Staff writer
The Rev. Larry Timm saw smiles and excitement during worship at newly renamed Gracepoint church Sept. 5 in Peabody.
“There is a genuine enthusiasm,” he said later.
The discussion of changing the name of Peabody Bible Church began several years ago, he said. When the congregation was ready to replace an aging sign in front of the church, they decided the time was right to make the change.
“We, as a church, wanted to make a new start; a clean, fresh beginning,” Timm said. He said the decision to change names came “from the pew, not the pulpit.”
He said the name change wasn’t about erasing the past, but opening a new chapter in the church’s history. The congregation showed a lot of open-mindedness to even consider changing the name, he added.
The congregation spent several months winnowing a list of a dozen suggested names, praying for God’s guidance. Finalizing the new name took several more months, Timm said.
The Gracepoint name is intended to convey a sense of how much God does for humanity, he said. Additionally, the “t” at the end of the name symbolizes the cross Jesus died on — a symbol emphasized on the church’s new sign.
Gracepoint has Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship services at 10:45 a.m. every Sunday. The church is located at the intersection of Seventh and Vine streets in Peabody. For more information, call (620) 983-2566.