Montrose Baptist Church is looking to move out of its current Rockville property where it holds services and runs the Montrose Christian School, to rezone it to allow for the construction of townhouses.

Some of the churchs neighbors, however, are concerned the townhouses would lead to increased traffic around their homes.

In a letter sent to community members, Ken Fentress the churchs senior pastor and the schools chancellor said the church decided to change locations to move closer to where its congregation members and students live.

The church filed an application with the county to make a zoning change after consulting with experts about potential property uses, Fentress said in the letter.

We have been mindful of the neighborhood character, and with [the experts] assistance have concluded that the property would be best redeveloped with attached single family residential homes, he said in the letter.

The church planned to hold a meeting in May or June to provide more information to community members about the proposed townhomes, according to the letter.

The Montgomery County Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings is scheduled to hold a hearing about the churchs application on Sept. 22, according to the county website.

Calls to reach Fentress at the church were not returned.

The church held its first service at its current location in 1958, according to its website.

According to state tax records, the church owns more than 5 acres on Randolph Road.

See the article here:
Montrose Baptist Church seeks rezoning of Rockville property -- Gazette.Net

BETHLEHEM , West Bank, May 27 (UPI) --A fire damaged the Church of the nativity in Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories, Tuesday, a church visited by Pope Francis over the weekend.

The fire, believed to be accidental, damaged fabric wall hangings in the Grotto of the Nativity.

The church, whose construction was begun in 565 A.D. after the destruction of another church on the site, is regarded as standing above the birthplace of Jesus. The fire broke out in a grotto, or cave, under the basilica.

"An oil lamp fell over. The fire started on its own, then burned itself out," said Bethlehem governor Adbel-Fatah Hamayel.

Brightly-colored wall hangings were found damaged and blackened by soot, and two icons, depicting a baby Jesus held by his mother Mary, sustained smoke damage.

Bethlehem police said in a statement a wooden bowl caught fire at the entrance to the grotto, causing "candles to fall down and set fire to curtains." They added wall tiles were also damaged by the heat.

Pope Francis visited the church Sunday.

Read the original post:
Fire strikes Bethlehem's Nativity Church

YADKIN COUNTY Construction has begun on a park in Yadkin County that's the first of its kind for the area.

The 5D Park is located at the intersection of US-421 and I-77 in the heart of Yadkin County.

It's a unique place where people will be able to find a variety of activities to do outdoors, and it is a project that's been decades in the making.

"It's been in the making for about 40-50 years, said county manager Aaron Church. The dam part is completed, and this is the first phase of the recreation part."

Workers finished the dam in 2010, and now the $1.3 million park is about six months away from opening.

"There are about 140 acres of water, and about 750 acres of land surrounding it that's county-owned, said county commissioner David Moxley. There is also about 350-400 acres we can develop into this park."

Once complete, the park will feature camping areas, a playground, walking and nature trails, and two boat ramps.

"It's going to be one of the only dams that doesn't have motor boats, so it will be quiet, Church said. They will all be trolling, paddle and kayak, so it will be more of a natural/nature-type thing."

Three years ago, the North Carolina Wildlife Commission stocked the park's lake with about 90,000 brim, catfish and basswhich park leaders say is sure to make for good fishing when it opens.

"There will also be duck hunting about one month out of the year, Church said. There will be duck blinds all around the lake."

Continue reading here:
Construction Underway on Unique 5D Park in Yadkin County

The Carolina Farmin building located off Market Street in Wilmington, N.C. Friday May 9, 2014.

A new church should open on Market Street in Wilmington this fall.

Less than two weeks after property owners talked about wanting to fill the vacant building near Carolina Heights that most recently housed Carolina Farmin', church members signed a lease for part of the property.

John Sutton, owner of the building on the 2100 block of Market Street, said the site will soon be home to The Bridge Church.

"We're a church that embraces culture and loves the city," said Ethan Welch, pastor of the new church.

Welch said he and his family found the church's future home when his daughter needed to use the bathroom one day while the family was out running errands.

Stopping at Port City Java on Market Street, Welch took notice of the vacant building behind the coffee shop.

"I had seen the building once before, but I didn't know anything about it." he said.

As his wife and daughter went inside, Welch saw construction crews standing outside the building and he started a conversation.

The church will occupy 8,551 square feet of the 14,000-square-foot space. Welch said the church will feature an open lobby entry and take up the back half of the structure.

Read more:
The Bridge Church will move into Carolina Farmin' space

Posted: Monday, May 26, 2014 7:35 am

Church Street traffic restricted

MISHAWAKA -- Southbound traffic on Church Street between Fourth and Thirteenth streets will be restricted between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday for storm sewer construction, according to a city press release. All southbound traffic will be detoured west on Fourth, south on Main and east on Thirteenth. One lane of northbound traffic will be maintained during the work.

An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Or, use your facebook account:

Subscribe to the South Bend Tribune for only $20 per 4 weeks.

Try out SouthBendTribune.com for free for 30 days. After 30 days, your credit card will be billed for $12.80 every 4 weeks with EZPay. Introductory offer only.

Get unlimited access to SouthBendTribune.com content for one full day with our One-Day Digital Access pass. Get instant access for one full day (24 hours) without a digital access subscription or a home delivery subscription.

Individuals who have a print subscription of the South Bend Tribune can activate their digital account to gain unlimited access to SouthBendTribune.com.

