April 24, 2019
We are moving forward! Sometimes in a building and moving process, we have to remember that we have a long road ahead. In reality, we have been on this journey for some time already.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” We too must be mindful of fighting the good fight, of looking toward finishing the race, and keeping the faith.
On April 7, we as a congregation voted to approve the preliminary plans of our future building. This is not our final plan, but it is a big step in us moving forward. This approval will give us the ability to begin getting bids to finalize the cost. It will also let us start to obtain the proper permits on the project.
The Building Committee is vigilantly meeting twice a month, and with the help of our Construction Management consultant, we are pushing forward in this great race.
If you have not seen the building flyover, or want to walk the property in prayer, those resources are available on our website.
April 8, 2019
Euless First United Methodist Church yesterday held a Chruch Conference to approve two items of business.
First, Euless First has owned the billboard at the easternmost point of our property for several years. This billboard gives us many advantages in advertising and some financial incentive. However, with the prospect of relocation and raising money to purchase our new building, we decided to investigate the many offers we had received to sell our contract for the billboard. At the Church Conference, we voted to sell the billboard and for proceeds to benefit our future building endeavors.
Second, we needed as a congregation to approve the preliminary building plans so that we can move forward with more detailed plans. The next steps are needed to acquire bids, create a spending plan and begin getting permits.
We are planning to have another Church Conference in July to approve the final plans and spending for those plans.
We wish to thank our diligent volunteers on the building committee under the leadership of Judy Tribble. We also thank Brad Tribble for his leadership in negotiations with the billboard and so much more! If you have not yet seen the preliminary building plans here is a link to a video overview.
March 23, 2019
Have you seen the current building plans? We are inviting everyone in the congregation to join us for several viewing meetings as we prepare as a congregation to move forward. These meetings will be: March 25, during the Church Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary; March 28 at 6:00 p.m. after I Will Praise in the Café; and March 31 during the Sunday School hour in the Library. Then join us on April 7, following worship, for a Church Conference to vote on these preliminary plans.
February 25, 2019
One of the concerns raised by Paul Nixon, our Coach, and Consultant, is about the name of our church. Because our leadership takes his expertise seriously, Pastor Steve is assembling a team to tackle the branding of our church in a new location. I have requested a representative from each adult Sunday School class and will have begun these meetings before March begins.
January 25, 2019
Euless First United Methodist Church continues to look forward to 2020!
Our Building Committee has picked up meeting twice a month to help us move forward with the next steps.
If you have any questions for this group please do not hesitate to ask. Here is the committee: Judy Tribble, Jerry Maloney, Jr., Stan Lewiecki, Kyle Lewis, Lynne Moffatt, and Janna Hamm.
December 30, 2018
All sales are final! We have purchased the property at Ash Ln and Industrial, and we have sold the 106 N. Main property to QT. What a time to celebrate!
Thank you to all those that have helped with this deal. This indeed was a group effort, and we are so very grateful for all that you have done.
We are now looking forward. We will be continuing to plan in the next couple of months. You will see plans for the future building on Ash Ln. coming soon.
Get ready for 2019– it will be a year of I Will! For more info check out page 2.
February 28, 2018
I’m writing this the morning after the all-Church meeting on February 18th. The presentations were helpful and a lot of you had really good questions!
Writing this column before a Church Conference at which we’ll vote to decide whether or not to sell our property is challenging. I don’t think it is fair for me to predict the outcome of the vote, though I am fairly confident of the outcome.
Instead, I want to focus on this angle: For more than four years we have been dealing with various aspects of property and building decisions. Emotions have run high. Friendships have been stressed.
Through it all, one of my ongoing hopes has been that this process would energize us as a congregation to seek God’s will and direction. And I don’t mean just whether or not God wants us to move, to rebuild, etc.
I mean that we, as a congregation, need to get serious about following Jesus. And following Jesus doesn’t depend on land or a building. Following Jesus depends on our trust in God’s faithfulness and promises.
As we learn to respond to God’s faithfulness and promises, we will very likely have certain preferences about buildings and properties; but these will flow out of our vision for serving God rather than the other way around.
