We will build our new church on Cedar Road in Mullica Hill.

With God's blessing and help, groundbreaking will take place in the spring of 2002.

{11/02/01}

Our acreage will quickly change in appearance as excavation of the area takes place, and a farm field is transformed into our building site.

{11/02/01}

Our Site Plan received FINAL APPROVAL from the Harrison Township Planning Board tonight!

{12/06/01}

Groundbreaking -
June 16, 2002

The honor of the first shovel is given to longest-time active member George White and his grand-daughter, symbolizing the generations family attending Trinity.

Ground is broken - Let construction begin! 

{06/16/02}

Pastor Conaway, wife Holly, son Tim and daughter Bethany take a turn
with the shovel.

Stick to preaching, Glenn! 
Leave the hole-digging to the experts!

{06/16/02}

With a prayer, Our land is dedicated
to the new sanctuary.

{06/16/02}

Our congregation watches on...
as dedication of the site takes place.

{06/16/02}

Excavation has begun!

{07/22/02}

Equipment is poised to prepare the site.

{07/22/02}

Finally the dirt starts to move!

{07/22/02}

Our hole in the ground...

{10/20/02}

"Rays Of Hope" shine on our future home.

{10/20/02}

The footings are poured
and the foundation begins to take form.

{12/27/02}

Erection of forms
for the concrete foundation.

{ 01/05/03 }

Foundation walls

{ 01/05/03 }

Foundation walls

{ 01/19/03 }

Pouring more foundation walls

{ 02/02/03 }

Pouring more foundation walls

{ 02/02/03 }

Steel for the structure is delivered

{ 02/23/03 }

Stairwell Construction in progress

{ 03/23/03 }

We Kicked Off the Second Phase
of our Pledge Drive at a Luncheon
for the Membership

{ 03/30/03 }

Adding Foundation - More Forms!

{ 04/20/03 }

Adding More Foundation

{ 04/27/03 }

All the concrete pouring is finished,
and the builder is now starting
the cinder block work
to finish the foundation.

{ 05/18/03 }

The builder has installed all the curbing along Cedar Road and outlining the parking lot.
 

This photo shows the parking lot curbing.

{ 05/25/03 }

Nearly all of the concrete floor has been completed, and the elevator shaft is being constructed.

{ 06/01/03 }

Erection of the  steel framework begins.

{ 06/01/03 }

July 5, 2003

Dear Church Family,

These are exciting times for our congregation as we watch our new church home emerging from the ground and being constructed. Despite all the rain the builder is making wonderful progress and still holds to a September 22, 2003 completion. In order to keep our church family informed of all that will transpire in the next few months this special newsletter comes to you as a way of being able to share information and hopefully answer some questions. While many of us will be taking vacations and weekend getaways, please keep the committees and our building program in your prayers as we seek to share in the ministry and work of Christ.

Building With The Carpenter,
Pastor Glenn

Timetable for the Summer:

• The Builder is expecting to close in the building and start framing inside within the next 4 weeks

• The interior designers have begun construction on the pews (and pew pads), ordered carpet, tile, and sanctuary lights and fixtures.

• The audio/visual needs have been selected and will be working with the builder for wire, cable, camera, and other items that will have wiring run by August.

• At some point in late summer, the stained glass behind the pulpit will be removed by a professional team in Philadelphia, to be cleaned and reinstalled in the new church in September.

The Sale of the Church Property on Main Street

The Trustees are preparing for an August 1, 2003 closing date with the Greene family. The Greenes will be living in the old parsonage, converting the sanctuary into a Christian book store, and using the education wing for Mr. Greene’s law office. However, our contract does allow us to remain worshipping and using our church facility until the new church is completed. All the proceeds from the sale will be held in our interest bearing accounts until we make final settlement on the mortgage upon completion of the new building. Please remember, we are in a construction loan at the present time and move to our mortgage when we receive a certificate of occupancy. Then all proceeds will be applied to the new building reducing our final mortgage cost.

The Packing Party

On July 26th, the Trustees will be having a work day at the church starting at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until about 3:00 p.m. We will be cleaning out the garage and putting some stuff in storage and other things in a dumpster. If you want anything being thrown away please feel free to take it home. We will also be packing up books from our library and other items so we could use your help and any boxes you can bring this day. We will order subs for lunch and make it a little picnic.

