And a few more

New pictures to support Guy's recent post

Pouring foundation not far away

I made a brief visit out to the property on Saturday afternoon to see what progress has been made on our new building. In spite of the fact that our recent weather has not been the most cooperative, the contractor has made some good progress. The parking lot has been smoothed over with fresh limestone, and the foundation is in the process of being framed and prepared for pouring. It won't be long until we are able to see some vertical construction! Then we'll really feel like we are making progress. I'm sure Stephen will be ready at hand with pictures once the foundation is completed.

Let me close by passing along to you a quote that a friend passed along to me. It accurately captures how passive we are as we go through life. We do not think about what we see; we just see.

"All of us are watchers--of television, of time clocks, of traffic on the freeway--but few are observers. Everyone is looking, not many are seeing." (Peter M. Leshak)

Latest update on building project

The first major step is complete...that being the completion of the site work. The next step, which is the preparation and actually laying of the foundation, was scheduled to begin today. However, due to the rain, that got delayed. However, on a site visit today, there were several large stacks of rebar, so that is a good sign of the soon-to-some foundation work. Also, yesterday we received the official building permit from the city. You might wonder why we started without the building permit. Well, the permit issued yesterday was for the structure itself and we already had the site permit issued.

Another issue has been the widening of O'Neal Rd. at least to the eastern edge of our property line. We have gotten assurances from the city that work on that would begin once the heavy machinery was no longer needed on site so as to not damage a new road. Also, to begin design work on the widening of the road, the church needed a physical address. With the permitting in place, we now have that. I am happy to announce that the church's new address is 10885 O'Neal Rd! The widening of that road is going to add a great deal asthetically and functionally to our site, so look for updates on that project as well.

The month of January 2010 has been designated as the time of celebration, remembrance, and facility dedication. The plan is to have a guest minister each Sunday during the month of January. Each minister that has been asked represents a church body that greatly supported our church family after Hurricane Katrina. Each minister is a well-respected, highly visible minister in the PCA not to mention some of the best known preachers in our denomination's history. The main service will take place on January 17th, 2010 at 4PM. This date and time happens to coincide with the dedication of the downtown sanctuary that took place in 1965, same day, same time. Look for much, much more on this to come in the following year as details get worked out. There are many brothers and sisters in Christ that represented His Church greatly after the storm. We will be welcoming all, but especially those around the nation and world that came to our assistance in our time of need and made such a great impact on our church members, body, and our community. So, all that to say, please mark your calendars.

Check back in the next few days for more pictures as foundation work begins.

Quote for the day

Here is an apropos one from William Still, the great Scottish preacher (given the time of year):

"It is SAD when there is nothing for which we feel grateful to God, but it is SERIOUS when there IS something and we fail to show gratitude, and it is TRAGIC when we are so busy asking for more that we forget to thank him for what we have received."

City Council and more pictures

Tuesday, the City Council ratified the Planning Commission's recommendations for rezoning of the property. Typically this is a formality for churches in Gulfport, as was the case with us. The site work is coming along as you see in the pictures. How in the world would anyone know what all those stakes are marking? The first picture is the main entrance leading to a circular drive in front of what will be the building. The last two pictures are of the location of 2 main parking lots and the entrance to those from O'Neal Rd. We have not been given a projected date to start foundation work, but will keep you posted when we find out.

Quote for the day

Here is one from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

"If you do not desire to be holy I do not see that you have any right to think that you are a Christian."

Quote for the Day

Here is one more from C.S. Lewis (from his Mere Christianity), in response to those who would argue that all Jesus wants is a child-like faith:

"He [Christ] wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head."

Quote for the day

I decided to break my long blogging silence by introducing a new feature...a quote for the day. I used to do this via email for many years and decided that it might provide an interesting counter to the blogs about our new building. So, here goes...

Today's quote is from J.P. Moreland's book, Love your God with all your Mind (p. 21):

"Our society has replaced heroes with celebrities, the quest for a well-informed character with the search for a flat stomach, substance and depth with image and personality."

