With Christmas, the auditorium remodel nearing completion, and a new Lead Pastor confirmed, we’ve got quite a few new things coming. I know change is challenging for many. But these changes are leading us to an exciting great beginning for 2022 and beyond. Here’s what’s coming so you can keep track…
December 2021
THIS Sunday (12/19) – Our volleyball court, used for our overflow during our auditorium renewal, will be closed to complete the remodeling. Our overflow is moved to the Student Union for this Sunday only.
6 pm Christmas Eve Service at the Tucson Convention Center. Things to remember:
- Check out our FAQ webpage for all the info you need.
- Parking is free, but might be limited as other activities are happening simultaneously. Carpool, use public transportation, and for sure, arrive early. See this map for parking areas onsite.
- The City of Tucson requires masks to enter the arena.
- All those attending will pass through security to enter the arena. TCC prohibits bags that are larger than 14″ x 16″ through the security zone, and please note, there is a Clear Bag Policy. There is a clear bag exception for a guest if it’s a diaper bag or needed for medical purposes.
- Yes, you can watch live online on our website, Facebook or YouTube!
- Before the service, there will be a live steel drum band, photo booths, stilt walkers, and cookies and water in the breezeway entrance.
Sunday, December 26 – No Sunday Services
There will be no Sunday services the day after Christmas. To give our staff and volunteers a break from this busy season and allow them to rest and spend time with their families, we’ll be closing our offices from December 27 to December 31, 2021.
January 2022
Sunday, January 2 – Special Prayer Service
- This will be a special prayer service at 9 and 11 am. We won’t do a typical Sunday service as the auditorium technology will not be fully set up. We’ll meet as families in the auditorium, receive some instructions, then spread out across campus to pray. We’ll have several prayer stations with QR codes to receive prayer ideas at each location (the codes are scannable with your phone camera). The Café will be open when you are finished praying, and we’ll have an online option for this special prayer service as well.
- Starting January 2nd, there will be no 1 pm service in person or online until we reach capacity in our other venues.
Sunday, January 9 – First Sunday Service in the Remodeled Auditorium
This will be our first regular service in our newly renovated auditorium. We’ll kick off the new year with our focus as a church for 2022, and our new Lead Pastor, Trevor DeVage, will be with us on campus!
Sunday, January 16 – Auditorium Remodel Celebration and Trevor DeVage Preaching
Today, we’ll formally celebrate our auditorium remodel! We’ll have Eegee’s, Krispy Kreme donuts, and the rock wall will be open for the adventure-seekers! We’ll officially pass the torch to our new Lead Pastor, and Trevor will give his first message.
Glen Elliott
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We finally have our permits, and demolition is beginning in the auditorium! Pantano folks took about 23 pews. We have moved our stage, lights, sound, and video equipment to Coop Court, and we’ll meet there starting this Sunday – August 29th.
How Long?
The remodeling work will take about three months or so. As you know, it’s tough to predict and trust construction schedules as there are always variables that can’t be foreseen. But, I’m confident that we’ll have our grand reopening in January of 2022.
Coop Court
All the seating in Coop Court will be on the floor (no bleacher seats). There are two door entrances to Coop Court – one off the outdoor court on the northside of the property and one through the lobby. Both entrances are accessible for those with disabilities.
Many of you don’t know where Coop Court is or why it has that name. This court was named after Tim Coop, our Lead Pastor – my predecessor – a man of deep grace and faith who welcomed everyone into his life. See the map below for its location.
1 PM Service
We are adding back our 1 pm service this Sunday – August 29th. Please, if you can, consider attending the 1 pm service as it will help make more space for guests at 9 am and 11 am. We’ll have a kids ministry for ages birth to 5 years old, but no kids or student ministry at 1 pm (we’ll have our complete program for kids and students at 9 am and 11 am).
Overflow
Should any service reach capacity, we have overflow seating set up in what we call the Volleyball Court (see the map). We’ve put up a giant screen that will allow for excellent viewing. You might like to use the overflow room if you prefer more physical distancing.
We Need Your Help
Since COVID, we’ve had a more difficult time getting the volunteers we need for our Kids, Students, Café, and Host Teams on Sunday. Adding the 1 pm service increases our need. PLEASE consider serving at one of our services. I would be grateful if you would consider attending one and serving in one service. Visit our website, click our “Get Involved” button, then scroll down the page to join one of our teams.
Café
Our Café is open three times on Sundays in the outdoor court – before the 9 am service, between the 9 am and 11 am service, and between the 11 am and 1 pm service. There are always free drinks and coffee available out in the outdoor court.
We look forward to having you join us during this season to see the exciting updates unfold!
Glen Elliott
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WHY?
