Update on Goshen Facilities

APRIL 7, 2024

Update:

We continue to make headway with the restoration process on the upper level of our buildings.  Lord willing, we'll be able to acess some of our upstairs rooms next month, and we're targeting a June return of our worship service to the Sanctuary.

In the meantime, we're preparing to re-launch Sunday School on April 21 (all classes will be downstairs--details here).

That will bring a schedule change:  As of April 21 we will have...

• Sunday School for all ages, 9:30-10:15 a.m. (coffee available 9:15-10:15)
• Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

MARCH 20, 2024

Update:

We're making good progress in our building restoration.  The lower level is now completed (with the exception of the Youth Room--plans are coming together for an excellent renovation there--stay tuned for updates!).  And work is moving ahead in all areas of the upper level.  Thanks for your patience while we still have limited access ot our facilities.

So excellent that the Preschool was able to return home to our facillity this week!  A big thank you to our friends at St. Paul's Baptist Church for hosting Goshen Baptist Preschool for almost two months!

We will be in the Family Life Center for Holy Week services this year (and we'll put out a lot of extra chairs for Easter--so invite your friends and neighbors to come join us).  Here are some details:

HOLY WEEK 2024:

• Palm Sunday Worship, March 24, 10:00 a.m., including our Children’s Palm Processional (parents, please bring your children to Room 014 by 9:50 to get ready to enter the service together).
• Good Friday Communion Service, March 29, 7:00 p.m. (childcare available for ages 3 and younger)
• Easter Sunday Worship, March 31, 10:00 a.m.  Come early for fellowship, coffee, and refreshments from 9:15 to 9:45. 
• Easter Egg Hunt for the kids from 9:15 to 9:45 (meet in the FLC)!

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Update:

Late last week the cleaning and restoration work on our church's lower level was able to resume, and a crew is on site this week making further headway with the project.  Thank you for praying, and please continue to call on the Lord for further progress!

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

We sent the following message to our GBC email distribution list yesterday asking people to pray:

*******

Goshen Family,

I'm getting in touch with an update on the cleaning and restoration process in our church building after the January 9th fire.

It's great that we've been able to return to on-site gatherings in our Family Life Center for Sunday morning worship and some other activities--giving thanks to the Lord for the progress that has been made.  (A big thank you to Delaware County Christian School for hosting us on those three Sundays when we met there.)

As for ongoing progress, however, we've hit a bump in the road.  Over the last several days the work has been stalled due to differences between the insurance company and the restoration company.  Be assured that we are doing all we can to facilitate progress in their negotiations, but at the end of the day those two parties must resolve the matter.

Our recent communications with these companies suggest that cleaning/restoration work on the lower level may be able to resume in the near future.

In light of all of this, please PRAY:  pray that the Lord would lead in such a way that the work could resume very soon and that we could return to full-steam-ahead in the cleaning/restoration process.  Please call upon the Lord to get us back to having full use of our facilities.  Pray that he would give us wisdom, patience, and peace in the times when waiting is required.  Most of all, pray that the Lord would be honored in all we do and say in this challenging season!

Jesus teaches us to "Ask, seek, knock" (Matthew 7:7).

Pastor Peter

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Update:

Our current plan for Sunday gatherings is as follows:  WORSHIP at 10:00 a.m. in our Family Life Center. Come join us!  Childcare is available (Nursery, Children's Church, and Kids Time Celebration).

Please enter and exit the building through the FLC doors.  Due to smoke damage from the fire on Jan. 9, much of the church building is not accessible at this time while the professional cleaning and restoration work continues.  Thanks for your patience!

At present our Sunday School ministry is on hold as we wait on the restoration process.

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Update:

This Sunday, February 11, we plan to meet in our own Family Life Center for worship at 10:00 a.m., with childcare available (Nursery, Children's Church, and Kids Time Celebration).  No Sunday School this week.

Please enter and exit the building through the FLC doors.  Due to smoke damage from the fire on Jan. 9, most of the church building is not accessible at this time while the professional cleaning and restoration work continues.  Thanks for your patience!

