A special dedication of services and events are planned for this weekend (Nov. 21-22) at the Metropolitan Community Church’s (MCC) new Mission Bay home.

The church moved from the San Diego LGBT Community Center in Hillcrest where it held services for six years and to 2633 Denver St. The church held its first service at its new location on Oct. 11. The transition has been mostly smooth and attendance on its Oct. 11th services totaled 438, one of the largest attended services since an MCC church was opened in San Diego 40 years ago.

Twenty-seven people became members of the church on Nov. 15 after attending a membership class. Lee Bowman, communications minister, said it was the largest group of people accepted into its membership in recent memory.

On Sunday, Nov. 22, former pastors Rev. David Farrell, Rev. Dusty Pruitt, Rev. Tony Freeman and Rev. John Gill will be present at both the church’s 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. dedication services. The guest speaker will be Rev. Nancy Wilson, moderator for the MCC denomination.

The church will hold an open house and barbecue on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 1-4:30 p.m., and all are invited. The former pastors will also be present.

Senior Pastor Rev. Dan Koeshall said the congregation feels “overwhelmingly joy and pride” in having a place of their own.

“We haven’t left the Hillcrest community. We’ve expanded,” Koeshall said. “We are leaving no neighborhood behind and will continue to be an active, committed part of the LGBT community, within 10 minutes of Hillcrest.”

“We will never waiver from being a church where all are welcome and celebrated,” he added.

The church is located south of Clairemont Drive and just east of Interstate 5.

“We have been blessed through our patience and faith, though we always knew that the church is the people, not a building,” Koeshall said.

The church offers rides for those without transportation who can meet at the San Diego LGBT Community Center every Sunday. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the church office at 619-521-2222.

People can also access transportation through the church’s ride share program at mccrideshare@hotmail.com.

There have been more people needing rides than vehicles available, and the church needs more people who can offer rides from Hillcrest.

Koeshall and Rev. Houston Burnside conducted the church’s first funeral at the new location on Oct. 17 after Jennifer Meriwether passed away from an unexpected sudden illness. Meriwether was a very active church member and received the Lovedy Gilbert Award in 2008. Her husband, Steve Ebner, a retired United Methodist Church pastor, taught adult Sunday school at MCC.

MCC sold its North Park church on 30th Street in 2003 after it outgrew the building and lost the parking lot across the street where new condominiums and other businesses were built. The money from the church sale was saved and used to buy the Mission Bay church purchased from The Life Church last September.

MCC assumed a mortgage of $575,000 and paid $1.9 million for the 3-story building, which includes large offices, classrooms, a computer room, sound systems and a large kitchen. The final purchase price after closing costs totaled $2.5 million, according to the church treasurer’s report.

Since its new location opened, members have been tending to its lawn with pride. After services each Sunday, prayer partners are available for people requesting prayer.

On Dec. 6, Pastor Emeritus Rev. David Farrell will be honored for his role in starting observance of World AIDS Day. In Jan., 1985, Farrell started a 50-hour AIDS Vigil of Prayer at the church when the HIV epidemic was claiming many lives and there were little medications developed that could lengthen people’s lives.

Rev. Farrell will be honored at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on Sunday, Dec. 6.

The church will also host a Thanksgiving fellowship dinner on Thursday, Nov. 26.