By H.M. Cauley

The construction at the corner of Peachtree Road and 25th Street in Buckhead isnt far enough along to look like what it will turn out to be: a new community church. In fact, it might not appear much like a church when its finished, either. And thats part of the plan.

The aim is to have an urban feel to the church that serves an urban environment, said Paul Gardner, senior pastor of the Christ Church Presbyterian congregation that is building the new facility. We want to serve this area, and its a thoroughly urban one.

The church has a 20-year history at its current location, tucked away near the end of Peachtree Park Drive. Since its inception, it has grown steadily, drawing members and visitors to its extensive musical, art and childrens programs. Gardner, who moved to Atlanta from the United Kingdom eight years ago, took on the challenge of finding a new location.

Where we are now has always been regarded as temporary, said Gardner. One of the reasons I came here was to establish the church where we wanted to be, and the southern part of Buckhead was the obvious place because its pretty densely populated, with houses, condos and apartments within walking distance.

The congregation supported efforts to put the new church on the footprint of a former office building, which also helps it blend into the neighborhood.

The idea from the get-go was to build in a sustainable way, and part of that was using the existing building as much as we could, said Jerry Spangler, director of architecture at TSW, the firm overseeing the project. It was a sound structure, so we were able to use some of it, but that also means it certainly wont be a traditional-looking Southern church.

The physical structure will be built right to the sidewalk, said Spangler, helping it to blend in with the nearby streetscape of shops and offices. A prominent street-side feature will be a coffeehouse that Gardner envisions as a community gathering place. An art gallery just inside the entrance will be large enough for juried exhibitions.

We want a church that reaches out to the arts community, since were very close to (Savannah College of Art and Design) and the arts area of northern Midtown, said Gardner. We already have a great music and arts program, and we want to encourage the arts community around us to join us.

The south Buckhead location also affords proximity to the demographics the church already attracts.

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Our Town: Buckhead Urban church seeks to blend with community

SOMERS, CT (WFSB) -

Nearly two years after a devastating fire destroyed a Somers church, parishioners are coming back just in time for Christmas.

The Somers Congregational Church will hold its first services in the new church on Christmas Eve.

"It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people, kind of a dream," said Rev. Dr. Barry Cass of Somers Congregational Church. "We knew it was coming, but hard to believe its actually happening."

The church, located on Main Street, burned to the ground on New Year's Day 2012.

Volunteers spent Friday morning lining up chairs and even wheeling in a bible and pulpit for the pastor.

The main sanctuary is still under construction, but Cass said they just got a certificate for partial occupancy, allowing them to hold services.

Church officials said they're expecting large crowds at its three Christmas Eve services.

"In the beginning you have a lot of enthusiasm and it keeps going. Then it goes on. It's like wow it's 12 months. It's 15 months It's 20 months," said Senior Deacon Joann Hornyak. "It gets to be a little tiring, so we keep trying to rejuvenate each other. I think that's what's kept this church going."

The upstairs worship space where they will eventually hold their services every Sunday is still off limits. Cass said they're actually finishing up on the ceiling right now.

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Somers church to hold Christmas Eve mass for first time since fire

CrossPoint Church hits homestretch in new building construction: The completion of the CrossPoint Church building at 11995 Montwood Drive in East El Paso is in the homestretch.

Bamboo Kitchen avoids closure, finds new East Side location: They were on the heels of closing shop and counting their loses, but Bamboo Kitchen caught a lucky break and will be moving to a new location just up the street.

Vista Hills Country Club hosts golf challenge: Two days before the New Year's Eve gridiron match-up between UCLA and Virginia Tech for the 80th installment of Hyundai Sun Bowl, the Vista Hills Country Club will be hosting a game of its own.

East Side residents want to promote tango far and wide: Half a decade ago, East Side residents Edmundo and Elizabeth Rueda met at a dance function at the Abundant Living Faith Center in El Paso and danced the night away twisting and turning through the intricacies of tango.

El Paso County receives $3.1 million grant for Colonia Revolucion project: More than 200 residents of Colonia Revolucion in Far East El Paso County may be connected to a water pipeline for the first time by next year, said County Commissioner Vince Perez, who represents the area.

