Dear Church,

In the first 9 years Kameron and I were married, due to our educational journeys, we had 8 different mailing addresses in Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. We learned a thing or two about moving.

Whenever you move from one house to another, it is a natural time to sort through your belongings, to discern what to let go of and what is too precious to leave behind.

In less than two weeks, we will step across the threshold of our new church home. As we prepare to experience this new space, our congregation is presented with that exact same opportunity.

What We Are Carrying With Us

Buildings change, but our identity, calling and congregational culture in Christ must remain steadfast. As we move into this next chapter, let's pack up and carrying forward the values that make our congregation unique and healthy:

• Our Warm Welcome: Genuine hospitality extended to every person who walks through our doors.
• Our "Sacred Modern" Worship: Engaging, thoughtful, and authentic praise that anchors our present lives with historic Christian worship.
• Our Wesleyan Heritage: Preaching and teaching our Methodist doctrines of grace and practically living just and holy lives.
• Our Missional Mindset: An outward focus that seeks to love and serve our local community and world.
• Our Christ-Centered Health: A strong, unified body rooted firmly in the grace and truth of Jesus that compels us to treat one another well.

Now, gird your loins...there is ONE REALLY BIG CHANGE!

While we will have the same delicious, hot coffee you we enjoy each week, we are going ask everyone to enjoy all beverages—including those brought from home—only in our new gathering space, keeping our sanctuary food- and drink-free.

Keeping our sanctuary free of food and drink is partly a matter of reverence for our worship space, but it is also a practical commitment to stewardship and cleanliness. Because much of our sanctuary flooring is sloped, a single spilled container or dropped cup can travel forward quickly, creating an unnecessary mess, damage, and distraction during worship. We know this is a shift in habits and will take some getting used to, but we deeply appreciate your help and cooperation in caring for the beautiful space God has provided for us. As usual, if you would like to submit a complaint about this change, my email is warren@rossbridge.church :)

I'll see you this Sunday for our final worship service in the Clocktower: 9:30a & 10:45a

With hope,

Pastor Nathan

With the opening of our new church, we will all need to become familiar with how our properties will be used moving forward.

Our church owns the Clocktower and will continue to use it for ministry for the foreseeable future. This means that our church ministry will operate out of two locations.

Below is an outline of the use of each property:

Clocktower: Bridge Students’ Ministry; Adult Life Groups; Staff Offices for Dawn Brown, Beth Butler, Jessica Lane, Malcolm Lunceford & Abby Brown

Church: Sunday Morning Ministries: Worship, Childcare, Hospitality & Kid’s Worship; Bridge Kids on Wednesday night; Staff Offices for Nathan Carden, Steve Wingo, Warren Austin, Julie Adams & Kacey Lamon

Phase 1b (our new church) & Master Planning

Phase 1a is the first step in vertical construction for our master planning, which will include four total buildings connected together at our new property. As we move into the new building, there are aspects of the design that anticipate future development. For instance, our current nursery is located in two temporary rooms in the rear of the sanctuary. Our sanctuary is designed for future, internal expansion to add 220 more seats. While the building has been thoughtfully designed and is beautiful, there are some rooms and features that are not in their final design/purpose. As our church grows and it is financially feasible, we will undertake Phase 2. 

You can see our Phase 1b and Master Plan Images below:

Phase 1b Floor Plan

Master Plan (showing Mount Chapel)

• “Sights & Sounds” Hymn Sing & Stained Glass Lighting: Thu, Oct. 8 at 6:30 PM

We will gather at Mount Chapel to sing hymns, then walk to the front of the new church as we light up the exterior architecture and stained glass for the first time. (Outdoor event only: ~45 mins). ***Please allow our older members or those with mobility challenges to park closest to the chapel.

• Sanctuary Consecration Service For Church Family: Wed, Oct. 14 at 6:30 PM

Our church family will enter the new sanctuary together for the first time to dedicate our building and furnishings to God’s glory. (Due to capacity limits, this service is specifically for our church family and building partners.)

• Come & Go Prayer: Thu, Oct. 15 from 5:30–7:30 PM

Tour the new rooms at your own pace and pray for the ministries, leaders, and lives that will be impacted in each space.

• Opening Sunday Services - Open to the Public: Sun, Oct. 18 at 9:00 AM & 10:45 AM - Please Register Your Attendance!

Join us for our inaugural Sunday services! To help us manage seating and save room for visitors, please register your household in advance at rossbridge.church/connect.

Thank You For "Savings Seats"!

Together, and by God's grace, we were able to cover the cost of all 450 of our sanctuary chairs...and provide 60 high quality folding chairs for our kid's worship space!

Thank you for your investment in God's Kingdom!

We are getting ready to welcome our youngest members and visitors, and we need your help stocking our nursery with safe, fun and engaging items! To ensure we meet our updated health and safety guidelines, please only purchase gifts directly from our official registries. We are unable to accept outside items or unlisted donations at this time.

All purchased gifts will be shipped directly to the church (c/o Julie Adams). Thank you for supporting our growing children's ministry!



• 🛒 Shop on Amazon
• 🧩 Shop on Lakeshore Learning

October Mission Focus: Ryker's Rainbow

We are excited to support Ryker's Rainbow this month. The Schoff family started this ministry in honor of their son born in June 2022 with heart issues and passed away. Supporting this ministry is a way to support other families when they are experiencing an unimaginable loss.

You can support our October Mission Focus online by selecting "Missions" , or by leaving a cash or check on our altar rail during worship each Sunday this month. Thank you for your continued support as we serve our community together!

Ecuador Interest Meeting

Join us for an upcoming interest meeting to learn more about our 2027 mission trip to Ecuador! This meeting is a great opportunity to hear about trip details, timeline, and how you can get involved in serving next summer in Ecuador. Whether you are fully committed or simply curious about what the trip entails, all are welcome to attend!

