The Amazing Race · Join the Adventure

What an exciting week this has been for us at Canyon Creek!  We have just signed a contract with Design Services Group for them to begin the process to develop the Conceptual Design and Rendering of our future building on HWY 9.  This includes a conceptual floor plan which will show the arrangements of the rooms and the main auditorium.  We will also receive a full color 3-dimensional computerized graphic showing the exterior of our future building with door/window locations, finish, roof style and elevations, along with parking and conceptual landscaping.  This will be an excellent presentation for us to visualize what is going to happen at our property on HWY 9.  We are expecting this Conceptual Design and Rendering development to be completed before the First of the year.  Continue to keep this in your prayers as the team continues to move forward on the development of the HWY 9 property.  I would also like to thank each and every one of you for participating in the “Amazing Finish!”  Together we will build our future!

Russ

Here is our report from Associated Earth Science.

I’m pleased to report that we have completed our explorations out at the HYW 9 Building Site for our future Canyon Creek Church Building.  We generally found lodgment till in the west half of the site, with the upper 3 to 4 feet being weathered and less dense than the underlying, un-weathered lodgment till.  The dense, glacially consolidated nature of the lodgment till typically provides suitable support of foundations with minimal subsurface soil preparation. Watch video HERE.  The fine-grained nature of the lodgment till, however, is prone to disturbance (pumping, rutting, and similar near-surface, water-related issues) should construction occur during the wet season.  Moisture sensitive soils can significantly increase the costs for wet season site development and foundation construction.

In the east half of the site, we generally observed a thin smearing of weathered lodgment till overlying weathered sedimentary bedrock.  The mineral soil in this portion of the property typically consisted of more granular materials, but they were generally of limited depth (typically between 5 and 7 feet thick, measured from existing site grades) before encountering the underlying bedrock.  One interesting thing to note about the soils on the east half of the property was the amount of oxidation observed in the samples we recovered.  The oxidation indicates that water has historically passed through these soils and may be an indication of perched water during seasonal highs.  This is consistent with the presence of the delineated wetland that was observed down-gradient from where we performed our test pits.

AESGEO

This next week we are starting our exploration test pits.  We will be digging test pits throughout the property.  These test pits will be advanced to between 10 and 15 feet below existing site grades, logged by an engineer and geologist from Associated Earth Sciences.  These test pits will enable us to calculate important information that is needed for site development.  We need information for the building site, septic system, road and parking lot, retention ponds and an assortment of additional items.  This information will allow Steve Calhoon from Pace Engineers to start and incredible long journey of paper and design work. 

We have completed the wetland study and I just received the survey of the wetland flags.  Now all we have to do is put the puzzle together.  We are meeting with an engineer and wetland specialist this afternoon.  This is an exciting time to actually see a clear picture of the property.  Now not only can you see across the property but you can also see it on paper. 

I am sitting on a plane praying and dreaming of the day we will have our first service on our new property. While that day is in the distant future, there is a lot happening on the property. Our renter has moved out and Russ (with a team of volunteers) are renovating the house so that we can utilize it for office space. In addition, the property is being mowed, cleaned up, and cleared out. I visited the property before I left on our staff retreat and was amazed by all the progress that has already taken place. I was also impressed by how large 17 acres actually is. (Russ was quick to point out to me that we haven’t even cleared half the property yet!)

If you want to see your giving in action and want to be encouraged about the future of our church, stop by the property some time in the next week. Things are happening and your faithful giving to The Amazing Race is making a huge impact!

Pastor Brandon

Two weeks ago, the pastors, elders, and several members from our church went to our property for our sign unveiling. The sign which proudly reads “The Future Home of Canyon Creek Church” may not seem like a big deal but it was huge to me. To me it symbolizes the hand of God on our church. He has been in charge and guiding our footsteps every step of the way. It was less than a year ago when we were deep into the process of praying and asking what is next. A short time later, we had launched our Amazing Race campaign and purchased 17 acres which will be our permanent home. God is good.

So here is a new rule! Every time you drive by our property and see our sign pray a quick prayer for our church. Ask the Lord to move us into our new home soon. Pray for favor with the county. Pray for continued momentum in our Amazing Race campaign. Pray for miraculous financial gifts that will move the process forward quicker. So, whenever you see the sign PRAY!

In case you missed it on Sunday, click this link to go to our video page and you will find a new video with John Taylor giving us an architect’s look at what’s happening with our property on Hwy 9.

http://www.canyoncreekonline.com/videos/

We have purchased a piece of property on Highway 9. The lot is 16-acres, and the deal is suppose to close in January 2010.

These are exciting times, so come back for more information on the property.

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