church.

On April 18, 5:00 PM our "Cornerstone of Faith" gratis dinner kick-off event will be held at The Hilton down on Warrenville Road. All are invited. It won't be a long event. But it will be filled with some information you'll want to receive first-hand. 

As we move ahead we must be confident that God is in the lead. In the event Jesus should return prior to April 18, the whole thing is off and we'll meet up in Heaven --I hope-- around what I imagine to be one very big table, with the saints of our lives we've been longing to see. Otherwise, we'll be at The Hilton.

E. Taveirne