BY MARY ELLE HUNTER

Special to The Pilot

A very special service of worship will be held at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church Sunday, Nov. 14, at 9:30 a.m., with the dedication of the "Opening New Doors" building project.

This dedication is a culmination of several years of discussion of a need for expanded facilities, the planning process, and the construction and post-construction phase. The campaign to accomplish the project was designated as "Opening New Doors" and has resulted in a handsome new two-story Cornerstone Building, with a prayer tower capped by the steeple from the original church, renovation of space into a new conference center and extended parking facilities.

Additional space was required by a growing contingent of middle school and high school youth participating in church activities and increased involvement in adult as well as youth educational programs. These needs, coupled with escalating requests from community groups to use the church facilities, were met by the new building.

"Everywhere you turn in the Cornerstone Building there are reminders of the original sanctuary," says Dr. Grady Perryman, pastor of the church. "That structure had stood on the site since 1939, and its architectural features and design elements have been incorporated into the new building, such as the four columns at the main entrance, wood flooring from the original sanctuary, paneling and crown moldings and an architectural wall molding originally located in the chancel."

On the first floor, the Cornerstone Building contains church offices, which had to be relocated from the main building in order to make room for three new conference rooms and a parlor adjoining the atrium and fellowship hall. The second floor houses three classrooms, together with well-equipped rooms for middle school and senior high school youth.

Recognition will be given to the architect, the builder and the Brownson building committee in a dedication booklet that has been prepared for the event. Following the worship service, a reception will be held in the fellowship hall, at which time a PowerPoint presentation detailing the history of the "Opening New Doors" project will be shown.

"In this dedication service we are celebrating the fulfillment of many dreams," says Perryman. "We will also be expressing our gratitude to God and our thanks to all the people whose vision, support and generosity have made these new facilities possible to meet the space needs of our growing Christian Education program and especially our own youth, as well as meeting the use of facility requests from organizations in our community."

Contact Pinehurst writer Mary Elle Hunter at mhunter104@yahoo.com.