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Humble Beginning
In the spring of 2004, we embarked
on the building of the driveway to our future church
building location. At the end of our first construction
season on the driveway,
we met as a congregation at the top of the driveway
to celebrate our progress. What follows is an article,
which was edited and published in several local newspapers. |
Come
this Thanksgiving season, members of The Worship Center
in Hebron have something new to celebrate.
After years in the planning stages, what was once a vision
for a permanent church building, is now springing to life
as site work for the building project has resulted in
a humble dirt road that leads up 1,100 feet to the future
site of the church atop a beautiful hill off of Marjorie
Circle.
To celebrate the milestone, a large group of the church’s
200 members recently marched up the newly constructed
driveway where they gathered for a Thanksgiving service
to commemorate the completion of Phase I of the building
project. |
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“
We are being built together as living stones to become
a temple. The temple is the people and the building is
a place where the temple can be housed. Being in the building
will help us to become the temple that we have been called
to be for this area of Connecticut,” stated Pastor
Mark Santostefano, referencing I Peter 2:4-9.
A major catalyst in launching this project forward was
the courage of one of the church members, Joshua Phillips,
a heavy equipment operator. Guided by a calling on his
heart and possessing the skills necessary to advance the
road project, Josh challenged the congregation to take
a step of faith and move forward with the road project.
A lack of resources to complete the project had stalled
construction efforts as church leadership considered the
most responsible and cost effective manner to move forward.
At the urging of Mr. Phillips, the congregation chose
the path of faith and commenced work on the road. |
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Up
to this point, progress had been challenged by funding
and developmental concerns. Due to the land’s steep
grade, estimates for building the road were coming in
at levels that would consume the resources which the church
had raised and set aside for the project. Working side
by side with town officials, approvals for road work were
obtained and the decision was made to push forward on
a more cost effective basis with the creation of the road.
Church Elder, John Hodgkins, commented, “ We would
not be where we are today if it had not been for Josh
and a small but faith-filled body of believers moving
into something that was at the same time daunting, exhilarating
and spiritually challenging. This is a people’s
project and I am so touched by the culmination of the
efforts involved, from the incredible generosity of equipment
and materials donated by members of the congregation and
so many other friends of The Worship Center, to the devoted
selfless hours volunteered and to the faithful sacrifice
and service of the community in which we worship.” |
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John
reported that the body has recently undertaken a tremendous
‘ leap of faith ’ in an agreement to commence
building with the funds raised thus far, amounting to
approximately one-sixth (1/6) of the total cost. He added,
“ This is a project that will be pursued one step
at a time.” The Church graciously received the gifted
11-acre parcel about nine years ago from a senior member,
Florence Boucher.
“A dream come true,” Mrs. Boucher exclaimed
as she made her way up the rugged road to the site that
will one day soon be the home of The Worship Center.
The Worship Center is a non-denominational church where
Sunday services are currently being held in the R.H.A.M.
High School cafeteria. Sunday School classes and Nursery
begin at 9:00 a.m. with Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.
All are welcome. Also, anyone wishing more information
or to assist in the Building Project efforts, please contact
the Church office in Hebron at 860-228-4442. |
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