TRURO HEIGHTS, N.S. — Pastor Scott Penner is a happy man, standing in the cavernous interior of the Truro Alliance Church’s new home.
“We’re just excited to have a house again,” said Penner. “The church is not a building, it’s the people, but it’s nice to have a place to settle into and call home.”
The new church on Truro Heights Road is already hosting services, but the formal grand opening is on Sunday. Penner is expecting a large crowd of congregants – and perhaps even a few new members.
The church was built by a crew of volunteers starting in the fall of 2018. Penner said the new building's cost was just $550,000, thanks to the volunteer labour and generosity shown by local contractors and tradespeople.
The new church features a main worship hall and large entrance foyer, ideal for hosting social functions. The children’s nursery is also complete, but interior work on the Sunday school classrooms is still ongoing.
Penner says the church can host “at least” 200 people, but the regular congregation numbers about 80 worshippers.
“I’m excited to see what God has in store for the use of this building,” said Penner. “It is important for me, not so much the actual building, but what happens to people’s lives within it.”
Penner recalled one church member in his 70s who had visited numerous cathedrals, but truly found his spiritual satisfaction at the Truro Alliance Church.
However, Penner also wanted his church to be a place the entire community can use. This includes hosting Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, for example.
“We want to contribute to the community,” he said.
For the last two years, the church met at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Truro campus.
Penner said the NSCC was “really good to us, really accommodating.”
Previously, the church had a smaller building on 29 Philip St., in Truro.
Despite the changes over the last two years, Penner said its ideals remain unchanged.
“We really want to be a place that doesn’t put burdensome demands on people with a list of dos and don’ts, but (rather) help them relax into a meaningful, deeper, authentic faith,” said Penner.
A new home also means keeping up the tradition of being good neighbours, for example by teaming up with the Truro Heights Baptist Church for Christmas eve celebrations.
Truro Alliance Church is located at 195 Truro Heights Rd.
Its grand opening on Jan. 26 starts with a special Sunday service from 1 to 2 p.m. This will be followed by the public open house running from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit the Truro Alliance Church’s Facebook page, its website at truroalliance.church, or call 902-893-8761.
