FBC - Final Worship Service on Main Street

Our final worship service at the old sanctuary was a very special day. They had done video interviews during the week -- first Bro. Grady Chapman giving the history of the church with pictures of old sanctuary's, etc; then Doug & Glenda Curry telling about their time here, again with old pictures of pastors and staff and of their family as they grew during the years, etc; then one of our newest young families (Andrew, Amy & Zachary Mashburn) holding their baby and told how much they loved the church -- all did great! We sang a song between each video (the first was, I Can Only Imagine) so I was in tears the whole service. Amy Douglas and Marlynne Finch brought a special presentation for us. Then Jeff preached a very timely message from Joshua about when the people left the wilderness and crossed over into the Promise Land -- the things they left behind and the things they took with them and applied it to us; we had numerous folks in the altar at invitation time and had a family of 5 join; an older couple join, and a 20's age girl join. After the offertory, there was a great skit by Bob Minnick and Jeff -- about Bob "taking his pew!"

The neatest thing though was the way they closed it out. They had an older couple (Lloyd & Sondra McJunkin); a middle aged couple (David & Becky Packer); a young married woman (Mandy James), one of our younger girls (Hayley Lord) and then a 3 yr. old (Nathan carried by his father, David Anthony) walk forward with candles in their hands and light their candle from the candelabra that was on stage (that was burning all thru the service--representing the church as the light of the world). Each one went up and lit their candle and then exited the sanctuary and then they showed on the big screen them entering our new sanctuary and lighting the same candelabra there (which Brad Voigt had excellently videotaped last week in the same clothes they had on Sunday). It was very touching. Then the staff went up on stage and blew out each of the candles and then we followed them out. Good stuff.......!! Still gives me goosebumps. You will see the candelabra in the pictures of the new sactuary tomorrow, carrying the theme on from last week.

Sunday night, instead of having our Home Groups, we had a moving party!! It was incredible to see over 120 people, pick-ups, trailers, etc., and all the activity that went on. You all are the best!! Thank you for your hard work!

I wish I had taken pictures of the entire day, but didn't even think to do so :-(

However, it was a very memorable day!

Toni Grmela sent me these pics of Sunday night, moving and setting up after I posted this originally. Thanks, Toni!