He took the name of a humble saint and then called for a church of healing. The first non-European pope in 1,200 years is poised to transform a place that measures change by the century

To read about TIMEs choice in Spanish and Portuguese, click below. EL ELEGIDO: El Papa Francisco es la Persona del Ao 2013 de TIME A Escolha: O Papa Francisco a Personalidade do Ano eleita pela Time em 2013

On the edge of Buenos Aires is a nothing little street calledPasaje C, a shot of dried mud leading into a slum from what passes for a main road, the garbage-strewn Mariano Acosta. There is a church, the Immaculate Virgin, toward the end of the pasajeSpanish for passagewhere, on one occasion, the local priest and a number of frightened residents took refuge deep in the sanctuary when rival drug gangs opened fire. Beyond the church, Pasaje C branches into the rest of the parish: more rutted mud and cracked concrete form PasajesA to K. Brick chips from the hasty construction of squatter housing coagulate along what ought to be sidewalks. The word asesinomurdereris scrawled in spray-paint on the sooty wall of a burned-out house, which was torched just days before in retaliation for yet another shooting. Packs of dogs sprawl beneath wrecked cars. Children wander heedless of traffic, because nothing can gather speed on these jagged roads. But even Pasaje C can lead to Rome.

As Cardinal and Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a metropolis of some 13.5million souls, Jorge Mario Bergoglio made room in his schedule every year for a pastoral visit to this place of squalor and sorrow. He would walk to the subway station nearest to the Metropolitan Cathedral, whose pillars and dome fit easily into the center of Argentine power. Traveling alone, he would transfer onto a graffiti-blasted tram to Mariano Acosta, reaching where the subways do not go. He finished the journey on foot, moving heavily in his bulky black orthopedic shoes along Pasaje C. On other days, there were other journeys to barrios throughout the cityso many in need of so much, but none too poor or too filthy for a visit from this itinerant prince of the church. Reza por m, he asked almost everyone he met. Pray for me.

When, on March 13, Bergoglio inherited the throne of St.Peterkeeper of the keys to the kingdom of heavenhe made the same request of the world. Pray for me. His letter of retirement, a requirement of all bishops 75 and older, was already on file in a Vatican office, awaiting approval. Friends in Argentina had perceived him to be slowing down, like a spent force. In an instant, he was a new man, calling himself Francis after the humble saint from Assisi. As Pope, he was suddenly the sovereign of Vatican City and head of an institution so sprawlingwith about enough followers to populate Chinaso steeped in order, so snarled by bureaucracy, so vast in its charity, so weighted by its scandals, so polarizing to those who study its teachings, so mysterious to those who dont, that the gap between him and the daily miseries of the worlds poor might finally have seemed unbridgeable. Until the 266th Supreme Pontiff walked off in those clunky shoes to pay his hotel bill.

The papacy is mysterious and magical: it turns a septuagenarian into a superstar while revealing almost nothing about the man himself. And it raises hopes in every corner of the worldhopes that can never be fulfilled, for they are irreconcilable. The elderly traditionalist who pines for the old Latin Mass and the devout young woman who wishes she could be a priest both have hopes. The ambitious monsignor in the Vatican Curia and the evangelizing deacon in a remote Filipino village both have hopes. No Pope can make them all happy at once.

(MORE: Behind the Pope Francis Cover)

But what makes this Pope so important is the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions who had given up on hoping for the church at all. People weary of the endless parsing of sexual ethics, the buck-passing infighting over lines of authority when all the while (to borrow from Milton), the hungry Sheep look up, and are not fed. In a matter of months, Francis has elevated the healing mission of the churchthe church as servant and comforter of hurting people in an often harsh worldabove the doctrinal police work so important to his recent predecessors. John Paul II and Benedict XVI were professors of theology. Francis is a former janitor, nightclub bouncer, chemical technician and literature teacher.

