Snowflakes fell from heaven Sunday morning as the pastors of Lord of Life Lutheran Church turned over the first shovels of earth to break ground for the church's new site at Union Mill and Twin Lakes roads in Clifton.
"IT'S NOT been an easy journey, and today's a cold and cloudy day," said the Rev. Ronald Qualley. "That's been our history with this project through many changes and delays. But by the grace of God, we are here — and it's a wonderful day in the life of the church."
For more than 38 years, Lord of Life has met on Twinbrook Road in Fairfax, but it's now building a second sanctuary to serve people living in Centreville/Clifton. It'll be one congregation at two locations, with the new site specializing in youth ministry and drama.
Actually, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, which met at Centreville High, bought the land years ago for its own sanctuary. But the membership was divided about it, the pastor left and so did much of the flock.
However, charter member Hank Philcox and some others couldn't bear to see the church dissolve so they kept it going and it eventually became Lord of Life. Currently, some 80-100 people worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. in Centreville High's auditorium, with another 550 at the Fairfax site.
The church decided to construct a second sanctuary in this area, just uphill from the high school, because so many of its members drove from Clifton and Centreville to the services in Fairfax. And on Nov. 23, 2003, it officially dedicated the land.
But, said Arlene Darke, the church's director of Gathering and Serving Ministries, "The county process was extremely slow." So more than three years passed before last Sunday's groundbreaking and, now, it's hoped that the more than $6.5 million Lord of Life West will open its doors in January or February 2008.
It'll be 37,000 square feet, including a two-story sanctuary of about 5,000 square feet. Designed by local architect Bill Robson of Robson Group Architects, one story will be a below-ground basement for a youth center and educational classrooms.
THE MAIN, ground-level floor will contain a worship space seating 300, multipurpose fellowship hall, classroom space and administrative offices. The 12 classrooms are for all ages, and the fellowship hall could be used for a variety of activities by church or community groups.
Sunday morning at Centreville High, during the service before the groundbreaking, Rev. Qualley said he'd walked the woods, several times, trying to picture where the new church would be. "But we are the church," he told the congregation. "We don't need a building — but a building is sure good."
He said churches across the nation are worshipping in multiple locations. And, said Qualley, "I started to visualize what it would be like — people coming into the building and going out to serve, children giggling and learning about friendship and faith — and I stopped and said, 'Thanks be to God for being one congregation in two locations.'"
He said Lord of Life invites people to "come and join a fellowship of believers, for we are a church of hope. This is a historic moment ... God bless us in our ministry together."
Then the Rev. Daniel Krewson prayed to God to "guide and bless the workmen. And may each brick and nail and spoonful of cement be an instrument of Your grace as this house of the Lord is shaped."
Afterward, although some rode, most of the church members walked uphill to the building site for the groundbreaking ceremony. Also present were Robson and builder Ed Jackson, of Whitener & Jackson Inc.
There, Qualley prayed: "Bless all those who have worked or contributed to provide this site which today we set apart for the building of a church." Added Krewson: May Your gracious blessing descend like the dew from heaven upon this place and upon all who gather here to worship You."
Then, prior to each pastor digging his shovel into the dirt, Qualley beseeched the crowd: "Pray for soft ground." Some members of the congregation also joined in the earth-turning, and then they all gathered across the street for some hot coffee and cocoa and quick fellowship in the freezing weather before walking back to their cars at Centreville High.
"After all these years of preparation and planning, the reality of finally coming on site and putting a shovel in the ground is a great joy, on behalf of all God's people," said Qualley. "Our prayer is that this be a place where God is seen, love is felt and lives are changed."
DON RICHTER of Fairfax Station attends Lord of Life East, in Fairfax, and his wife was church president for several years so she was an integral part of the building project. "It feels fantastic," he said Sunday. "It's a glorious day; we've worked so long for this."
Krewson, of Little Rocky Run, said it was "exhilarating" for him to see the new church move one step closer to fruition. "We moved here 2 1/2 years ago so we could be closer to the church where I minister and be a resident pastor," he said. "This is wonderful — it's like a dream come true. As I look at all the dirt piles out there, I wonder which one will become my office."
"To see all the people come here together in a common mission is really exciting," continued Krewson. "And to be part of that is really a thrill. What a wonderful place to have a church — with a high school, middle school and elementary school right down the street. There are so many families we want to reach out to so they'll know they have a spiritual home at Lord of Life."