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GROUNDBREAKING FOR PRESBYTERY OFFICE

The groundbreaking for the new Presbytery office building was held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2009 at the construction site adjacent to the Oxford Presbyterian Church.  Leaders of the Presbytery including Moderator Stuart Spencer, Vice Moderator Catherine Adams, General Presbyter Al DerMovsesian and Trustee President George Rendell took part in the ceremony.  In addition to pastors and members of a number of Philadelphia churches and many members from the Oxford Church, the event was attended by Philadelphia City Councilwoman Marian Tasco and representatives from the offices of PA state legislators Leanna Washington and Cherelle Parker, as well as leaders from local neighborhood associations.

Pastor Ethelyn Taylor of Oxford Church led the gathering in a litany of prayer and scripture for the groundbreaking; and Elder Bill Cobb of Chestnut Hill Church, Chairman of the Project Team for the new building, spoke about the objectives of the project to be a "green" building with a geothermal field and planted roof, and to adapt to the surrounding neighborhood with a stone and brick exterior.  He then introduced Henry Cooper and Randy Washington of LSN Engineering, a new minority construction management firm, and Joe Powell of Buell, Kratzer, Powell, the architect.