And behind his self-effacing facade, he is a very canny operator. He makes masterly use of 21stcentury tools to perform his 1st century office. He is photographed washing the feet of female convicts, posing for selfies with young visitors to the Vatican, embracing a man with a deformed face. He is quoted saying of women who consider abortion because of poverty or rape, Who can remain unmoved before such painful situations? Of gay people: If a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge. To divorced and remarried Catholics who are, by rule, forbidden from taking Communion, he says that this crucial rite is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.

Through these conscious and skillful evocations of moments in the ministry of Jesus, as recounted in the Gospels, this new Pope may have found a way out of the 20th century culture wars, which have left the church moribund in much of Western Europe and on the defensive from Dublin to Los Angeles. But the paradox of the papacy is that each new mans success is burdened by the astonishing successes of Popes past. The weight of history, of doctrines and dogmas woven intricately century by century, genius by genius, is both the source and the limitation of papal power. It radiates from every statue, crypt and hand-painted vellum text in Romeand in churches, libraries, hospitals, universities and museums around the globe. A Pope sets his own course only if he can conform it to paths already chosen.

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Pope Francis, The People's Pope

Originally published December 12, 2013 at 12:02 PM | Page modified December 12, 2013 at 12:21 PM

BETHLEHEM, West Bank As visitors descend upon Bethlehem this holiday season, they will notice a different look for the Church of the Nativity. Wrapped in scaffolding, the basilica located at the site traditionally regarded as Jesus birthplace is undergoing a much-needed face-lift after 600 years.

Experts say that water is leaking from the rooftop and threatens to cause serious damage to mosaics and other priceless items.

Project manager Afif Tweme said the first stage of the project began in September and addresses the most pressing issues: the rooftop and windows.

The water also has a bad effect on the plastering surfaces, on the mosaics, on the floors, on the frescoes. It could damage any, any historical elements inside the church, said Tweme, who works for the Community Development Group, a Palestinian engineering consulting firm.

The companies carrying out the works are obliged to minimize any disruptions to visitors and make sure that pilgrims can pass freely inside the church and safely, he added.

The church is one of Christianitys most visited and sacred shrines. Standing above the grotto where, according to tradition, Jesus was born, the church attracted more than 2 million visitors last year. But the building, with remnants up to 1,500 years old, has been neglected for decades.

Both the World Monuments Fund, a U.S.-based nonprofit group dedicated to protecting historic sites, and the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO have placed the church on their lists of endangered sites. And a high-tech survey by a consortium of Italian experts in 2011 called for urgent repairs.

The city of Bethlehem is situated in a part of the West Bank where the Palestinians have self-rule. The Western-backed Palestinian Authority has taken the lead and is financing a great portion of the works, said Ziad al-Bandak, an adviser on Christian affairs to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He said the government has provided $1 million, while an additional $800,000 is coming from the private sector. The rest is coming from European countries such as France, Hungary, Russia and Greece, contributing to the roughly $3 million in total needed for the first phase, al-Bandak said.

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Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem undergoes face-lift

Rio Terrace Community Moravian Church-Occult workshopEdmonton, AB T5R2Z9 Ph. 780 487-0211:For years North Americans have been fascinated with the subject of angels. We shall see it has also become a subject teeming with deception and one more way Satan uses to turn people's eyes away from Jesus Christ. (see article and news letter)

Rev. Dr. Douglass P. Norwood, Jr. February 1, 2003:I left the Northern Provincial synod in June 2002 feeling like my mother or some other close relative had just died. I couldn't hold back the tears. I could not participate in the synod communion, but stood outside with about 30 other people instead. My grief was not based solely on one issue, although one issue, of course, has attracted the most attention.(see article)

Olivet Moravian decision about the World Council of Churches Feb 26, 2005 After much study, discussion and prayerful consideration over the past two years, our joint boards voted unanimously not to support the WCC (see letter sent to PEC)