Event Details

• When: Sunday, October 25th at 12:15 PM
• Where: Clock Tower Building

Grab a Blessing Bag on Your Way Out of Worship This Sunday!

Bridge Kids Fall Fest!

Mark your calendars for a special evening with Bridge Kids! On Wednesday, October 21st, from 6:00 – 7:15 PM, we’re inviting families to join us in celebrating this season in our brand-new space.

This isn't just for the kids—kids and parents will attend together for an unforgettable night of fellowship, connection and fall fun!

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, October 21st
• Time: 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
• Location: New Bridge Kids Space at the Sanctuary
• Who: Kids and Parents (Attending Together!)

What’s Included In The Fall Fest Fun:

• 🎯 Carnival Games
• 🏰 Inflatables
• 🎃 Pumpkin Patch
• 📸 Fall Photo Spot

We can’t wait to check out our new space with you and celebrate together as a church family. See you there!

Bridge Kids Is GROWING! Ways You Can Serve

Our Bridge Kids ministry is growing, and we have several opportunities for you to make a lasting impact in the lives of our children and families! Whether you can serve weekly, monthly, or even occasionally- there is a place for you on our team.

Nursery Volunteers

As our ministry continues growing, we need 3–4 nursery volunteers each Sunday to help us maintain a safe, loving, and welcoming environment. Whether you enjoy rocking babies, playing with toddlers, or simply being an extra set of hands, this is a wonderful way to support our Bridge Kids families!

Who Can Serve:

• Adults & High School Students (Grades 9–12)
• Middle School Students (Serving Alongside a Parent)

• Commitment: Flexible! Choose the specific dates that work best for your schedule.

👉 Sign Up to Serve in the Nursery

Bridge Kids Buddies (New Ministry!)

Every child deserves a Buddy. We are excited to launch Bridge Kids Buddies, a ministry dedicated to providing extra support for children with special needs during Sunday morning Kids Worship.



As a Buddy, you help ensure every child feels welcomed, supported, and included. Roles may include sitting with a child during the lesson, helping with activities, assisting with mobility/wheelchairs, encouraging worship participation, or taking a short quiet break when needed.

Who Can Serve:

• Adults & High School Students (Grades 9–12)
• 8th-Grade Students (Serving Alongside a Parent)
• Requirements: A patient heart and a desire to come alongside our kids

👉 Sign Up to Be a Bridge Kids Buddy

Wednesday Night Volunteers

With more kids joining us on Wednesday nights, we need additional adult volunteers to help our evenings run smoothly! There is no teaching or lesson planning required—simply show up, jump into games or activities, sit with a group of kids, and be an encouraging presence in the room.



• Who Can Serve: Adults
• Commitment: Just ONE Wednesday night per month!

👉 Sign Up to Serve on Wednesday Nights

Our Childcare Team is Growing!

Part-Time Nursery Worker

Do you love caring for little ones and creating a safe, welcoming environment for children and families? We’re looking for a warm, patient, and dependable Nursery Worker to join our Children’s Ministry team!

Part-Time, Hourly | Approximately 3–5 hours per week

Primarily Sunday mornings 8:30a-12p and Wednesday evenings, with occasional special events. Experience caring for children in a church or childcare setting is preferred. Applicants should be comfortable moving between classrooms, assisting with setup and cleanup, standing for extended periods, and lifting up to 40 lbs. If you love little ones and want to be part of a ministry that helps children experience the love of Jesus from their very first years, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Click Here to Apply



No Bridge Students Oct 11th

We will not be meeting for Bridge Students during fall break. Enjoy your time off!

On October 18th we are concluding our series titled Lift Off where we are learning about good habits for spiritual growth. So far we have studied growth through spending time with God, maintaining Godly relationships, and using the gifts God gave us. You don't want to miss this - Encourage your student to invite a friend!

Friday Night Lights: Hoover Football Tailgate



October 16th · 5pm

Get ready for an exciting night of community, food and football! On Friday, October 16th, we are heading out for a Hoover Football Tailgate.

Whether you’re a football fan or just coming for the food & fellowship, this is a great opportunity for students to hang out, connect with leaders, and cheer on the Hoover Bucs. We will have Chick-Fil-A to eat and 9 Square, Cornhole and Pepper Pong to play, so make sure to join us!

Volunteer Training Followup

On Sunday, 9/27, we held training sessions for hospitality, sacristy/communion serving, usher/greeter & security ministry teams.

Following up, we are asking everyone who is signed up for one of these teams to email Beth Butler and share:

1) Which ministry team you intend to serve on?

2) Which worship service (9a or 10:45a) you plan to attend in the new church.

3) If you were able to attend the training for the team you intend to serve on.

We are building the vital schedule of volunteers now to ensure all volunteers are included in the correct ministry area(s) and scheduled for the correct times.

Fall Small Group Life- You Belong Here!

Get plugged into an adult small group this fall for Bible study, encouragement and community! We have 11 different studies happening this season. You can preview each small group on the GROUPS Page to find the one that suits your schedule and feels like a good fit for you!

BG's Thanksgiving Lunch

Join our BG's- Bridging the Gap (50+ Adult Ministry) for a wonderful morning of fellowship, food, and celebration at BG’s Thanksgiving Luncheon!

We are excited to welcome Lisa Finch—author, artist, and musician—as our special guest speaker and performer for the event.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, November 10th
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Location: The Clock Tower
• Cost: $10
• Special Guest: Lisa Finch (Author, Artist, Musician)

Come enjoy a delicious meal and a refreshing time together as we celebrate the season of gratitude!