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Friends,

This Sunday, February 4, we will again gather for worship at Delaware County Christian School (Upper Campus, 462 Malin Road in Newtown Square).  Details are:

• Fellowship time with refreshments (including coffee and bagels), 9:15-9:45 a.m.
• Worship Service, 10:00 a.m. in the Student Union (livestream available).
• Childcare will be provided (including Nursery, Children’s Church, and Kids Time Celebration).
• Contact the church office (610-696-3188; office@goshenbaptist.org) if you would like to be part of our off-site hospitality crew.
• If you need a ride, please contact the church office by noon on Friday and we’ll be happy to assist in connecting riders with drivers.
• No Sunday School on February 4.

Please note that this coming week (Feb. 4-10), there will continue to be no activities on site at our GBC property.

However, looking ahead, our plan for Sunday, February 11, is to meet in our own Family Life Center for worship at 10:00 a.m., with childcare available (Nursery, Children's Church, and Kids Time Celebration).  We'll follow up as this date gets closer and confirm all plans.

A big thank you to the MANY leaders and helpers who are serving in countless ways to assist with our Sunday gatherings and other ministries at this time--your service to the Lord is deeply appreciated!!

~Pastor Peter

JANUARY 24, 2024

Good afternoon,

A church is a family of believers in Jesus, regardless of where they gather for worship.  This past Sunday saw our GBC family coming together at Delaware County Christian School (and a huge thank you to DCCS for hosting us in this way!).

The restoration work in our Goshen buildings is going full-steam ahead, on both the lower and upper levels, and the crew is making good progress.  In light of this, we anticipate being able to meet in our Family Life Center on Sunday, February 11 (we’ll keep you updated as future plans firm up).

As for the next two Sundays, then, here’s what’s happening:  On January 28 and February 4, we will again gather for fellowship and worship at Delaware County Christian School (Upper Campus, 462 Malin Road in Newtown Square).  Please note:

• Fellowship time with refreshments (including coffee and bagels), 9:15-9:45 a.m.
• Worship Service, 10:00 a.m. in the Student Union (livestream available).
• Childcare will be provided (including Nursery, Children’s Church, and Kids Time Celebration).
• Contact the church office (610-696-3188; office@goshenbaptist.org) if you would like to be part of our off-site hospitality crew.
• If you need a ride, please contact the church office by noon on Friday and we’ll be happy to assist in connecting riders with drivers.
• No Sunday School on January 28 and February 4.

Also, let me remind you about our Congregation Business Meeting this Sunday, January 28, at 5:30 p.m.:  we will meet at Goshen Valley Condo Association Club House, 1326 West Chester Pike, West Chester.  Directions:  **Westbound from GBC on West Chester Pike:  Make a U-turn at the traffic light at Rose Hill Apts.  Turn right onto Valley Dr.  Turn right into the parking lot after the tennis courts.  **Eastbound on West Chester Pike:  Turn right onto Valley Dr.  Turn right into the parking lot after the tennis courts.

Please pray for our whole church family in this trying time—that we would all rest assured that the Lord is present with us, working all things together for good, and leading us forward on mission as his witnesses (it’s been exciting to see how God directs and opens doors day by day!).  And as you pray, especially remember our Preschool staff, students, and families—and give thanks for the temporary provision of meeting space at St. Paul’s Baptist Church.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Peter

JANUARY 17, 2024

Goshen Family,

It was great to see so many of you this past Sunday when we gathered for one worship service in our Family Life Center.  Thanks for your flexibility with schedule changes and program cancellations as we deal with the cleaning and restoration process after the fire on January 9.  And thanks as well for the many helping hands this past weekend (to set up and dismantle everything in the FLC).

The restoration work in the FLC requires further attention to the acoustic panels, walls, and ceiling in the days ahead.  As a result of this, we will not be able to meet in the FLC, or to access any of our buildings, for the next few weeks.