What we really have to do next, no matter how the vote goes (time of writing this article) or went (time of reading this article), is seek God’s direction for how we, as God’s people, can follow Jesus and serve our neighbors.
January 27, 2018
Writing an update for February in mid-January is challenging. While it is likely we’ll have some news by the beginning of February, there is nothing new at this moment.
The Real Estate Team is dealing with offers on our property. The Building Committee is in a holding pattern. Church Leadership is weighing our options, seeking wisdom in making decisions as they need to be made.
Wisdom knows not all decisions depend on property or buildings. Decisions we have to make every day, actions we take everyday, influence our life as a church, decisions cannot wait for the property building questions to be settled.
Following Jesus, better today than yesterday means doing things today that prepare us for decisions we face tomorrow. Doing nothing is not an option.
We will proceed with all the ministry God has set before us already!
July 20, 2017
Here is an update from the Real Estate Committee: The purchase agreements on both the sale of our property and the purchase of our new property have been executed. We are now in a period of due diligence in advance of closing on both deals.
All through this process, from long before relocation was decided upon, we have been in close communication, as appropriate, with leadership at the City of Euless. They have been supportive in every way imaginable, and continue to work with us as we need. If you know any City of Euless leaders or employees, thank them!
Also, the next couple of years promise to be full of excitement, but also full of stress. Remember that the highway expansion project that precipitated all of this actually began almost 4 years ago. We have had highs and lows all along the way, and, as a church family, we have faced the challenges together, and grown closer.
There is not a time of life that is stress-free, but there will be a time that the kinds of extra stresses we face as a church right now will be behind us. Let’s continue to hold one another in prayer until then!
Euless First United Methodist Church has been in prayer regarding our future. We have been contemplating the expansion and renovation of our building as well as a generous offer on our property– which would mean moving and building new. Sunday, March 26 a Church Conference voted 89% affirmative to allow church leaders to move forward in the investigation of relocation. Our goal is to keep you up to date as much as possible. As this goes forward, we will call another Church Conference if we find suitable land and a reasonable offer on our property. No sale will occur without approval from the District Board on Church Location and Building and a Church Conference. Please continue to pray as our congregation moves forward with God leading the way.
April 19, 2017
Construction Update: Southgate Constructors has informed us that on Monday, April 24th, Main Street from between Highways 183 and 10 will be open only to southbound traffic. This means we will no longer be able to turn north off HWY 10 and then into our parking lot. You will have to continue on HWY 10, make a U-turn then enter in one of the two entrances off of HWY 10. At some point after that (Southgate couldn’t give us a precise date yet), our Main Street driveway will be closed up to 4 weeks. During this time a median will be added down the length of Main Street on our block. Therefore, very likely during the month of May, we will no longer be able to access the Main Street driveway from southbound Main Street either. At about the same time, though, they are scheduled to begin construction on a new entrance into our parking lot from the north side of the building. This driveway will extend from the highway onramp onto our parking lot. They estimate it will take about three weeks to complete.
March 6, 2017
Euless First United Methodist Church has been in prayer regarding our next steps. We have been contemplating the expansion and renovation of our building, as well as a generous offer on our property– which means a move and building new. Here are the steps as we move forward:
1. Church Council (elected leaders and committee chairs) approved the recommendation of the Trustees Committee to go forward with moving to another location. Their recommendation to a Church Conference (March 26, 12:15 p.m.) is “To go forward with a relocation place for Euless First UMC subject to progress on the purchase of land and sale of existing property. “
2. We will be hosting 5 information meetings for anyone to attend to find out more about this proposal. All meetings except one, will be in the Swor Parlor. Dates and times are: Sunday, March 12 5:00 p.m. (in the Café); Tuesday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m.; Monday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m.; Finally, Steve will have a Q&A on Sunday, March 26 during Sunday School in the Youth Room.
3. At the Church Conference (everyone is welcome, but only members can vote), we will take a vote as a congregation to approve or not approve the recommendation. Church Conference will be on Sunday, March 26 at 12:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
