Work continues on the Ministry Expansion Plan.  This week the ceilings in the downstairs entryway, downstairs hallway, and upstairs lobby (outside the elevator and top of the stairs) were demolished to allow the electrician to trace old and new electric service (see pics).  In addition, the switchgear was delivered.  (In an electric power system, switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control,…

On Sunday, December 9th CMPC bid farewell to brother in Christ, Bill Gretsch.  Bill has been a part of the CMPC family for over 50 years.  He served CMPC as an elder, a chair and member of numerous committees including the evangelism and building committees, an active volunteer with the LOGOS ministry, and in many, many other capacities.  Bill is moving to be…

Africa is full of centuries old ethnic rivalries. Our corner of Ethiopia, the Gambella Region, is no different. The land of Ethiopia nestles up against small rivers that mark the very porous national borders separating it from South Sudan. The borders were drawn on papers in Europe by people who had no intention of setting foot on that harsh grassland abuzz with…

This week the electrician has been on site examining plans and mapping out runs in the sanctuary as well as other parts of the building.  On Thursday the work begins to dig the trench outside the south end of the building where the new electric service will be brought to the new electric room. Next week, the new, temporary door off the…

The Property Committee gathered for dinner at Tito Baca’s home to celebrate another successful year of hard work at CMPC. These individuals give endlessly of their time, energy, resources, and know how to patch, mend, and fix all that needs attention in and around the church, often without much fanfare. At this time of the year when we give thanks for all…

Ministry Expansion Plan Update November 29, 2018 Work is finally underway once again on the Ministry Expansion Plan here at CMPC!  As I write this update workers are taking down the canopy outside the parking lot entrance.  Soon we will see more equipment and workers on site preparing part of the property for the new HVAC units for the sanctuary, the new…

Groundbreaking On Sunday, November 18, immediately following worship, members and friends of CMPC gathered on the west lawn to break ground for the Ministry Expansion Plan.  This event was long awaited and eagerly anticipated.  As the crowd gathered in the cold amongst the small crosses decorated by the children of the church and placed to outline the new addition, Rev. Hoffman and…

Cirque Du Soleil, Traveling Troubadours, Ministry Tour, and “other ideas” were the Visionfest options listed when our team gathered to plan for Sunday, November 11. Our assignment was to help our congregation envision the likely impact of our ministry expansion plan.   We had trouble with the Cirque Du Soleil idea as we tried to imagine our pastor on crazy high stilts…

DID YOU KNOW . . . . ?   Lovingly submitted by Alice Gretsch, for the Herald, 2007. Reprinted and edited for 2018.     Did you know that the Collegiate dictionary defines the word chain as “something that binds” and the Bible dictionary simply defines this word as a “band”?   Did you know that the Collegiate dictionary defines the word prayer as “a devout petition…

Dear mission friends, We have been very negligent with newsletters this year. Partly, our internet and electric connections have been worse than usual for the past two years and especially the past one year. It has been very frustrating that way. One of those times was the several weeks that the whole country was cut off the internet because of the 12th…