Immanuel Anglican Church Breaks Ground!
On October 17, representatives from Immanuel Anglican Church (Woodbridge, VA), the architect and builders, and Bishop John, celebrated the groundbreaking liturgy to begin the process of building their new church building.
Travis Hines shares in his weekly letter to the congregation:
O Lord God of Israel, the heavens cannot contain you, yet you are pleased to dwell in the midst of your people, and have moved us to set apart a space on which to build a house of prayer: Accept and bless the work which we have now begun, that it may be brought to completion, to the honor and glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Bishop John prayed these words during the groundbreaking liturgy this past Sunday afternoon. The first sentence still resonates in my heart: “O Lord God of Israel, the heavens cannot contain you, yet you are pleased to dwell in the midst of your people...”
A line of us stood behind a pile of dirt, wearing hard hats and holding shovels. A few feet in front of us stood representatives of our congregation, and behind them was the concrete foundation of our Mission Outpost. And where was God? Not in the heavens, waiting for the construction of the building, but right there with us, already in our midst.
(Read the entire letter here.)
Since parking was not available for everyone to participate on the new land for the groundbreaking service, the following Sunday, October 31, everyone gathered to celebrate after the weekly worship service. Follow the journey to Immanuel’s future home here.
“The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes…Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:23-24 Truly Immanuel’s Mission Outpost groundbreaking celebration was filled with rejoicing, thanksgiving, and praise for all the Lord has done and will do in the years to come.” Chloellen Miller, Move Team Co-Chair
Photos credits: Barbara Finney