We are finally starting the auditorium remodeling project! Before I get into the details about the necessary moves to make this happen, I’ll explain the WHY behind the remodel; the carpet is 30 years old and beyond repair, the pews are breaking, and more importantly, we need to fix the dangerous slope. But, there’s a more significant reason; We want to have a facility that is welcoming to not only those who follow Jesus but to those who have yet to connect with God through Jesus. Like Jesus, our focus is always on those who are yet to step into faith. Target and other retailers remodel their facilities every seven years. Those who didn’t, like Kmart and Sears, are out of business! Churches don’t have to be fancy, but those who fail to keep their facilities up find they can’t connect with new folks.
Coop Court
We will be holding services during construction! Starting this week, we are configuring Coop Court (the indoor cafe prior to COVID) for our worship experience. We are putting in wires, lights, sound, and a stage. Seating will be on the flat floor. So, Coop Court will not be open for the next two weeks and until we all meet there on August 29th (when we’ll close the auditorium, as that’s when the demo starts). Until then, we’ll continue to meet in the auditorium and Volleyball Court. Beginning August 29th, we’ll offer overflow seating in our Volleyball Court with an extra-large screen to view services in that area if you arrive late or want more physical distance.
Lobby
Our lobby will remain open and available during services.
Restarting Our 1 pm Service
We will also be adding our 1 PM service time again! May I encourage you to consider our 1 pm service to make more room for others, especially guests, at 9 am or 11 am? The 1 pm service time is an excellent option if you like to sleep in or if you want to take advantage of the cooler morning hours to get work done around the house.
Café, Kids, and Students
Our Café will be extending its hours and will remain open up until the 1 pm service. Students will not be holding services during the 1 pm service time, however, our Kids Ministry will be offering nursery and preschool for kids ages 0 – 5 years old.
Online
Our online services will continue to be available for all three service times, as well as on-demand throughout the week.
Updates
You can go to our remodel webpage to see what the project will look like when it’s finished. We’ll keep this page updated with any new information. You can reserve a pew if you’d like one for your patio, to make a kitchen table nook, or however you would like to use one! Visit https://pantano.church/remodel/ for more information.
Change is never easy or fun. But this change will be worth it. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation!
Glen Elliott
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Upcycle
We started a series called Upcycle on Sunday. In this series, we are learning how to allow God to take the regrets of our past and free us from them, then transform those regrets into something better. This three-week series is designed around the three key steps to freedom – 1) Recognize your regrets; 2) Release your regrets; and 3) Redeem or upcycle your regrets. We’ve provided a worksheet called Upcycle – Living Beyond Regret that is available at MyPantano.church to help you work through each of the three steps. You can add your notes then email the worksheet to yourself. You can also pick up a printed copy at Guest Services any Sunday. Be sure to share your journey and discovery with others.
Global Outreach
Michael Goodwin is our new interim Global Outreach pastor. Michael will serve in this role at least through the end of the year. His focus will be to serve and support our volunteer global ministry champions as well as oversee our Rocky Point trip in October 5-8, 2019. In the meantime, we are looking for a person to fill this role long-term.
For many years Michael has had a passion and the calling of God to be a church planter or campus pastor. We’ve come alongside Michael and have been mentoring him to fulfill his calling. And, it looks like we need to plant another Pantano campus. We grew 26% last year and there doesn’t seem to be a slowing of such growth. To continue to reach people, we are anticipating we’ll need to make more room by adding a campus. We are praying about and looking at opening a new campus sometime in 2020. Please pray about this and pray about being a part of starting and joining a new Pantano campus! I’ll keep you updated as plans and details become clearer.
Room For More
The outside of the Student Union should be finished this week, then we start work on the interior. We are still anticipating and hoping to occupy the building by the end of July – right as school starts up again. If you are able to give a generous gift, now is a critical time. With our loan and the funds already given, we have enough to finish the building, but we need to order the technology (sound systems, lights, etc.) and furnishings right away for it all to be installed by late July. We need an additional $300,000 sooner than later to completely finish the project. You can give digitally, by check or bank transfer. We are also able to process stock, vehicles, and property. Thank you for helping us make room for more students and children here at Pantano.
1 PM Sunday Service
And thinking about room for more…with our growth and with the heat coming, our Sunday 1 PM service is a great option. If you can attend the 1 PM service, that would make room for more at our other services. The service averages about 275 people so it provides a less crowded venue and lots of parking. And with summer here, you can do your chores or outdoor activities in the morning, come and have lunch in our cafe, then worship in the cool auditorium. And, I think my message at 1 PM is the best of the three services!
We are in a great season here at Pantano, with many exciting things happening!
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