OxfordPress.com

Construction on a new church facility in Oxford that will look more like a barn than a religious center is proceeding quickly toward a grand opening Nov. 23, with services at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Cobblestone Community Church, which has held its weekend worship celebrations in the auditeria of Talawanda Middle School since May 2001, is the final phase of a $3 million construction project. The Rev. Bob Hostetler describes the church as a "community-oriented and student-friendly church." The centerpiece of the project is a unique structure called "The Loft," on Kehr Road.

The facility will consist of a 392-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and staging capabilities, a 2,000-square-foot atrium intended for use as a versatile gathering place, and a "west wing" of restrooms, classrooms, office and a separate auditorium for children and youth gatherings. The parking lot will accommodate 201 vehicles.

The Loft will look like a barn instead of a church, which may seem to be an unorthodox choice. Church member and project manager Mike Shea explained that there are multiple reasons for the barn-like appearance.

"Cobblestone is not a traditional church, so a steeple or similar features would not have fit our personality," Shea said. "It's also a conscious decision to fit in with the history and beauty of the building's surroundings, which used to be known as South Farm until that designation was changed at the city's request just last year. And, since we hope to turn over this facility to our growing youth ministry in the future, the design will be perfect for that purpose then, as well."

He explained that The Loft would be more attractive and versatile as a gathering place for the whole community, to enhance the mission as a church.

The Loft is the first phase of a long-range plan for the church, which will eventually comprise three buildings on a campus of nearly 40 acres. The campus plan replaces an earlier developer's proposal, which would have put more than 100 homes on the site surrounding the 11 homes on Morgan Circle, all that remain of the originally planned subdivision.

Shea said approximately 17 acres of the church's eventual campus will be preserved as open space.

Cobblestone Community Church was launched in early 2001, with a single Sunday morning worship celebration in the auditeria of Talawanda High School. Soon thereafter, the church moved its services to Talawanda Middle School, where it has been since, assembling its large worship celebrations from scratch every week with the help of a 24-foot trailer and scores of volunteers. The church added a second Sunday morning celebration in 2004, and a Saturday evening coffeehouse-style worship experience in 2006.

"After hundreds of weekends as a portable church," said Sharla Racioppa, the church's pastor of worship, "it will be incredible to have a permanent place for worship and ministry."

In the meantime, the church has launched an effort called the Get Ready Campaign, as a means of preparing their members, volunteers and systems for the Loft's opening. Until then, they will continue to host a 9 and 10:30 a.m. celebration each Sunday in the auditeria of Talawanda Middle School on Oxford-Reily Road, south of Oxford. Children's and youth ministry also take place at the same time as the 10:30 celebration.

More information about the church and its ministry is available online at

www.cobblestonechurch.com.