Today's story with yet another Lierland Lie. I have lived in town many years - have talked to hundreds, if not thousands of people in the Rockaways and Denville on the subject - not one was in favor of this project or has plans to attend. Perhaps it is our town idiot (not ted, the other guy) who drops by every day, or do they just let anyone who pulls up pass through security to say hello. Seems every other word out of his mouth has been BS since the begining of this for-profit "church" project


Christ Church to begin Sunday services in Rockaway Twp. June 28
BY ROB JENNINGS STAFF WRITER June 16, 2009


ROCKAWAY TWP. -- Christ Church will begin holding Sunday services at 140 Green Pond Road on June 28, the megachurch announced Monday.


Two Sunday services will be held, one at 9 a.m. and the other at 11:30 a.m., at a temporary sanctuary with room for 1,067 people.

"Seeing the fruition of our plans to offer worship in Morris County has been long awaited and we are excited to open our doors to our neighbors," said the Rev. David Ireland, church pastor, in a statement Monday. "In fact, many neighbors have been dropping by daily to ask: When will the church begin worship here because we want to participate. Now, we are able to provide them with a clear answer that is sure to generate excitement in the community."

The evangelical Christian church, which has approximately 6,000 members, received a certificate of occupancy on June 1 for the temporary sanctuary.

Christ Church began construction last August on the interim space while awaiting final state approval for its full building plan, featuring a 2,512-seat permanent sanctuary and a private K-5 school.

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, Christ Church received an exemption from the Highlands law limiting development in 2007, but at least one of the required permits remains under review.

Christ Church's full building plan prompted more than three years of occasionally contentious public hearings in Rockaway Township. It gained local Planning Board approval in 2007. The board later signed off on the temporary sanctuary.

Christ Church, founded in 1986, sought additional space amid substantial growth and announced plans in 2003 to move from Montclair to Rockaway Township. The church acquired its 107-acre site on Green Pond Road from Agilent Technologies in 2005 for more than $10 million.

Ireland has said the church will retain ownership and continue holding services at its 900-seat cathedral in Montclair. Christ Church said on Monday that five weekend services will be held in Montclair.

Christ Church said the temporary sanctuary will include a children's wing with a nursery, toddlers' room, four classrooms, a teen church, a family care room and a bookstore. The sanctuary will feature stained-glass murals, a theater style, wood grain flooring and decorative carpeting.