If you’ve driven by the church recently, you have noticed a flurry of activity, construction vehicles, and lots of workers.  To date, the parsonage has been relocated, preliminary site work done, and the footings poured for the expanded sanctuary/fellowship hall.  Soon the footings will be poured for the Gilford Youth Center.  It is really exciting and amazing to watch.  (We have a number of pictures posted on our website: www.gilfordcommunitychurch.org.)  Don Roper, Construction Manager, believes that the sanctuary/fellowship hall will be completed by July 2009.  Already a number of brides/grooms have booked 2009 weddings in anticipation of our new sanctuary, which will be truly inspiring. 

While construction continues, program planning is well underway for the new Gilford Youth Center.  The newly formed GYC Board (Penny Pitou, Leo Sanfacon, Lynne Baron, Sandy Stafford and Michael Graham) is meeting with community leaders who will help us explore how best our facilities can be used to address the needs of our youth, families and seniors. 

The Gilford Youth Center’s application for 501 (c) 3 status has been submitted and soon we will begin to meet with members of the larger community to solicit financial support from them for the youth center.  Our Grant writer continues to submit grant requests from appropriate corporations and foundations.

 As we have previously noted, for the dream of this $4,750,000 project to become a reality we needed to raise about $1,200,000.  Our goal from the congregation is $800,000.  We are pleased to report that already $290,000 has been pledged by seventy-five people.  We appreciate their generosity.  We want everyone to feel an important part of this project and participate in seeing our dreams for the future of our church and the community fulfilled.  When we voted to move forward with the project, the response of the church was unanimous; now we would encourage those who have not yet pledged your support to do so and take your part in this truly exciting endeavor.  Your participation will help us to conclude this phase of our funding by Old Home Day Sunday (August 27).  If you have misplaced your pledge card, write your pledge on your own paper, or drop into the church office for another, or call the church office and one will be sent to you.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to stop in and see me or any member of the Expansion Fund Drive Committee: (Walter and Lisa Berghahn, Ron Dudley, Sara Allen, David Ames, Sandy Stafford, Mary Flinn).

Thank you,

Michael Graham