Rev.Truman Dunn Moses Lecture review fall 2001: Rev. Dunn writes of his personal belief, I do not believe that Jesus is the only way to find salvation....Nor do I believe that Moravians or Christians have a lock on religious truth. He wonders why we insist that Christianity is somehow superior to all other pathways to God. Rev. Dunn calls for a reformation through death of the Moravian Church as we Know it, allowing the old ways of exclusive truths to die. He says the first truth that must go is the narrow and arrogant claim that Jesus is the only way to salvation. (see article)

Rev.Truman Dunn rejoins the fold writing:The Moses Lectures reflected a very personal perspective about my convictions and my hopes for the Moravian Church. However, my life and faith as a Christian is not lived in isolation. I am a part of a larger faith community, the Moravian Church. And, I seek to stand within that larger tradition of the Moravian Church while still maintaining the integrity of my own personal belief and experience of the presence of God.......I have found that I indeed affirm the Ground of the Unity as the belief of our church, even as I seek to be a part of our continual search for sound doctrine. (see letter)

Resolution 54 Southern Synod 2002: Careful study of this account, along with the versions of the resolution as it evolved, will reveal the transformation of a Document intended to reaffirm the authority of Scripture and its message of Salvation through Christ alone. It is apparent that leaders of our denomination were influential, to a large degree, in redirecting the Resolution. The final fatal blow came from an amendment on the floor by Bishop Graham Rights that removed all remaining statements that called for reaffirmation of our doctrinal statements of belief. Resolution 54 went from calling for affirming our faith to a call for preserving relationships. In light of the fact that a minister used his position to teach that Christ is not the only way to salvation, this effort by our leaders might be seen as self serving, keeping leadership intact at the expense of our mission to witness the message of Scripture (see article)

Oscar Tesh Walnut Cove, NC What are we passing on to those who follow us: "The Faith of our Fathers" or a watered-down ineffective substitute? I am a 5th generation Moravian who wants a denomination that is unbending in the non-negotiable truths of the Bible. We must be true to GOD and that means making hard decisions. (see article)

The Moravian Forum is not maintained or supported by the Moravian Church of North America. This web site is maintained by members of the Moravian Church to document and discuss issues of Faith and Order in our Moravian denomination.

We have preserved and made available newspaper articles in our Moravian's in the News section that demonstrates why evangelicals are taking issue with PEC President Bob Sawyer media statements and actions of church leaders.

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Moravian Forum - The Moravian Church

