November 2025 Update
From impressive work days to a first Oreland prayer gathering and key capital campaign milestones, November was a VERY productive month for Bridge Community Church. We are so thankful and giddy with excitement to see all the progress on our new church home at the corner of Lorraine and Oreland Mill Rd. The more we work on the building, clear it out, and clean it up, the more eager we are to get into this property. But for now, here’s a glimpse of what got done in November.
November Progress in Oreland – New Home of Bridge Community Church
As winter approached and has now arrived, Bridge’s manual labor and boots-on-the-ground service transformed the property. Our kids, youth, and many adults (young at heart!) showed up in spades to support the work. We are so thankful for how the work days drew such strong crowds.
On Nov. 8th, fifty-two (52!) people emptied the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. The speaker and speaker boxes came down and the stage choir pews and organ were removed. While that was going on inside, the rest of our workers continued with the landscaping outside. All of the ivy came off the sanctuary walls! Gardens were weeded, tree roots were dug up, and the exterior of the building has been transformed. According to Steve Brandenburg, “...And people are noticing. It is good to care well for this property in our new neighborhood.”
On Nov. 15th, fifteen mighty workers hauled 4 tons (!!!) of debris, including Fellowship Hall ceiling tiles. It was straight up impressive! They worked so hard.
Later on in the month, the bathrooms in the Fellowship Hall were gutted and the stage carpet was removed. A crew of six guys were able to get all of this debris into another dumpster.
Per Steve, the next step in demolition will be the careful removal of all of the paneling in the fellowship hall. This will be a smaller work team and then this debris, too, will go to a dumpster!
Faithful Hands at Work
More from Steve Brandenburg – Facilities Update
Contractor Selected: We've chosen Delran Builders for Phase 1 of construction. They come highly recommended and are a great fit with architect Matt Anderson (they've worked together before). Chris Chapman is our point person. They are excited to get us in the building! And so are we!
Boiler Updates: A surprise visit was paid to us from a Pennsylvania Boiler Inspector in order to check our boilers—all boilers passed safety inspection! They inspected just for safety, not function. In addition, Hirschberg Mechanical serviced the sanctuary boiler: it was thoroughly cleaned and a relief valve replaced. Thankfully, it's in good shape. However, the bad news is that only 2 of 9 circulation fans work; we are praying for an affordable fix. We have no clear path yet on how to move forward on those. Lastly, Inter County Oil serviced the 2016 house boiler, and it is in excellent condition. Especially for these cold winter days, we want to take good care of these machines.
Sewer Line Update: On Dec. 1st, scoping and clearing began for the main sewer line and downspouts. Blockages here could mean significant costs, but we're prioritizing long-term success. We need clarity and wisdom! More to come.
Interested in hearing about things like the boilers and sewer? Perfect, you came to the right place. But first: celebrate with us the selection of our contractor!
November was a month of significant quiet progress for our capital campaign. Pastor Josh met with many individuals and families to share the vision for our future home, answer questions, and invite their partnership. Several of our church leaders also made calls and connections throughout the month.
Thanks to these efforts—and the faithful generosity of our congregation—we have now reached $391,250 toward our $500,000 goal.
Some have asked whether the $500,000 target “feels right.” Based on the guidance of our campaign consultant and on what we’ve seen so far, we believe it is. Our giving ladder anticipates that the final ~$135,000 would come from “many givers,” and the pattern of participation to date has aligned with that expectation. Every gift—large or small—moves us forward. And beyond financial giving, the gifts of lavish time and open-handed service offered by so many in our church family continue to hold real value toward our overall goals.
Grateful for the steady momentum building behind the scenes and look forward to sharing more updates soon!
Capital Campaign Update
On the evening of November 20th, about 32 people gathered for our first night of prayer and worship in the building. With the heater on and our hearts warmed, we experienced a sweet time of prayer and singing together under the beautiful night setting. Let’s just say: good for the soul! It was a simple and sincere time of encouragement.
Prayer & Praise Gathering
Looking Ahead
More December work days are coming! Are you someone who would like to help in this way? Contact Steve at steve.brandenburg@yahoo.com.
Our Design and Renovation Teams continue to meet and initial decisions are being made for the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall. It turns out real renovations take a bit longer than they do on HGTV, but we’re excited about the direction.
Lastly, if you are interested in financially giving to this effort, please contact Kara Konrad at: karakonradbcc@gmail.com.
