We have known for some time that our space was getting too cramped to be at all welcoming to visitors and have been praying about moving. I felt an almost maniacal urge to get out of there by Easter, even as I realized it would be impossible to find and ready new space by then. Silly pastor that I am, I had forgotten that just under a year ago one of our members had discerned in prayer two very specific points: that we would not have another Easter service in the current building and that Dan Edgerton (my father) would be key in our entering the new one. This discernment came at a time when my parents were not even members of the church! Well, they’re members now, and Dad was given the charge (by the Lord and then by his pastor) to help us find and negotiate a lease for something larger.
Just over two weeks ago, we found the new spot, a comfortable space in Woodridge West on Airport Blvd., directly behind Advantage Rentals (Google “3195-A Airport Blvd. NW, Wilson, NC 27896″; see Times and Place tab). Our skilled and faithful workhorse Ron Horner has coordinated the physical efforts to prepare the space, and our whole congregation has worked tirelessly. What a collaboration it has been: some have painted, some have hammered, some have baked cookies and brought pizzas, some have scrubbed and shined. All have prayed. With amazingly few bumps in the road, and even more amazingly few of the sort of disagreements and misunderstandings these efforts always bring, the space is near completion. The Lord has brought together a beautifully diverse and gifted congregation to share life together in worship and in the labor of the Kingdom. I am a very proud father.
The first service in the new building will be April 1, Passion/Palm Sunday at 10:30. We will process with palms and dedicate our use of this building to the worship of the Lord. There will not be Wednesday Evening Prayer this week so that final preparations can be made. Here’s the schedule for the next several services:
April 1 10:30am Palm Sunday Eucharist
April 5 7:00pm Maundy Thursday with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
April 6 noon Good Friday with veneration of the Cross
April 8 10:30am Pascha! The Easter Eucharist
April 11 7:00pm Wednesday Evening Prayer and Study resumes
Look for updates on the site, including pictures!
