By Gary Lloyd
Grace Presbyterian Church on Deerfoot Parkway, which merged with Eastminster Presbyterian Church in May, has a new name.
The name of the new church will be Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church, assuming the merger is completed and approved.
Previous interim minister at Grace Presbyterian, Terry Newland, said the hope is that the merger and name will be official by Oct. 1. The approval process is being guided by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley of the Presbyterian Church.
The church’s new pastor is the Rev. Shelaine Bird, chosen by the two congregations and approved by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. Bird was most recently transitional paster at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian in Hoover.
Eastminster Presbyterian’s preschool closed in May, and Grace Presbyterian’s preschool continues and has enrolled some of the Eastminster students. The Grace program will continue its program, including infant through 4K children. The first day for students was Aug. 14. The new name for the preschool is Grace at Cahaba Springs.
The Eastminster Presbyterian location, on U.S. Highway 11, is currently under an option contract with a local commercial real estate developer, Newland said. The developer is in the process of analyzing the site for potential future commercial development, he said.
Programming, however, such as Friday Night LIVE and Zumba classes, will continue at the Eastminster site. Should that site be sold in the future, Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church hopes to lease or buy a multipurpose facility in Trussville to not only continue the programs and missions currently housed at the Eastminster campus, but to expand its outreach and service in northeast Jefferson County, Newland said.
Eastminster has served the city of Trussville for the last 22 years. At a May 5 worship and communion service, Jon Scholl rang the bell outside the church 22 times to honor the 22 years of Eastminster’s service in Trussville.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.