Today ChurchPlaza announced the re-birthing of their national alliance program seeking out qualified architectural and construction firms specializing in church construction.

Sarasota, Florida (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

Between 1999 and 2008, ChurchPlaza identified, interviewed and selected qualified architectural and construction firms specializing in church construction throughout the United States. These firms were then provided free prominent identification and promotion on ChurchPlazas highly trafficked website, http://www.churchplaza.com. The original program was discontinued in 2009 as annual church construction project volume fell by more than 80% in the wake of the latest recession. With new church construction projects again growing in volume, many of ChurchPlazas church clients requested The Company once again provide a national internet based listing of qualified professionals.

Prominent Colorado architect Chick Lee, an original participant in the program, noted his excitement about resumption of the program. Not only did we receive a number of valuable leads and opportunities from participating in the program, but the churches approached us already knowing we were in a group of highly qualified, experienced and reputable professionals.

ChurchPlaza provides this valuable service free of charge to both churches and construction professionals. Dr. Thomas McElheny, Founder and CEO of ChurchPlaza reported that this is one of many free educational services ChurchPlaza provides to Americas church community. Our philosophy is to first be a protector of the interests of Americas churches and good business seems to follow that effort.

ChurchPlaza is a 26 year old industry leader and provider of quality church chairs, sanctuary chairs, church seating and other products to churches throughout the United States and many foreign countries. Over the years, ChurchPlaza has received endorsements from 45 national denominations, ministries and/or their publishing houses and is the only church seating provider so honored. ChurchPlaza maintains administrative and sales offices in Sarasota Florida in addition to warehousing and manufacturing facilities in three other locations.

Church Plaza

3231 Gulf Gate Drive

Sarasota, FL 34231

Christina Slocum

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ChurchPlaza Announces Resumption of National Alliance Program with Church Architects and Builders

Two new LDS temples announced at Oct. General Conference

By David Self Newlin

October 6th, 2012 @ 11:18am

SALT LAKE CITY — At the first Saturday session of the October General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the construction of two new temples was announced.

The future temples in Tucson , Ariz and Arequipa, Peru were the 28th and 29th temples either announced or under construction as of Saturday.

There are currently 3 temples in operation in Arizona, a state with some 400,000 members of the LDS Church. Two others in Phoenix and Gilbert are under way.

Peru is home to over half a million members of the LDS church, some of whom have had to travel approximately 500 miles to Lima in order to attend temple ceremonies which are central to the faith. Saturday's announcement brings the country's total to three.

Currently there are 139 temples operating worldwide.

David Self Newlin, ksl.com Content Manager

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Two new LDS temples announced at Oct. General Conference

The LDS Church has announced plans for a new temple in Tucson, Arizona.

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SALT LAKE CITY President Thomas S. Monson announced plans for two new temples as he opened the 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday.

The temples will be built in Tucson, Ariz., and Arequipa, Peru.

"No church-built facility is more important than a temple," President Monson said.

The LDS Church has 139 temples in operation around the world. Another 27 were already under construction or planned before today's announcement.

"I can't stop crying, it's just incredible," Tucson's Megan Allen said. "It's a huge thing to have that so close and so available for everybody. I remember for every conference, everyone was on the edge of their seats for the announcement, and finally this is the one."

Growing up as a youth there, Allen said it was always a big deal for everyone to be able to go to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. There were months of planning, and they often had to leave early in the morning and it would be an all-day event.

"I'm excited for the youth," said Kalene Day, who is from Marana, Ariz., a town near Tucson. "They have been so strong and having a temple here is going to be amazing ... it's just going to to give us something more to work towards, it's going to be a wonderful experience."

Originally posted here:
LDS Church announces plans for new temples in Arizona and Peru

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The Mormon church will lower its minimum age requirements for missionaries from 19 to 18 for men and from 21 to 19 for women, the faith's president announced Saturday.

Thomas S. Monson said at the church's 182nd semiannual General Conference that the historic change is expected to significantly increase the missionary force of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently more than 55,000 worldwide.

The new age requirements will take effect immediately and replace limits that had been in effect for decades. Mormon men serve full-time, two-year missions, while women serve 18-month missions.

"I am not suggesting that all young men will or should serve at this earlier age," Monson said, adding it's an option based on individual circumstances and a determination by local church leaders.

Missionaries must be graduates of high school or its equivalent, he said.

Monson also said the church will build temples in Tucson, Ariz., and Arequipa, Peru. In Arizona, three temples already are in operation and two others in Phoenix and Gilbert were under construction. The state is home to about 400,000 church members.

The temple in Arequipa will be the third in Peru, which has more than 500,000 church members. Members in Arequipa, Peru's second most populous city, currently attend temple services about 500 miles away in Lima.

The church, with its more than 14.1 million members, has 139 operating temples worldwide and has another 29 planned or under construction.

