From Canada-
It has been a long journey, and one that parish priest the Venerable Vicars Hodge believes has forged a bond that will carry the Church of the Resurrection into a successful new era.
The 13,200-square-foot church has a congregation of 700 families, many of them faithful Anglicans from way back, while others are newcomers finding their way back to church.
"Being where we are has taken more work than I have ever known, yet it's been the most exciting thing I have ever done," Hodge said.
"We did it. We are here. Spirits are high."
The Church of the Resurrection held its opening for the community on Sunday, and on April 19, the church will hold its dedication ceremony with community officials and Rt. Rev. Dr. Claude Miller, Bishop of Fredericton on hand.
Five and a half years ago the Anglicans attending the eight tiny churches within the parishes took a brave, long, hard look at the future. And it wasn't pretty, Hodge admitted.
The congregations decided to amalgamate to pursue the bigger, more important picture of building a manageable house of worship, and to do that they brought Hodge on to lead the endeavour.
"Parishes had to look at whether they were better together or apart," Hodge said.
The new parish of Nerepis and St. John was forged and worshipping as one began at the River Valley Middle School.
"We were a church in a suitcase for a long time," Hodge said.
Meanwhile, the churches were being sold off to generate capital for the new $2-million church envisioned for Grand Bay-Westfield.
Today's church on the new Macdonald Avenue is big enough for the ministries important to the community, Hodge said.
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/594045
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