Beginning as a Wednesday night Bible study in the home of Pastor Henry Tomasso and his wife, Angela, Calvary Chapel Westside has grown and grown. The Calvary Chapel Westside congregation will celebrate the grand opening of its new building at 2407 Union Street, across from Ogden Presbyterian Church, on August 29. "We hope to have music and refreshments in the parking lot after our Sunday morning service. This is weather permitting, of course," says Pastor Tomasso. "Because the people attending our study desired to meet at our home on Sunday mornings, my pastor, Bill Gallatin from the Calvary Chapel Farmington recommended that we worship and teach the Bible on Sundays as well," Henry Tomasso says. "Using just about every room in our house for the children and our family room for the adults, we out grew our home and rented a converted barn on Westside Drive. After outgrowing the barn, we rented the two-story building in Spencerport on the corner of Union and Amity Streets. We went from one to two services there and then moved to 67 Lyell Avenue. We converted the old Trowbridge gymnasium for use for our services. We turned the showers, locker rooms, balcony and other rooms into classrooms. Three quarters of the gym became our 320-seat sanctuary and one-fourth of the gym became the Engedi Café and a front room became our Chapel Book Store. "The membership has constantly increased, and we have three Sunday morning services at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. We also meet to study God's word and worship on Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. "We have prayer meetings every Monday night at 6:30 p.m., men's and women's fellowship on Tuesdays, women's Bible studies on Monday afternoons and Thursday evenings, youth groups and many other studies, concerts, activities and events." Recently the church purchased over twenty acres on 2407 Union Street. Construction began in January of 2004. "We never had a fundraiser," Tomasso says. "We have prayed for the Lord's direction for a long time and for months fasted on Mondays. To be honest, I felt like giving up. I will never place the people under any burden; so if we could not get a loan, I was set to just keep renting and maybe go to a fourth Sunday morning service. I found out once again that our adversity is the Lord's opportunity to show Himself wonderful. Jesus showed Himself as the true pastor of our flock." Tomasso says that he "looks forward to ministering to our community and to those who travel a bit to worship with us." For the August 29 opening of the new church, one service will be held at 10 a.m. Subsequent weeks, Sunday services will be at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. |