You need the phone number on the account and your ZIP code to complete this process.

Read more here:
Church Street traffic restricted

Religion of Monday, 26 May 2014

Source: GNA

The leadership of the Atomic Hills United Church, an interdenominational church at Ashongman Estates, on Sunday, held a ceremony to dedicate its newlycompleted building christened Church Manse.

Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the Christian Council, stated that obeying Gods word is not a restriction, but for ones own good.

Quoting Deuteronomy 6: 24 of the King James Version of the Bible, he said And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive as (it is) at this day.

The General Secretary who was the Guest Speaker atthe occasion, further explained that there is the need for man to understand and apply the word of God, adding, we have a covenant relationship with God through His word.

He said there was too much ignorance in the church, after citing a situation where people want to enjoy the blessings of God, but are ignorant of his word.

Rev. Dr. Opuni- Frimpong noted that the completion of the building should facilitate Deuteronomy 6:24, and not only for personal comfort.

He, therefore, encouraged the congregation to be united and pray without ceasing, to help build their spiritual relationship with God, and also to acquire a deeper understanding of His word.

He commended the congregation, especially the building committee, for making the project a reality, adding If you build a house for God: God will build a house for you

Read more:
Atomic Hills United Church commissions new building

By Tim Eberly The Virginian-Pilot May 25, 2014

PORTSMOUTH

There's a church on every corner here.

Or so people say.

Is it true?

Well, not exactly. But it's not that far off. Portsmouth has more places of worship per capita than any other city in South Hampton Roads, according to a Virginian-Pilot analysis of tax assessor data.

That doesn't include sanctuaries that rent space in places that aren't tax-exempt. You'll find houses of prayer in majestic temples or in storefronts that were once 7-Elevens. The greatest concentration is in the heart of the city, including one that counts the father of a president as a former pastor.

"That tells you, if you want to go to heaven, move to Portsmouth," local historian Dean Burgess joked.

Or, Elizabeth Psimas mused, could it mean the city has more sinners?

Well, what do you think, councilwoman?

Read the rest here:
Church land: Portsmouth basks in places of worship

Hold on for just a moment while we finish setting up your account..

Your Digital Subscription to the Naples Daily News is now active. Enjoy unlimited access to NaplesNews.com and the Naples Daily News smartphone and tablet apps.

Note: your login information will be needed the first time you access NaplesNews.com and the Naples Daily News smartphone and tablet apps.

Your Premium Subscription to Naples Daily News is now active. In addition to your home delivery service, enjoy unlimited access to NaplesNews.com and the Naples Daily News smartphone and tablet apps.

Note: your login information will be needed the first time you access NaplesNews.com and the Naples Daily News smartphone and tablet apps.

Read more:
Marco Island church facing $9 million foreclosure lawsuit after defaulting on former member's loan

PENINSULA TOWNSHIP -- Construction onSt. Joseph's new church on Old Mission Peninsula is almost complete.

Fridaymorning the steeple was hoisted into place.

The steeple and bell, standing at almost 60 feet and weighing nearly 4,500 pounds, was blessed and then lifted by crane onto the rooftop in about 10 minutes. Monisgnor Thome, ofSt. Joseph Church,explained the steeple reaches up toward heaven while the cross is a world-wide symbol of Christianity, therefore it's important to bless them before attachment to the church.

The bell has been with the church since 1915, and in its new home will be operated mechanically instead of by the old rope pulley system. Church representatives said this is because the 100-year old pulley required ropes to hang down and the bell to be manually rung (and could sometimes flip over if the ropes were pulled too hard) - so the switch to electronic is safer.

"Idon't know if there's any excitement left we are already so enthusiastic!" said Monsignor Thome."We've been watching it day by day, and we know all of us can relate to the winter of discontent, where we all had to wait and wait and wait for everything - but especially those of us in this area watch day by day to see what was happening with our new church."

St.Joseph hopes to have their first service in the new church July 5.

View post:
St. Joseph Church installs steeple and bell

BEDFORD Manchester Christian Church received site plan approval to build one of the largest meeting spots in Bedford.

The plan calls for construction of an 18,500-square-foot addition including an auditorium area and a connection between the new worship space and the existing building at 56 Old Bedford Road.

The church received site plan approval for a 40,000-square-foot project in 2003 when it was still called Bedford Community Church, but only built about 13,000-square-feet according to project consultant Chris Riley. The new addition will keep the project slightly under the previous approval.

The site plans have been reengineered to address issues raised last month at a conceptual site plan review. The height and number of retaining walls were reduced. The architecture of the building itself had not changed. While it looks different than the architecture typically seen around town, it is consistent with the neighboring Memorial School in that both have multiple components and flat roofs, Riley said.

The architects brought to the site what the church needed for its programming, he said.

We werent really trying to have a traditional church look for this facility, Riley said. The programming that Manchester Christian Church provides is not typical. I would say that is one of the strong characteristics for its expanded and rapid growth over the past few years.

The church provided an updated traffic study determining that Sunday would be the peak traffic day. Programming adjustments, such as allowing an hour between services to avoid overlap and congestion during peak hours will be implemented. The study concluded that one exit was sufficient and that adding a second lane would be difficult due to site constraints such as slopes and wetlands.

jhanson@newstote.com

Continue reading here:
Bedford church gets OK to build large addition