At a later news conference, Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said church leaders were unsure how many more missionaries would serve due to the lowered age requirements but they expect a boost.

He also said leaders considered extending the length of missions for women to two years, but decided to see how the lower age goes first before possibly taking that step, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Link:
Mormon church lowers age limit for missionaries

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Prayer circle: From left: Sue Collier, Pastor Mark Ruzicka, Bob Keeney and Pastor Jeff Lukens look over the progress of a labyrinth being created on the grounds of St. John s United Church of Christ, 1811 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg.

The church on Tuesday announced the start of construction.

The project is funded by a bequest from former lifelong member, Robert Rumler. Construction is being done by Spring Rise Nursery and Landscaping, Chambersburg. The completed labyrinth will be dedicated as part of the 50th anniversary of the church building.

The spiritual purpose of a labyrinth, which has a clear, rounded path that leads to its center, historically is for people to focus and quiet their minds in prayer as they walk the path.

St. John's had a positive response, especially from the youth, to a labyrinth that had been created at its camp in Fort Loudon, according to press release from church.

This new labyrinth is designed to complement a tall brick-relief sculpture on the church's sanctuary wall. It will be open for community use and wheelchairs can be used on its wide brick pathway.

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Church builds prayer walk

HOOVER, AL (WBRC) -

A church in Hoover could face a $12,000 fine for a construction project that is allegedly damaging a man's property.

Shelby County resident Randy Harper says he's had a problem with Riverchase United Methodist church for two years. He claims the church's construction is ruining his property.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management already shut down construction once because it caused soil and sediment runoff in Harper's lake.

The agency shut the construction site down in 2011 because there was not enough being done to stop sediment runoff and erosion. After the church hired a new construction company, ADEM allowed some work to resume. But in August an inspection found there are still issues.

Harper says he is frustrated because he signed a contract with church leaders that said they would fix his lake by March of this year.

ADEM has proposed a $12,000 fine against the church, but they will not enforce it until the public has 30 days to comment. The public comment period begins Oct. 10, according to an ADEM official.

Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.

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Hoover church could face fine in construction dispute

SEVERAL Plenty homes and businesses appear to have been saved after plans to move a heritage-listed church were approved.

State Planning Minister Matthew Guy yesterday gazetted a planning amendment to allow for a Yan Yean Rd future upgrade, which places compulsory acquisition overlays over dozens of properties.

Planning consultant Michael Dunn, who helped residentsfight VicRoads' preferred plans, said the Minister chose VicRoads' "consultation option", which moved the heritage-listed Plenty Methodist Church to save several houses.

Mr Dunn said the choice was a "great outcome" for most landowners and businesses near River Ave, including Diamond Valley Garden Centre, which stood to lose its car park.

He said it was unfortunate proposed service lanes were not deleted but hoped they could be removed in the future.

"While we are disappointed that the acquisition area is based on a design that includes service lanes, we would hope that common sense will prevail when VicRoads undertake detailed design of the road upgrade and that the service lanes will be deleted, thus saving taxpayers from unnecessary land acquisition and construction costs with no real benefit for road users."

Resident Meredith Berry's home, which she bought with husband Nigel in 1976, appears to have avoided the wrecking ball.

Mrs Berry said the couple were "absolutely delighted" but were unsure how much land would be lost.

"We are getting ready for retirement and did not know what was going to happen, so now we can plan," Mrs Berry said.

"We hope they send us a letter as we want to see the detail."

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Church move to save Plenty homes

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Suffolk Construction, one of the most successful, privately held building contractors in the country, announces Megan Murphy, Business Development Manager for Suffolk Construction Mid-Atlantic, has been appointed to the Developing Leaders Forum of the NAIOP National Forums. Murphy is one of only 20 candidates nationally to receive this prestigious appointment.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120523/PH12721LOGO-b )

As a member of the Developing Leaders Forum, Murphy will participate in bi-annual meetings comprised of talented industry professionals who are 35 years old and younger. The Forum meetings provide a platform for members to develop long lasting relationships with commercial real estate colleagues while sharing their interests and expertise in specific topic areas. These topic areas typically include, but are not limited to, peer-to-peer learning; exposure to senior industry professionals; leadership training; and structured opportunities for Forum advancement over time. In addition, Forum members present and examine case studies and discuss market conditions impacting their fellow members and organizations across the county.

"We congratulate Megan on this achievement and greatly value her leadership in the Mid-Atlantic region. Participation with the NAIOP Developing Leaders National Forum will provide our company valuable insights on emerging trends in the commercial real estate industry," remarked John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction.

The first meeting for the NAIOP Developing Leaders National Forum will be held during Development '12: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate, October 22-23, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Suffolk Construction Mid-Atlantic is located at 3190 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. For more information about Suffolk Construction Mid-Atlantic, please call 703.286.3200 or email at contactmidatlantic@suffolkconstruction.com.

