Bob’s thoughts:
This is a church that would be worth a visit even if you were not there for worship. The Sanctuary is A-frame style with very unusual stained glass. It seems less like stained glass than a section of wall built of chunks of colored glass, and the sun created beautiful patterns on the walls near the windows. There is a great metallic cross, centered, and the lighting is such that it creates a shadow of the cross on either side. The cross is hung in front of a back-lit metal screening which has large butterflies attached. The side walls have lovely banners; I particularly enjoyed the one with music symbols in the choir loft.
This great atmosphere to worship was enhanced by the welcome, as we were introduced to many and some sought us out afterwards.
I don’t think the mike was on for the Scripture readings, but we were near the back. I was pleased that the offering was taken in response to the Word.
There is almost no signage and it would take a bit to find your way around. We got to tour a little but a lot of the lower level resembled a school. And there was a large covered porch outside that I was curious about.
The minister was leaving on a camping trip right after the service, and I think he was already there. It was a good message, to kick back and relax and recharge, supplemented with some internet stories. Again we were in the back, but the minister was hard to understand.
Overall I sense this church to be in transition from inward to outward mission. I think they are answering God’s call and I would encourage them to go forward with what they have started.
I also appreciated the bulletin board dedicated to the military.
Jan’s thoughts:
I drive past this church twice each day, and since God didn’t seem to be leading us elsewhere, today seemed like a good day to check it out.
There was no parking lot but plenty of street parking and a perfect weather day to walk the short distance. We followed the lead of all the folks who seemed to be using the side entrance, and as we walked up the outside stairs we saw a porch – rather an unusual site at a church, but quite attractive.
We walked around downstairs some, but it was dark and very little was going on except for an adult Bible study, and then we encountered a gentleman who wanted to know if he could help us. He seemed to want to lead us back upstairs, so we headed that direction.
We decided to head toward the Sanctuary and find a seat. As we briefly spoke with the woman who handed us bulletins, we mentioned we were visitors and she quickly took my hand and led us toward the pastor’s study. She found him with some other folks, and excitedly introduced us to them all. She was an excellent person to have greeting visitors, as she was excited, animated, demonstrative, and more than willing to introduce us around. Someone else took over once we were seated, and he chatted with us and introduced us to more people.
The building was well kept, but we had to ask directions to the restrooms as there was almost no signage of any sort. The Sanctuary was quite beautiful. The pews were comfortably padded and set at a slight angle. There was lots of contemporary stained glass – abstract and very colorful. The rear wall of the Chancel was truly unique: it had white decorative wrought iron from floor to ceiling with a light green wall behind it and attractive back-lighting. Decorative butterflies of various sizes were attached to the wrought iron. Hanging from the ceiling in front of all this was a cross that was lit so as to cast a shadow on the walls on each side of the wrought iron. All this plus some gorgeous banners all the way down each side made for a striking view from where I sat.
The piano and choir were in the balcony to the rear of the Sanctuary, but easily heard.
The bulletin was two 8 ½ x 14” sheets folded in half and included the Order of Worship, attendance and giving figures, events for the week, a prayer list, and all sorts of announcements.
In his sermon, entitled “How to Kick Back, Relax, and Recharge!” the pastor spoke of the very common affliction these days in which we feel we must hurry, hurry, and hurry some more in order to simply keep our heads above water, never mind making any progress. There was plenty of Scripture read, but the one that was not read that kept running through my head was “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I’m sure I’m not alone in the occasional realization that I strive too much, worry too much, too often believe that my efforts are what make the difference in any given situation. Then once in a while I am reminded, as I was this morning, that God has my back and is handling things way better than I ever could if I just let Him and “be still and know that HE IS God.”
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