Aba Nigeria Nigeria, Aba, Abia State Aug 7, 2005 Accra Ghana Ghana, Ridge, Accra Jan 11, 2004 Adelaide Australia Australia, Marden, South Australia Jun 15, 2000 Albuquerque New Mexico United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico Mar 5, 2000 Anchorage Alaska United States, Anchorage, Alaska Jan 9, 1999 Apia Samoa Samoa, Apia, Pesega Aug 5, 1983 Arequipa Peru Peru, Arequipa Announced Asuncin Paraguay Paraguay, Asuncin, Centro May 19, 2002 Atlanta Georgia United States, Sandy Springs, Georgia Jun 1, 1983 Barranquilla Colombia Colombia, Barranquilla Announced Baton Rouge Louisiana United States, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Jul 16, 2000 Bern Switzerland Switzerland, Zollikofen, Bern Sep 11, 1955 Billings Montana United States, Billings, Montana Nov 20, 1999 Birmingham Alabama United States, Gardendale, Alabama Sep 3, 2000 Bismarck North Dakota United States, Bismarck, North Dakota Sep 19, 1999 Bogot Colombia Colombia, Bogot, Cundinamarca Apr 24, 1999 Boise Idaho United States, Boise, Idaho May 25, 1984 Boston Massachusetts United States, Belmont, Massachusetts Oct 1, 2000 Bountiful Utah United States, Bountiful, Utah Jan 8, 1995 Brigham City Utah United States, Brigham City, Utah Sep 23, 2012 Brisbane Australia Australia, Kangaroo Point, Queensland Jun 15, 2003 Buenos Aires Argentina Argentina, Ciudad Evita, Buenos Aires Jan 17, 1986 Calgary Alberta Canada, Calgary, Alberta Oct 28, 2012 Campinas Brazil Brazil, Campinas, Sao Paulo May 17, 2002 Caracas Venezuela Venezuela, Caracas, Urbanizacin Cuarimare Aug 20, 2000 Cardston Alberta Canada, Cardston, Alberta Aug 26, 1923 Cebu City Philippines Philippines, Cebu City, Cebu Jun 13, 2010 Cedar City Utah United States, Cedar City, Utah Announced Chicago Illinois United States, Glenview, Illinois Aug 9, 1985 Ciudad Jurez Mexico Mxico, Ciudad Jurez, Chihuahua Feb 26, 2000 Cochabamba Bolivia Bolivia, Cercado, Cochabamba Apr 30, 2000 Colonia Jurez Chihuahua Mexico Mxico, Colonia Jurez, Chihuahua Mar 6, 1999 Columbia River Washington United States, Richland, Washington Nov 18, 2001 Columbia South Carolina United States, Hopkins, South Carolina Oct 16, 1999 Columbus Ohio United States, Columbus, Ohio Sep 4, 1999 Concepcin Chile Chile, Concepcin, Chile Announced Copenhagen Denmark Denmark, Copenhagen, Frederiksberg May 23, 2004 Crdoba Argentina Argentina, Crdoba, Crdoba Province Construction Curitiba Brazil Brazil, Curitiba, Curitiba Jun 1, 2008 Dallas Texas United States, Dallas, Texas Oct 19, 1984 Denver Colorado United States, Centennial, Colorado Oct 24, 1986 Detroit Michigan United States, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Oct 23, 1999 Draper Utah United States, Draper, Utah Mar 20, 2009 Durban South Africa South Africa, Durban Announced Edmonton Alberta Canada, Edmonton, Alberta Dec 11, 1999 Fort Collins Colorado United States, Fort Collins, Colorado Announced Fort Lauderdale Florida United States, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Construction Fortaleza Brazil Brazil, Fortaleza, Brazil Construction Frankfurt Germany Germany, Friedrichsdorf, Hessen Aug 28, 1987 Freiberg Germany Germany, Freiberg, Freiberg Jun 29, 1985 Fresno California United States, Fresno, California Apr 9, 2000 Fukuoka Japan Japan, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Jun 11, 2000 Gilbert Arizona United States, Gilbert, Arizona Construction Guadalajara Mexico Mxico, Zapopan, Jalisco Apr 29, 2001 Guatemala City Guatemala Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala Dec 14, 1984 Guayaquil Ecuador Ecuador, Guayaquil, Guayas Aug 1, 1999 Halifax Nova Scotia Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Nov 14, 1999 Hamilton New