About NAIOP:

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate. NAIOP provides unparalleled industry networking and education, and advocates for effective legislation on behalf of our members. NAIOP advances responsible, sustainable development that creates jobs and benefits the communities in which our members work and live. For more information, visit http://www.naiop.org.

Suffolk Construction Company:

Suffolk Construction is one of the most successful privately-held building contractors in the country, providing preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting services to clients in the healthcare, science and technology, education, federal government, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is based in Boston, Massachusetts and has a strong national presence with main offices throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and West Coast. Suffolk is committed to delivering its "build smart" approach to construction management on every project. The company's teams provide clients comprehensive planning services, innovative solutions and technologies, and proven processes such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) that allow Suffolk to deliver the most complex building construction projects on schedule and on budget, with minimal risk. Suffolk is a community-conscious organization dedicated to environmentally-friendly and sustainable business practices, and is committed to making a positive impact in its local communities through strong leadership, proactive involvement, and grassroots volunteering. For more information about Suffolk, visit the official website at http://www.suffolkconstruction.com.

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Suffolk Construction Announces Appointment of Megan Murphy to NAIOP Developing Leaders National Forum

GLENROCK At the very end of the service, in the little log church filled to overflowing, Deacon Leigh Earle held the microphone.

And in a strong, clear voice, Annie Danaher shared the Closing Reading, from Hebrews 12:1-3, advising to look to Jesus the pioneer.

It was fitting that Danaher, a Glenrock pioneer herself, should close the service celebrating the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Christ Episcopal Church in Glenrock, Sept. 23.

She and her husband, Dan Danaher, were the first couple married in the same log church in November 1939. On Sunday, four generations of her family attended the anniversary celebration.

The original church was built about 1887 and was the only church building in town until the Baptist and Catholic churches were built in the early 1900s. The original church burned in 1925 and construction on the new log church began in August 1937.

According to church records, logs were cut and brought down from the mountain and the building was erected by the late Doc Robbins and Billy Kimball. The ladies of the church washed and oiled the logs.

The first service held in the new log church was on Feb. 13, 1938. Several expansions and additions have taken place since then, but the original log church remains the cornerstone.

The Rt. Rev. John Smylie, bishop of Wyoming, was the celebrant at the service, assisted by numerous other participants. Marty Strand was the event committee chairman.

In his sermon, Smylie noted things other than the church that were 125 years old, including the telescope, the contact lens and Notre Dame football.

Today we celebrate the stories of the lives that have been changed, that would have been different had not Christ been born into this place in Glenrock, he said. The Lord has given this community a dream that will last into future generations. Today, we gather and celebrate the dream of God for this place.

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Glenrock church celebrates 125th anniversary

When Prestonwood Baptist Church opened its first satellite campus six years ago, it was little more than a group of people meeting weekly at Prosper High School.

The "sanctuary" was put up and taken down each week, a process that could last several hours. After two years, a permanent facility was built in southern Prosper, giving the North Campus congregation a place to call their own. Now, after four years, that home is getting much larger.

Sunday morning the congregation will dedicate a new 75,000-square-foot expansion, doubling the church's size and adding 30 classrooms, 21 offices, a new gym and preschool worship area. The yearlong construction project should allow for a better worship experience, said campus pastor Marc Rylander.

The addition will also allow the church to rid itself of the temporary buildings that have been used to house adult Sunday school classes since the 2,000-member congregation outgrew the original building in 2010.

With a total membership of more than 33,000, a large number of members live along the State Highway 380 corridor. As a result, opening a satellite campus closer to these members made sense, Rylander said.

"It has become more and more evident that this campus is already fulfilling the purpose that we set out," Rylander said. "We are seeing high percentages of people that attend our services that live in this 380 corridor of northern McKinney, northern Frisco, Prosper and Little Elm. ... We wanted to build a place that would reach people who would not otherwise be able to come and experience our church, and that has been accomplished."

One of the campus' original attendees was Ben Hangartner, a Celina resident who originally attended services at the main Plano campus after joining the church in 2006. Much of the growth Prestonwood has experienced in the past six years can be attributed to efforts to reach out into outlying communities through the North Campus, Hangartner said.

"It was huge for everyone in the church, but it was biggest for those who hadn't come to our church yet," he said. "A lot of people didn't want to attend a church in a high school, for whatever reason. ... When we finished at the high school we were averaging about 500 adults per Sunday. When we opened our own building we doubled in size overnight."

Sunday services at the North Campus feature everything you would expect at a Baptist church: a choir, scripture readings and a sermon. The only difference is that about 70 percent of the time the sermon is delivered by Pastor Jack Graham at the Plano campus, which is then simulcast to the Dallas and Prosper campuses.

While a church as large as Prestonwood may seem daunting to some people, Frisco resident Sonnya Airhart said there is still a sense of community among the members.

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Plano church expands satellite campus