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My East Side: CrossPoint Church, Bamboo Kitchen, tango dancing

How Can One Acquire The Best Church Construction Project Managers In Jarrettsville Maryland
View more details at http://www.doristorrence.com.

By: Doris Torrence

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How Can One Acquire The Best Church Construction Project Managers In Jarrettsville Maryland - Video

STOKESDALE, N.C. -- On Monday a teenager in Rockingham County was sentenced for setting fire to Gideon Grove United Methodist Church.

The pastor was present for the sentencing and said she forgives him.

"I offered Harley my forgiveness," Rev. Wanda Lancaster said. "Not everyone is ready to forgive him. It was a lot of hurt when we stood here, and we watched the church burn."

Just days before Christmas last year, then 17-year-old Harley Fulp broke a window in the back of the church, poured gasoline inside and threw a match.

Nothing could be saved of the 115-year-old house of worship. Today, the sacred ground is nothing but a field of weeds.

But not for long. The congregation will gather this weekend to break ground on its new sanctuary.

"The church burned down Saturday, Dec. 22 ,and so this Sunday, Dec. 22, we'll break ground," Lancaster said. "So we're celebrating instead of remembering the bad."

Part of the judge's sentencing requires Fulp to help rebuild the church. Construction costs are well over $1 million, and insurance won't cover it all. But the church said they're holding on to faith.

"One of the lessons we learned is that the church is not a building, the church is the people, and they learned, the congregation learned, the hard way," Lancaster said.

Lancaster is also hoping Fulp will learn a few lessons from the judge's unique sentencing.

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Rockingham Co. teen sentenced to help rebuild church he set on fire

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY --

A Hillsborough County congregation is praying for a miracle on Parsons Venue.

Apostles Foundation Church of Jesus Christ location in Seffner burned down years ago, and theyre hoping to finally be back up and running in time for Christmas.

Where a charred building once stood, the new church is in the works. Empty and under construction, it may not look like much. However, its taken the church eight years to come this far.

Pastor Elroy Huff said they didn't have enough insurance to rebuild in 2005. So, they've held services outside or in a rented store-front in Tampa. They've lost a lot of members and have struggled to find the money for their new beginning. Currently, their congregation consists of around 25 people.

Now, they're hoping for their own Christmas miracle.

"And God still works miracles, said Pastor Huff. "We pray that God touches someone's heart, that will be a blessing to us to finish this project - so that we can be a blessing people to those people in need.

That includes hopefully starting their food bank up again. The church used to give away donated food twice a week out of their old church.

Pastor Huff said this time they're the ones looking for some help.

We need a certified electrician, a certified plumber, and were also in need of someone to put the handicapped ramp and parking in, and a ramp on a new porch, said Pastor Huff, Everything has to be up to code.

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Seffner church hoping for a Christmas miracle

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December 17th, 2013 11:03 pm by Jeff Bobo

CHURCH HILL Surgonsvilles sewer system is at least a year away from going online and its already facing its first rate increase.

This past January, Church Hill increased its local user sewer rate from $3.58 to $4.40 per 1,000 gallons. It was the first time in 20 years that Church Hill had increased its sewer rate.

The existing rate agreement for Church Hill to treat sewage from Surgoinsvilles new system is still $3.58, however. That agreement has been in place since 2003.

On Tuesday night, the Church Hill BMA was presented with a proposal bumping Surgoinsvilles rate up to $4.40 as well.

But at the suggestion of Mayor Dennis Deal, the BMA also agreed to amend that proposal to delay implementation of the $4.40 rate until December 2015.

Construction of Surgoinsvilles new sewer system isnt expected to be completed for at least a year.

Deal estimated that would give Surgoinsville a year of sewer operation before the higher rate kicks in.

What we will be getting from Surgoinsville is gray water, Deal told the BMA. Were not dealing with tap fees, were not dealing with pumps. What this will do is to give Surgoinsville a year of grace period to get their sewer system up and running, and then their rate would go back to the normal rate that we all pay.