Zealand New Zealand, Hamilton, New Zealand Apr 20, 1958 Hartford Connecticut United States, Hartford, Connecticut Announced Helsinki Finland Finland, Espoo, Helsinki Oct 22, 2006 Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Mxico, Hermosillo, Sonora Feb 27, 2000 Hong Kong China China, Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong May 26, 1996 Houston Texas United States, Klein, Texas Aug 26, 2000 Idaho Falls Idaho United States, Idaho Falls, Idaho Sep 23, 1945 Indianapolis Indiana United States, Indianapolis, Indiana Construction Johannesburg South Africa South Africa, Johannesburg, Gauteng Aug 24, 1985 Jordan River Utah United States, South Jordan, Utah Nov 16, 1981 Kansas City Missouri United States, Kansas City, Missouri May 6, 2012 Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa Announced Kona Hawaii United States, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Jan 23, 2000 Kyiv Ukraine Ukraine, Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast Aug 29, 2010 Laie Hawaii United States, Laie, Hawaii Nov 27, 1919 Las Vegas Nevada United States, Las Vegas, Nevada Dec 16, 1989 Lima Peru Peru, La Molina, Lima Jan 10, 1986 Lisbon Portugal Portugal, Lisbon, Lisbon Announced Logan Utah United States, Logan, Utah May 17, 1884 London England United Kingdom, Newchapel, Surrey Sep 7, 1958 Los Angeles California United States, Los Angeles, California Mar 11, 1956 Louisville Kentucky United States, Crestwood, Kentucky Mar 19, 2000 Lubbock Texas United States, Lubbock, Texas Apr 21, 2002 Madrid Spain Spain, Madrid, Madrid Mar 19, 1999 Manaus Brazil Brazil, Manaus, Amazonas Jun 10, 2012 Manhattan New York United States, New York City, New York Jun 13, 2004 Manila Philippines Philippines, Quezon City, Metro Manila Sep 25, 1984 Manti Utah United States, Manti, Utah May 21, 1888 Medford Oregon United States, Central Point, Oregon Apr 16, 2000 Melbourne Australia Australia, Wantirna South, Victoria Jun 16, 2000 Memphis Tennessee United States, Bartlett, Tennessee Apr 23, 2000 Mrida Mexico Mxico, Mrida, Yucatan Jul 8, 2000 Meridian Idaho United States, Meridian, Idaho Announced Mesa Arizona United States, Mesa, Arizona Oct 23, 1927 Mexico City Mexico Mxico, Mxico City, Distrito Federal Dec 2, 1983 Monterrey Mexico Mxico, Monterrey, Nuevo Len Apr 28, 2002 Montevideo Uruguay Uruguay, Montevideo, Montevideo Mar 18, 2001 Monticello Utah United States, Monticello, Utah Jul 26, 1998 Montreal Quebec Canada, Longueuil, Quebec Jun 4, 2000 Mount Timpanogos Utah United States, American Fork, Utah Oct 13, 1996 Nashville Tennessee United States, Franklin, Tennessee May 21, 2000 Nauvoo Illinois United States, Nauvoo, Illinois Jun 27, 2002 Newport Beach California United States, Newport Beach, California Aug 28, 2005 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tonga, Liahona, Tongatapu Aug 9, 1983 Oakland California United States, Oakland, California Nov 17, 1964 Oaxaca Mexico Mxico, Oaxaca de Jurez, Oaxaca Mar 11, 2000 Ogden Utah United States, Ogden, Utah Renovation Oklahoma City Oklahoma United States, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Jul 30, 2000 Oquirrh Mountain Utah United States, South Jordan, Utah Aug 21, 2009 Orlando Florida United States, Windermere, Florida Oct 9, 1994 Palmyra New York United States, Palmyra, New York Apr 6, 2000 Panama City Panama Panam, Panam City, Republic of Panam Aug 10, 2008 Papeete Tahiti France, Papeete, Tahiti Oct 27, 1983 Paris France France, Paris Announced Payson Utah United States, Payson, Utah Construction Perth Australia Australia, Yokine, Western Australia May 20, 2001 Philadelphia Pennsylvania United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Construction