CHURCH HOSTS GRAND OPENING AT NEW SITE ON LEXINGTON AVENUE

Having a new building helps make Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church visible, but it's not the sole reason the church gathers each Sunday.

The two-story building that has 3,600 square foot on each level is only one part of a construction project for the church. "We're here so that others can come to know and grow in Christ," said the Rev. Art Hunt, pastor.

The church has been worshipping together at the new site on Lexington Avenue for four weeks, and it is now time to invite friends and neighbors to join them.

"We've gotten all the glitches out," said Hunt.

Grand opening celebrations will be Sunday. Worship is at 10:30 a.m. An informal open house will be held after the service so that visitors can tour the facility.

It took some time to unpack all the boxes in Hunt's office and move the shelves of reference books. "That was a mammoth project," he said.

But members did most of the moving work, since the church didn't hire a moving company.

The church had been meeting in educational rooms at St. Francis Medical Center for about five years, so many of the chairs and other equipment had been stored either at the hospital or in members' homes.

Although the moving has been done, the church is still getting used to its new surroundings. Walls are being painted in the bathrooms; wallpaper was hung in the nursery. Classrooms are set up in the offices and the kitchen.

Hunt said the church has benefited greatly from donations and gifts from people in the community. And those friends, colleagues and neighbors have been invited to the grand opening.

When the church began its move, Hunt was advised by other pastors and people who have moved sites to move in and then hold a grand opening service. That gave the church time to figure out exactly how to arrange furniture and where to put classrooms.

"Most of the work is 95 percent done," Hunt said. Each day there is one less box, he said. When he moved into his office space, the entire floor was covered with boxes. Now chairs are set up for an adult Sunday school class and the bookshelves are filled. But pictures still lean against the wall waiting to be hung.

Because the church has waited to hold its grand opening, it also allowed the congregation time to make invitations. "We've been walking neighborhoods with door hangers," Hunt said, announcing the "coming attraction."

The church won't do much different at its grand opening worship service than it would at any other Sunday worship service. Visitors will receive welcome packets that explain who the church is and what services are available.

For information, call the church at 334-6292.