Hopes and Dreams!

As we move into the new building the staff and committees have begun working on a final farewell to our Main Street home, and a welcome and celebration service, dinner, and concert for our new home. We are also dreaming of adding additional programs and ministries with such ideas as a bell choir, gospel choir, video ministry for shut-ins, shepherding ministry for new families, the return of softball, outside volleyball tournament, and more. However, all these dreams need workers, so please think seriously about the time and talent you can give that will bless your life and those to whom you serve.

Answers to a few Questions:

Why is the new Church closer to the road then I thought it would be?

Because our retention basin that collects water is behind the church. This basin has to have a fence around it and we did not want a basin with a fence in front of the church. Also to have placed the retention basin to the side would have restricted our land use for further expansion. The basin could not be located further behind the building because of wetlands considerations.

When do I begin to contribute to the next part of the Building Pledge?

Now! The funds that you contribute now are placed into our interest bearing building fund account. Those funds are used to make interest payments during the construction phase and to make down payments on interior items. Funds are also secured for future mortgage payments which will begin once we have moved into our new facility. Please remember, the land has been paid in full, along with engineering costs, and 90% of architectural costs. The goal by the Finance Committee is to build a several month surplus so that we are always able to meet our mortgage payments, especially during the usual lean times of year such as the summer months. This goal will also allow us to continue meeting the ministry needs of our growing community and congregation.

I thought the New Building would be bigger!

Don’t be deceived! The new sanctuary is double the size of what we have and will seat 300 – 350 per service. It is sometimes hard to ride by and get a real feel for size in such an open space. Just remember our smallest classroom in the new church is still larger then the biggest classroom we have now. Areas like the coatroom, Narthex, and bathrooms will also be larger. There are also 2 staircases and an elevator that you cannot see from the road.

What are we doing with pews and furniture that we now have?

Several pews will be refinished and taken with us for historical reasons and placed somewhere in the new church. While we are buying new sanctuary furniture to match our new building, several pieces we now own, like pulpit chairs, the altar table, and baptism font will be placed in our conference/chapel room.

What about the Organ?

Our existing organ cannot be “voiced” for the new sanctuary and has many features that no longer work. Therefore, a new organ is being purchased. While it may seem expensive, please keep in mind several things. It is an instrument that will last 75 or more years. It will be much more conducive to meeting the needs for choirs, congregations, and soloist voices. It will add tremendously to worship. To delay would mean having to run wiring through walls later and costing us more in carpentry repairs on a brand new building. Also we have already received generous donations towards the organ.

Will there be an Open House?

Yes! Just prior to moving in we will be having an open house that will allow everyone the opportunity to see the new building and get familiar with where things will be located.

What can I do to Help?

Very seriously we need everyone to keep this project in your prayers. It has been prayer that has helped us thus far and prayer that will lead us to our new home. Look and respond to requests in the bulletin for serving with committees and work days. Also below you will find items we still need purchased as we move into the new building. Finally, invite your family and friends to join us at Trinity. Be willing to share God’s blessing as we open our doors. Most new members come because YOU invited them.

As the summer progresses we will work diligently to try and keep the entire church family informed. In the meantime, let us remember the reason we are building in the first place. That others might come to know Jesus Christ as their savior and to grow in their faith. To that end we build with the Carpenter.

Stone work in progress.

{ 07/25/03 }

More progress... We hope to move in
by the end of October,
and anxiously anticipate our
FIRST SERVICE
on November 2

{ 09/07/03 }

( Our "Main Street" sanctuary has been sold. )

Progress continues.  The focus is on
interior work, and completion by the end of October may be too hopeful.
Our anticipated first service may be delayed.

{ 10/05/03 }

Robert Schepis photos

Some interior photos:

Downstairs Classroom Area

Entryway

Narthex

Office Corridor

Inside the sanctuary

{ 10/18/03 }

Robert Schepis photos

The sanctuary lighting is finished and the carpet is being installed.

The downstairs is nearly finished now, with the drop ceiling and carpeting being the last step.

The parking lot just got paved this past Wednesday and the landscaping and seeding has started .

{ 11/07/03 }