Phoenix Arizona United States, Phoenix, Arizona Construction Portland Oregon United States, Lake Oswego, Oregon Aug 19, 1989 Porto Alegre Brazil Brazil, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Dec 17, 2000 Preston England United Kingdom, Chorley, Lancashire Jun 7, 1998 Provo City Center United States, Provo, Utah Construction Provo Utah United States, Provo, Utah Feb 9, 1972 Quetzaltenango Guatemala Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Dec 11, 2011 Raleigh North Carolina United States, Apex, North Carolina Dec 18, 1999 Recife Brazil Brazil, Recife, Pernambuco Dec 15, 2000 Redlands California United States, Redlands, California Sep 14, 2003 Regina Saskatchewan Canada, Regina, Saskatchewan Nov 14, 1999 Reno Nevada United States, Reno, Nevada Apr 23, 2000 Rexburg Idaho United States, Rexburg, Idaho Feb 10, 2008 Rio de Janeiro Brazil Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Announced Rome Italy Italy, Rome, Rome Construction Sacramento California United States, Sacramento, California Sep 3, 2006 Salt Lake United States, Salt Lake City, Utah Apr 6, 1893 San Antonio Texas United States, San Antonio, Texas May 22, 2005 San Diego California United States, San Diego, California Apr 25, 1993 San Jos Costa Rica Costa Rica, La Ribera de Belen, Heredia Jun 4, 2000 San Salvador El Salvador El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador Aug 21, 2011 Santiago Chile Chile, Providencia, Santiago Sep 15, 1983 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Dominican Republic, Los Robles, Santo Domingo Sep 17, 2000 So Paulo Brazil Brazil, So Paulo, So Paulo Oct 30, 1978 Sapporo Japan Japan, Sapporo, Japan Construction Seattle Washington United States, Bellevue, Washington Nov 17, 1980 Seoul Korea South Korea, Seoul, South Korea Dec 14, 1985 Snowflake Arizona United States, Snowflake, Arizona Mar 3, 2002 Spokane Washington United States, Spokane, Washington Aug 21, 1999 St. George Utah United States, St. George, Utah Apr 6, 1877 St. Louis Missouri United States, Town and Country, Missouri Jun 1, 1997 St. Paul Minnesota United States, Oakdale, Minnesota Jan 9, 2000 Star Valley Wyoming United States, Afton, Wyoming Announced Stockholm Sweden Sweden, Vasterhaninge, Sweden Jul 2, 1985 Suva Fiji Fiji, Suva, Naitasivi Jun 18, 2000 Sydney Australia Australia, Carlingford, New South Wales Sep 20, 1984 Taipei Taiwan Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan Nov 17, 1984 Tampico Mexico Mexico, Madero, Tamaulipas May 20, 2000 Tegucigalpa Honduras Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Distrito Central Mar 17, 2013 The Gila Valley Arizona United States, Central, Arizona May 23, 2010 The Hague Netherlands Netherlands, Zoetermeer, Netherland Sep 8, 2002 Tijuana Mexico Mexico, Tijuana, Baja California Construction Tokyo Japan Japan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oct 27, 1980 Toronto Ontario Canada, Brampton, Ontario Aug 25, 1990 Trujillo Peru Peru, Trujillo, Trujillo Construction Tucson Arizona United States, Tucson, Arizona Announced Tuxtla Gutirrez Mexico Mxico, Tuxtla Gutirrez, Chiapas Mar 12, 2000 Twin Falls Idaho United States, Twin Falls, Idaho Aug 24, 2008 Urdaneta Philippines Philippines, Urdaneta, Pangasinan Announced Vancouver British Columbia Canada, Langley, British Colombia May 2, 2010 Veracruz Mexico Mexico, Boca del Rio, Veracruz Jul 9, 2000 Vernal Utah United States, Vernal, Utah Nov 2, 1997 Villahermosa Mexico Mexico, Villahermosa, Tabasco May 21, 2000 Washington D.C. United States, Kensington, Maryland Nov 19, 1974 Winnipeg Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba Announced Winter Quarters Nebraska United States, Omaha, Nebraska Apr 22, 2001