More dirt work

I apologize for pictures that may look the same, but for those of us involved, it is excited to see the project take shape. The first picture is the entrance to the front of the building where a circular drive will be located. The area of darker soil is the location of the courtyard. The second picture is the same entrance but zoomed out. The left side of the red dirt is where the worship area/fellowhip hall wil be located. The right side of the red dirt is the education wing. Connecting those two areas and behind the courtyard will be the office suite. The last picture is the entrance to the parking areas. There will be two main parking areas in Phase I. Those areas are the only areas that have not been "mucked" out yet. But as you see, they seem to be moving quickly.

Media coverage

Sorry it has taken me a few days to post this, but WLOX and The Sun Herald were both on site during the groundbreaking ceremony Sunday. I could not link the WLOX video, but if you go to http://www.wlox.com/ you will find under "news video player" a report from Krystal Allen. You will need to scroll down the menu of videos about a quarter of the way down, but you will see "First Presbyterian Church" in the title. Also, the Sun Herald link is http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/907407.html I hope this link works. If it does not, then from http://www.sunherald.com/ search First Presbyterian Church and you will see the article.

Wonderful Day

As you can see by the photos posted by Guy, all that were present were more than elated at the symbolism of today's event. First, thanks should go out to Libby Murr and Tammy Turnage for handling the coordination of the event. Thanks to the Deacons for handling chair setup and traffic direction. Our contractor, Chris Crighton - owner of J.W. Puckett, deserves much thanks for making sure that the new soil that was brought in was smoothed out appropriately for parking and for the area where the ceremony was held - and we cannot forget his bringing the golden shovels!

The day began with the pastor's sermon addressing matters of the heart and giving to the kingdom of God. Due to the great faithfulness of God shown to us in uncountless ways, how can we not in return give of ourselves - our heart, our time, our love, our money. For all is His. Then the groundbreaking ceremony addressed more of the faithfulness of God and the fact that the inerrant word of Scrpiture tells us that He will never leave nor ever forsake us. What a comfort that we have seen due to all that this congregation has been through over the past 3 years. The day culminated in getting back together at the school for evening Bible study, children's choir, etc. What a joy it was to watch the covenant children play and visualize the moment we have a facility of our own for we as the family of God to fellowship, edify each other in our walk, and most importantly glorify Him.

One last thing, what a joy it was to see the youngest of our congregation playing with the gold shovels after the ceremony. The obvious thoughts of them growing up and learning of the love of God for them in the facility that has not even been built yet.

It can never be repeated enough, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."

Breaking Ground!

Update on permitting

As many of you may know our plans went before the city's Planning Commission yesterday. There were 3 issues to get approved (all routine). All 3 issues were approved no questions asked. The next step is for the Planning Commission's approval going before the City Council. This is usually a "rubber stamp" as the commission is okay with the project. The City Council meeting that we will attend will be on November 18th. Once the City Council gives approval, their is no waiting process to actually get a physical permit...the contractor will be able to begin immediately. All this being said, it may seem this is holding up progress...let me assure it is not as there is still more land work to be done before actual construction can begin. So, this should not produce any lull in activity.

Look forward to seeing you Sunday.

The Big Dig

The "dirt movers" have started removing bad soil and replacing it with red clay. This will take place where the parking lots will be and also where the building will actually be located. As posted earlier, it looks like we will be able to have the groundbreaking ceremony on the actual site where the worship area will be located. The actual building site is the larger area where the red clay is located. Where the red clay forms a "road" coming from the building site is the western entrance that meets O'Neal Rd. This entrance will form into a circular drive in front of the church. If you have seen the plans, you will know where this is located. Check back late Sunday or Monday for pictures from the groundbreaking ceremony.

