Dedication and Grand Opening

Yesterday was a great day in the life of our church.  It was the dedication and grand opening of our new church building.  The ribbon cutting ceremony began outside at 9:30 a.m.  Mother nature was kind and kept the rain away until later in the afternoon.

The local public service television station, WBRW, was there to film it all.

The Worship Team opened with a song.

Pastor Steve thanked the many people who made the day possible.

A complete rainbow hovered above the church for the occasion.  It wasn't just a half-circle arc, but a full-circle, and was white instead of multi-colored.  Rainbows appear during or after a rain storm, but it hadn't rained a drop.  We took it as a beautiful sign from God that He was pleased with this new building where the gospel will be proclaimed.

 

Current District Superintendent, Dr. Mike Kitsko, prayed a prayer of thanksgiving.

Former District Superintendent, Dr. Stephen Anthony, was the first one to cut the ribbon.  He was District Superintendent when our church was organized and the property was purchased.

Pastor Steve and Sharon taking their turn cutting the ribbon.

To God Be the Glory!

Afterwards we all went inside to await the start of the 10:30 worship service.   The sanctuary was as full as our hearts!  The bulletin cover appropriately reflected the stages of the building program.

After church we went to Red Lobster with Steve, Sharon, Brooke, Sharon's parents, and our grandson, Brandon, to celebrate Steve's 52nd birthday which is this Wednesday, Oct. 27th.  I think the completion of the church is his best gift ever.

When we got home I began preparations for this Tuesday's lunch with my cousins.  I baked a leopard print cake.  It's my first attempt at making one and I can hardly wait to cut into it to see if it turned out as good as the picture below.  

Update 10/27/2021

Someone else, with no affiliation to our church, saw the same thing we saw Sunday morning and posted a picture on Facebook [below] along with an explanation.  It is not called a rainbow but a sun halo or its scientific name, '22 degree halo' because they appear around the sun or moon with a radius of about 22 degrees.  Halos are a sign of high, thin cirrus clouds drifting 20,000 feet or more above our heads. These clouds contain millions of tiny ice crystals.  The halos seen are caused by both refraction, or splitting of light, and also by reflection, or glints of light from these ice crystals.  

It was the first time I had ever seen a sun halo.  Have you ever seen one before?  Regardless of the scientific reasons for their appearance, I still believe it was a sign of blessing and approval from God.  He can make them appear at His command since He controls nature.