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Church Hill OKs delay for Surgoinsville sewer treatment rate hike

SOMERTON - When members of the Somerton United Methodist Church join sister congregations of Jerusalem and Beallsville Tuesday night for Christmas Eve services, there will be prayers of thanksgiving for the great blessings God has provided the group in 2013.

In June 2012, a powerful derecho damaged their 139-year-old small brick church beyond repair. Since then, members have undertaken an ambitious plan to replace the church with a half million dollar sanctuary, classrooms and a large fellowship hall.

More than 90 members and friends gathered for services Nov. 3 at the Somerton fire hall, their first service in Somerton in 18 months. After the service, the group gathered at the church site for a joyful ceremonial groundbreaking as many longtime members hoisted the first shovelfuls of dirt for the new church.

The following week, T .J. Jefferis General Contracting Inc. of Barnesville, successful bidder on the project, started construction. Pastor Jean Cooper said, "Concrete has been poured for footers and foundation," and the contractor will "do as much as they can with the money we have."

The initial goal is to get the building under roof and to fully complete the sanctuary. "But, of course, it is now winter and that will slow down construction," Cooper noted.

"There will be a Christmas Eve service for the Somerton, Jerusalem and Beallsville Charge at Beallsville. All members, families, attendees and members of the communities are invited and encouraged to attend," Cooper said. Those services will get underway Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Sunday services continue each week at the Somerton fire hall with Sunday School at 10 a.m. followed by church service at 11 a.m.

Tax-deductible contributions for the rebuilding fund may be sent to the Somerton United Methodist Church, 55400 Washington St., Somerton, OH 43713.

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Somerton United Methodist Church counts blessings

Ron Scarpa, 50, is president of Barefoot Brothers Construction. The name was inspired by his background as a world champion barefoot water skier. His company recently completed renovating East End Market, a former church where chefs, bakers, horticulturalists and other merchants lease space in what is becoming a cultural hub off Corrine Drive in Orlando.

CFB: What came first the barefoot water skiing or Barefoot Brothers Construction?

Barefoot water skiing, for sure. Growing up we moved to Winter Haven, Florida. I watched the water ski shows at Cypress Gardens. I either wanted to be a water skier or a snow skier.

CFB: Couldn't you have just taken up regular water skiing?

To me, the ultimate was barefoot water skiing. In Winter Haven, a lot of the neighborhood kids skied and it seemed like barefoot water skiing was the hardest.

CFB: Is there any corollary between construction and barefoot water skiing?

Yes -- there's very little money in both right now (laughter). If you're going to be successful in anything, it's not going to be easy. You have to have a good strategy in construction and I think that, if you're going to be successful in barefoot water skiing, you have to have the same thing.

CFB: What was your first job with Barefoot Brothers Construction?

We formed Barefoot Brothers in 2004. I had been traveling too much in water skiing, and one of my founding partners in the construction company was a ski buddy of mine. I had gotten married, and we had small children, and I said I'm not going to be able to do this travel.

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Ron Scarpa: East End contractor got his start barefoot skiing

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Damia Howard prays during Tuesday night's bible study service at the Progressive Community Church in south Stockton.CLIFFORD OTO/The Record

December 14, 2013 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - When is a church more than a church? When it is Progressive Community Church, the large, lively, multicultural ministry that takes up 12.2 acres along South B Street.

Progressive Community is a statement.

And, in the vision of Pastor Glenn R. Shields, it is a beacon - of spiritual hope, of personal promise, of the untapped potential in south Stockton.

Pastor Glenn R. Shields moved to Stockton 15 years ago. His take on his adopted city:

"Stockton is a well-kept secret. The city has wonderful people. It has all the potential in the world to be a tremendous city. But there is a tendency to work in isolation. A spirit of collaboration is missing in the Stockton church community. We've got to do better. We have a social responsibility, and we've got to be involved in the affairs of the city."

The 40,000-square-foot multipurpose facility seats 1,200 people in its expansive main sanctuary, has a 2,500-square-foot fellowship hall and seven classrooms at 600 square feet each. The $8 million edifice also is equipped with the latest audio and video technology.

There are 14 full-time employees.

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Church aims to be a guiding light for south Stockton