Few more pictures

All's clear

The section of the property where the building and parking lots will be located is now cleared. This area takes about about 4 acres of the 10 acre tract that the church owns. You will see in these pictures staked out areas that mark the boundaries of the parking lots and building. The next step which would likely take place in the next few days is to dig down about 2 feet and remove soil that is not suitable for a foundation or parking lot. New "good" dirt will be brought in to fill in the removed soil. Don't hold me to this, but there is a possibility that the groundbreaking ceremony could take place on the actual spot where the new building will be located as that soil removal and replacement could be complete by October 26th.

More pictures

Earth is moving!

Yesterday, the contractor began clearing the property on which the facility and parking lots will sit. Finally, a day that has been anticipated greatly. This marks the true beginning of the building process. There is not much to see as you see in these pictures, but I will continue to post pictures as more and more land gets cleared. The process of clearing out trees, digging out dirt, and hauling in new "usable" soil will take approximately 2 months. An official groundbreaking ceremony has been set for October 26th. We will be working with the contractor closer to that date to determine the best place on the property to have that ceremony in order for the area to be propertly prepped. Please check back again over the next few days for more pictures.

The sign is finally up!

The long awaited sign has been put up today announcing our future plans. No other update at this time, but will keep you posted. We are currently wading through the beauracratic process with the city (nothing negative, though).

Update

The city has finally replied to our permit application. The reply initially consists of a list of questions to the contractor. Our contractor has addressed these questions. A couple of items involved submitting certain applications to the city which were completed on Friday. What all this means to the project is that we anticipate the first permit - the tree permit (requirement of the City of Gulfport) to be issued this upcoming week. This would mean that there would possibly be tree clearing beginning in a couple of weeks. Pictures will be posted when that begins. Once that begins, dirt extraction, bringing in new dirt, and letting that dirt settle will take about 2 months to complete.

The sign is still not up due to the recent storms. Hopefully, weather will cooperate for it to be installed this week.

City permitting

We are still waiting on the permit from the city. Hurricane Gustav set the timeline back a little, but hopefully we will have some sort of update in the next week or so. The contractor will probably initially hear from the city with a list of questions for him to address back to them. That has not happened yet. But once it does, that will be a good sign.

The "Future Home of" sign I have been referring to should go up on Monday. Pictures will follow.

That is really all I have to offer as of now. Remember this is a process that a definite timeline cannot be established as we are dealing with the government (city) at this time. Once permitting is in place, much work should begin.

Pray that a storm does not come our way that would hinder progress or drive up insurance/building costs.

First pictures of new church facility project

As stated in the last post, the corner lot has now been cleared as you can see from the pictures above. For those of you that do not know, our property is on the corner of O'Neal Rd. and the new State Highway 605 (Cowan Rd.). This property is north of I-10 and is the projected area of much future growth in the next 10+ years. So, as you look at these pictures, you may wonder why FPC Gulfport is building in an undeveloped area...this area will not look the same in 10 years.

Some of the pictures may be boring to some, but it is a very exciting first step for our members, but especially to the Session, Deacons, staff, and building committee members.

There is a corner lot that is an acre that the church owns. This lot will serve as a buffer between the busy highway and the tract of land (10 acres to the east of this lot) that the actual building will be located. Their will be a monument sign on this corner. There is the possibility of using the old steeple in this signage. The main thing that would hinder this is the regulations placed on this highway may limit the height of our signage and anything else we may put out there. But as you will see, the lot will be the perfect size and location for an area of green space, flower beds, etc. This lot is not being clear cut or bulldozed due to several reasons. First, nothing will be built on this lot, so there is no reason to bring in new dirt. Also, some of these trees may remain on this lot, so mulching is the most sensible thing to do at this time.

The next pictures you will see will be of the "Future Home of" sign that will be installed sometime toward the end of the week. Once the city has issued our permit, clearing of the 10 acres will begin. This process will look much different than what you see here as it is going to be cleared out completely with old dirt being excavated and new dirt being brought in where the actual buildings and parking lots will be located. Once the permitting is in place, more details will be coming out as to the date of official groundbreaking.

Pray that the permit process with the city will go smoothly and quickly. Stay tuned for more to come.