In light of this, our plan for Sundays, January 21 and 28, is to gather for fellowship and worship off site—at Delaware County Christian School (Upper Campus, 462 Malin Road in Newtown Square).  Here are the details for the next two Sundays:

• Fellowship time with refreshments (including coffee and bagels), 9:15-9:45 a.m.
• Worship Service, 10:00 a.m. in the Student Union (livestream available).
• Childcare will be provided (including Nursery, Children’s Church, and Kids Time Celebration).  Parents, be looking for a follow-up email from Lori Herson with more specific information.
• Contact the church office (610-696-3188; office@goshenbaptist.org) if you would like to be part of our off-site hospitality crew.
• If you need a ride, we’ll be providing shuttle service from Goshen (departing at 9:00 a.m.) to DCCS on these two dates.  To reserve a seat, notify our church office no later than noon on Friday.
• No Sunday School on January 21 and 28.

Looking ahead to Sunday, February 4, and beyond, we will know more in the coming days—and we’ll be in touch with you as plans come together.

The cleaning and restoration efforts are being focused first on the lower level of our facility.  Among other things, this prioritizes the reopening of our children’s classrooms for use by Goshen Baptist Preschool and for Sunday morning gatherings.

The work that needs to be done on the upper level at Goshen will take longer, given the amount of carpet that must be removed and the fabric pew cushions that will have to be replaced, plus other tasks.  We can’t say how long, but best to think in terms of months rather than weeks.

Please pray for our church’s ministry teams and leaders in this trying time.  Building space has very often been a vital resource for our classes, programs, and outreaches, so it is difficult to be “displaced.”  As you pray, especially remember our Preschool staff, students, and families.

Friends, let’s remember:  God has met our needs time and time again over the years, and even now, despite the inconveniences, he is opening doors and leading us day by day.  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Peter

JANUARY 12, 2024

We emailed the following message to the church family today:

*******

Church Family,

It’s been, shall we say, an eventful week at Goshen!  Although we’re dealing with fire-related damage and a complex clean-up process, we’re happy to say that a plan for us to gather safely for worship is coming together.

This Sunday, January 14, we will have ONE worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center (livestream available).  The professional cleaning/restoration company that we have working at church has indicated that they will have the FLC (with the adjacent lobby and restrooms) ready for us to use on Sunday.  Lord willing, in the very near future we will be able to re-open other sections of our facility—but for this week, it’s the FLC only.

And so, please note:

• Plan to enter and exit the building through the FLC doors (all other entrances will be locked).
• This week we will not be able to provide childcare or children’s programs during the worship service.
• Sunday School will not be offered this week.
• There will be no access to any other parts of our building.

In light of these factors, we’re preparing our worship service to be shorter than usual (i.e., under an hour), and to include elements oriented toward families and children.

We will be back in touch as soon as possible (by email, and on this page) with info about on-site activities at GBC that may be possible in the near future—as soon as we can be sure that spaces are prepared for our safe use.

Thank you for your flexibility as we walk this road!  We’ve run into an obstacle with this fire, but we can be so very thankful to the Lord that the damage wasn’t worse and that the cleaning/restoration process is underway and moving forward.  Let’s keep the big picture in view:  Jesus Christ is building his church, he’s leading us as our Good Shepherd, and he will be with us no matter what—now and forever!

Joining you in giving thanks for saving grace,

Pastor Peter

JANUARY 11, 2024

Goshen Family,

Yesterday, Jan. 10, we sent the following message by email to our church-wide distribution list:

*******

Last night or early this morning there was a fire in our church’s Youth Room, which was centered in the stage floor structure.  The flames did not spread widely within the room, but the fire caused significant smoke damage to the Youth Room, as well as spreading smoke and residue throughout the entire lower level.  The smoke also spread to the upper level.

The Fire Department was called and they came out.  We are currently in the process of having the damage assessed, including by the Fire Marshall.  We are also in the process of communicating with our insurance company.

It is impossible to say right now how soon our facility will be available for use.  We will keep you posted as soon as we can provide more helpful information.

At present, our buildings are not available for church use, and all on-site programs/activities today and tonight are CANCELLED.

*******

To add to the above info, all on-site activities are cancelled up to and including Sat., Jan. 13.

By tomorrow, Jan. 12, we will send another email and post updated information on this page about the status of our facility and plans for church services this Sunday, Jan. 14.

Thanks for your patience and understanding!

Pastor Peter