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Beginning the weekend of May 2, we will be consolidating all of our worship gatherings at one location at our Berthoud facilities.  Thursday night worship time stays the same: 6:45 PM.  New worship times on Sunday will be the same as on Easter: 8:00, 9:45, 11:30 AM.

Last fall we moved the Loveland worship gathering from Thompson Valley High School in the morning, to Loveland High School in the evening.  The reasons for this move included: 1) The 1200 seat auditorium at TVHS was too large for a feeling of community and energy and LHS was smaller; 2) We were making necessary budget cutbacks and LHS was half the price to rent; 3) LHS was not available in the morning; 4) We were able to move away from video teaching at a time when I, as the primary teacher, was also wanting to be able to pray specifically for revival and healing with people after every service.

Over the past eight months we have learned that while some do prefer an afternoon/evening service, about half of the Loveland group wanted a morning worship experience and many were willing to drive an extra 10-15 minutes to Berthoud.  Because numbers in Loveland have dropped, the campus is no longer paying for itself. There has also been a loss of volunteers who can spread the load of set-up takedown, and other serving roles.

Pastor Gregg and I began to explore various options for a Sunday morning location in Loveland.  One exciting option we considered was purchasing a building downtown that could also be a coffeehouse ministry during the week. As we began to research and pray over this idea, I begin to sense a strong conviction that it was time to prayerfully restudy where God is taking us in the future.  Not just 2 years out, but 20 years out.  There are two strong convictions that I share with other leaders: 1) We must find ways to become a more outwardly focused church–especially in ministry to those who are victims of injustice, poverty, oppression, or hurting. On May 16 we will be starting a new teaching series on this theme called “Comfortably Numb.” ; 2) We do not have a sufficient long term facility plan for maximizing the potential that exists for gospel impact in northern Colorado over the next couple decades.

So we are doing two things: 1) I have asked Pastor Gregg (formerly “Loveland Campus Pastor”) to take the title of Outreach Pastor to concentrate on helping us be more intentional about getting out of the seats and into the streets.  We are also going to designate $2500 per month (which was being paid in rent for LHS) to direct ministry to people in the community who are in need.  If your small group wants to take on a serving project that will demonstrate the love of God to someone in need, talk to Gregg about possible funding.  $30,000 a year will now be going to direct ministry to needy causes and people, rather than rent.  2) Without ruling out multi-site as a future option, we are going to look at future facility options—including relocating our Berthoud (inside or outside Berthoud) campus in order to more adequately provide for long term growth and ministry.  You will be hearing much more about this in the future!

We are appealing to our Loveland church family members to make the drive to Berthoud and stay a part of Grace Place!  We will still be very intentional about reaching out to the community of Loveland, regardless of whether we currently have a worship location there.  I also want to appeal to those in Berthoud who usually worship at 8:30 to please make the shift to 8:00. I know we’ll have to set the alarm for 30 minutes earlier, but if everyone shows up at 9:45, we’ll be in trouble.

Here are some details to note:

• Pastor Steve (formerly “Berthoud Campus Pastor”) will continue to lead out in Pastoral Care for the congregation.
• There will be FULL CHILDREN’S MINISTRY programming at ALL services (including 8:00 AM).
• The Lighthouse Café will be opened longer—until 2:00 PM.  The café will serve the breakfast menu until 11:00 AM and the lunch menu 11:00 AM-2:00 PM.  It is difficult to serve both breakfast and lunch items at the same time when there are large numbers of people ordering.  Thank you for your understanding.
• The Crossing @ Five Stones (4^th-8^th grade) will be meeting during the 9:45 AM service.
• The Loveland Office will be closed by May1.
• LIONS (Little Ones in Need) Ministry drop/off pick up will now happen in Berthoud.
• The last worship gathering at Loveland High School will be April 25, 4:00 PM, followed by a dinner and celebration of all the time, talent, and heart that has been poured out by a faithful core group there.

This consolidation move is a responsible stewardship move at this time.  Let’s pray for unity, for togetherness, for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and for God to have his way in our hearts, homes, church, and community!

I love my church family and look forward to our future together.

We just got dates and prices locked in for the 12-day Grace Place Holy Lands Tour March 23-April 3, 2011 for $3898. The price is all inclusive from Denver (DIA)—including tips, taxes, guides, transports, and buffet breakfast and dinners.  Your only expense is lunch and souvenirs.  Wait until you see the itinerary.  We’ll stay one night in Tel Aviv, three nights at the Sea of Galilee… six nights in Jerusalem while we tour the country. We’ll visit Capernaum and walk through the very synagogue where Jesus taught, see the place where he called Peter, the Mount of Beatitudes, the place where 5000 were fed, sail on the Sea of Galilee, have baptisms in the Jordan river, visit Nazareth, the ancient ruins of Jericho, float in the Dead Sea, hike to the falls of En Gedi (where David hid from Saul), Masada, and so much more.  And Jerusalem… too much to say about Jerusalem.  This trip cost more than a 7-9 day trip, but after doing that length, we’ve learned that we need more time to soak in the sights and sounds and reflect on the Scriptures associated with key locations.  I will be doing some teaching along the way as well.

There will also be an OPTIONAL 3-day (two nights) Rome Extension April 3-5, 2011 for $1448. Rome is amazing–the ancient ruins, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Mamertine prison (where both Peter and Paul were held), the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica of St. Paul (where Paul was buried)… not to mention Italian food and culture.  Definitely worth a stop since we are flying over anyway!

We have decided to tour with Inspiration Tours http://www.inspirationcruises.com.  They come highly recommended by my friend, Mark Martin, pastor the 14,000 member Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, who has traveled several times to Israel with Inspiration.  They are currently hosting trips for Charles Swindoll, Micheal W. Smith, Greg Laurie, Jack Hayford, and many other well known leaders.

Very soon we will have a brochure available and also a webpage.

This is your opportunity to walk where Jesus walked.  You’ll never read the Bible the same again—guaranteed!