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Official LDS Church Website: Find a Temple

PRICES LISTED REFLECTS THE STEEL FRAMING SYSTEM ONLY. YOU WILL NEED SOMEONE TO INSTALL THE SYSTEM AND ALL OTHER TYPES OF LABOR OR MATERIALS SUCH AS SHEETROCK, INSULATION, MECHANICAL WORK OR FINISHES ARE SUPPLIED BY OTHERS. OUR LISTED PRICES TYPICALLY INCLUDE ALL STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING COST AND FREIGHT EXPENSES DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION. WE DO OFFER STEEL ROOFING TRIM AND STEEL WALL PANELS AS AN OPTIONAL PRICE.

Many modern church buildings today can have a large open interior space to accommodate a growing congregation of people or perhaps a small quaint church for a smaller community. Builders can utilize our all galvanized coated structural steel framing system designed for strength, less maintenance and energy savings. These steel systems are created to be used as a custom designed building system that will certainly hold better values, receive higher appraisals now and long into the future while reducing the energy costs and maintenance costs to maintain the investment.

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This one system that does it all for the structural integrity of your new building. Eliminate the need for various types of other materials that complicate the design and under perform, confuse the contractors and add those hidden cost to the construction. Our system has no limitations on types of roofing, siding, brick, stone or other finish materials, allowing for the look required.

During our 20 years of experience in the steel building industry, LTH Steel Structures has engineered and supplied various types of church buildings. We pride ourselves on supplying quality products and providing unmatched service and support throughout the entire process of economically pricing, engineering, producing, and shipping your church building.

We can provide you a free, accurate quote usually within 1-3 business days if you have working architectural drawings. We can also help with design if needed for a reasonable fee. We price our buildings economically without sacrificing engineering integrity or safety.

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Steel Church Buildings for Sale | LTH Steel Structures

When the trustees of New Milford United Methodist Church sold the circa-1900 house next door, they had no idea a fast food restaurant would be proposed for the site.

The two-story white house was demolished Monday to make way for a commercial building.

The new owner, 68 Danbury Road LLC, is before the Zoning Commission with an application to construct a 3,000-square-foot fast food restaurant with a takeout window on the site.

That fact and an "emotional attachment" to the house is causing some church members anxiety, said trustee Tom Nixon.

But the property was "sold in good faith and the church is supportive of the new owners and development of the piece," Nixon said.

"But a fast food restaurant going in -- we never anticipated that," he added. "That would have a significant impact on the church. Our building is extensively used throughout the week."

Access to the restaurant would be through the church's existing driveway at the signalized intersection of Danbury Road (Route 7) and Pickett District Road.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Laura Regan has calculated that 1,659 vehicle trips a day could be generated if the 58-seat proposed restaurant is approved.

Paul Szymanski, of Arthur H. Howland & Associates, representing the owner, told zoning board members Tuesday that any number of businesses could end up on the property.

"The owner is proposing a fast food restaurant for the site at this time, but the future tenant could be a bank or a retail store," Szymanski said. "The applicant's goal is to receive approval for maximum use of the (1.11-acre) parcel."

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Should fast food replace 1900 house? - NewsTimes

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Sveti Spaso Church (Church of the Holy Saviour) | Flickr ...

Farting in Church! Construction Nation Ep 25

By: Kerstin Aiava

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Farting in Church! Construction Nation Ep 25 - Video

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) -- A man ran into the rectory of an Episcopal church with his clothes on fire, causing a blaze that killed himself and the church's pastor, authorities said Wednesday.

Investigators believe that John Sterner, 56, was covered in a flammable substance when he entered the building Tuesday morning, which caused the fire to spread quickly, according to a news release from town officials. But the cause of the fire remained under investigation, and authorities had not reached any conclusions about how Sterner came to be on fire.

The pastor, the Rev. David Dingwall, died at a hospital after the fire. A woman who volunteers at the church was critically injured and was being treated at a burn center in Baltimore.

The Rev. Heather Cook of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton said the man later identified as Sterner "ran in screaming for help. He hugged one of the volunteers there, an adult female whose clothes were also ignited."

"This is just such a bizarre incident," Cook said. "It's bad enough to lose somebody, but right before Thanksgiving through a bizarre kind of fire, people are stunned. It's not just the parish. It's the whole Ocean City community. People are aghast."

Dingwall was a native of Canada who moved to Maryland's Eastern Shore in 2003 and became rector of St. Paul's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church in 2005. Although the building was once the church rectory, Dingwall did not live there, Cook said. It housed a food bank and church offices.

Cook said that according to witnesses, Dingwall was stricken by smoke and heat after he tried to retrieve his computer from the burning building. He was unconscious when firefighters retrieved him from the second floor, authorities said.

There was little damage to the church itself.

Sterner has a lengthy criminal history that includes arrests for offenses including assault, breaking and entering and malicious destruction of property, and he's been convicted of drug possession and possessing an open container of alcohol in public, according to online court records.

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