This is a good time to update everyone on our Master Plan Committee progress. We hired HH Architects to work with us on updating our Master Plan. These are the same architects who have done such a great job with our current facilities. Our committee felt very strongly that HH, led by Jonesy McConnell, would do the best job of integrating the design and plan for the new sanctuary, assuming that our congregation chooses to go forward.

Since hiring HH we have met with their team twice and have given them our input as to several key issues. We anticipate seeing the update to our current Master Plan evolve over the next few weeks. This is a very exciting time for us as a church.

If you have any questions or would like more detailed information, let us know.

Chris Korst
ckorst@racenter.com

Posted by My Church at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As a part of our "MY CHURCH" campaign we have asked members to share with us their hopes and dreams for Christ Church. There are various ways of doing this, including our website. One of the more interesting exercises, however, took place when our Children's Ministry asked the kids to draw pictures of what they wanted the new sanctuary to look like and any additions they would like to see.

The results have been fascinating, ranging from the touching to the hilarious. Just to name a few: a hamburger joint, a swimming pool, a Pokeman Battle Stadium, a Noah's Ark Ride, and (my favorite) a fireworks launcher on the steeple for the 4th of July. But a little boy by the name of Austin, age 9, managed to capture the spirit of this campaign better than anybody else. He drew a picture of a church with a great big sign over it reading "WELCOME TO THE IMPROVED CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH."

Austin, you have figured it out completely. A church building project is never just about making more room or having a nicer worship facility or a larger bride's room. It is about improving the ministry and mission of the church. It is about growing deeper in our faith and more courageous in our witness and more committed in our outreach. It is about improved children's and youth programs, improved Bible studies and mission projects. It is about ordinary Christians trying to improve and enlarge their efforts to make the Kingdom of God a reality in this time and place and for the generations yet to come.

One final word: Austin pretty much thought of everything. His drawing designates where the "wheel chair door opener" should be so that nobody would ever be left out. And he makes one humble request about the color of the new sanctuary: "anything but pink."

Posted by My Church at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Master Plan sub-committee has selected HH Architects to develop preliminary architectural plans for the forthcoming Phase 4 Project after weeks of deliberation and interviewing several architects. The Master Plan sub-committee is working with the Building Committee to fulfill the approved proposal set by the Leadership Summit held on January 8, 2007.

HH Architects is a nationally recognized architectural firm that focuses on religious facilities and has designed many of the leading churches across the Nation, including the first 3 phases of Christ United Methodist Church.

Click here to view the HH Presentation

Stay connected with the Building Committee. Click on “MyChurch” at
www.CUMC.com for communications from the Building Committee. Check out the dreams that have been shared, blogs by sub-committees and more. Be sure to sign-up for the monthly email newsletter.

Posted by My Church at 1:59 PM | Permalink

The Master Plan Subcommittee of the CUMC Building Committee has two primary and important responsibilities. First, we are responsible for hiring the architect and firm that will direct our work on the new building assuming that the congregation decides to proceed with building a new sanctuary. In this regard, we are interviewing several of the very best architects and firms that specialize in building churches and, in particular, have experience building sanctuaries for United Methodist churches. We expect to complete the interview and selection process within a few weeks and hope to have our architect on board by mid-April.

The second job that the Master Plan Subcommittee has is to work closely with the architect to update the existing Master Plan. CUMC first developed a Master Plan for the property we are at today back in the early 1990s. That plan was updated in 1999 when the church moved forward with plans to build the Christian Life Center. Our committee will try and build upon the great work done in the past and update the Master Plan by addressing our current and planned or anticipated facilities needs and desires. This update will include a master plan for a new sanctuary, a plan for what we would do with the present sanctuary assuming we build a new one, and plans for other important church activities and purposes, including education and fellowship areas, office space and a chapel.

We should complete these tasks by the middle to end of May at the latest.

Posted by My Church at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My Church is taking us on a new journey. A journey of purpose, a journey of discovery, a journey to undetstand how our church can make a difference. We all want to make the most of the life God has given to us. A life of belonging, building, sharing.

We dream of a church....
....where the Gospel is the underlying theme; where grace is accepted and extended; where the salvation of souls is the norm, not the exception; where love for people springs from love for God; where joy permeates the air; where people are one in spirit; where service is considered a privilege and not a burden.

What is your dream for the church? We want to know your thoughts. Send us a dream online at www.cumc.com or write it down and place it in the dream box at a My Church display in the Narthex.

Posted by My Church at 10:24 PM | Permalink

The Building Committee is already at work under the leadership of Duncan Webb, Chair. The first full meeting was held Tuesday, February 27 with over 35 people in attendance. There are many sub-committees forming that will soon involve over 100 church members. The charge of the Building Committee is to revise the master plan, develop architectural plans for Phase 4, determine the anticipated costs, develop a financial plan and submit a recommendation to the Church. A congregational meeting will be held later in 2007 to consider the final recommendation of the Building Committee concerning Phase 4 of our church facility. Every church member is invited to consider the final proposal and every church member has voice and vote. A majority vote will be required to proceed any further in the building process.

Please pray for everyone involved in this process; it is a work they do on behalf of all of us. The Building Committee wants to hear your dreams for our church. Go online to the church website: www.CUMC.com and tell us about your vision and dreams for the church. Online, you can ask questions, as well as provide your input and suggestions. The committee wants to hear from everyone and hopes to include as many church members in the process as possible.

Posted by My Church at 10:21 PM | Permalink

On Monday evening, January 8, 2007 the congregation of Christ UMC overwhelmingly voted to approve the appointment of a building committee. Rev. Pat Beghtel-Mahle, District Superintendent of the Dallas Northeast District of the United Methodist Church chaired this important “Charge Conference.”

The approved proposal reads as follows:
“We move that the Charge Conference of Christ United Methodist Church appoint a Building Committee and charge it with the responsibility of developing a design and budget for Phase IV of our current campus, including an updated Master Plan, to be brought back for final approval by a Congregational Meeting. Phase IV will include a sanctuary and as much of the updated Master Plan as is financially feasible.”

Over 230 church members were in attendance at the Charge Conference held in the sanctuary. There was plenty of discussion and energy in the room and good questions were asked. A list of frequently asked questions and their answers are available online.

The nomination of Duncan Webb to chair the Building Committee was approved unanimously. A dedicated, long time member of Christ UMC, Duncan served on the original master plan committee in 1996 and was active in the building of Phase 1, Christ UMC’s main building. Duncan will work with our Senior Pastor, Don Underwood, to form a working committee that will be a broad representation of the entire CUMC congregation.

According to the United Methodist process, the responsibility of the building committee is to:

1 update the master plan,
2 develop architectural plans, and
3 develop a comprehensive financial plan

The full report of the Building Committee along with future recommendations will be presented at an all Church Conference later in 2007. A majority vote is required to proceed further in a building project. Inputs, ideas and opinions will be actively sought from all congregation members. A website suggestion process is planned as
well as multiple avenues for communication with the congregation including small group discussions and “town hall” style meetings.

Please check the website, www.cumc.com, for ongoing updates from the building committee and send in your questions, suggestions and ideas.

Posted by My Church at 10:17 PM | Permalink