From Mormon to Methodist and back again; trail marker #3

Trail marker #3 Lovingly endearing

So you have made it half way down the trail. Good job. It really is the scenic route isn't it. Oh well scenic is good now and then.

Lovingly endearing is the title for the next marker because after spending a morning and afternoon with the people of this church, they have endeared themselves to me. I can't help but feel that when I hear their stories of how they have lovingly cared for each other and the church throughout the years. Here are a few of their stories.

After the worship services were done, the lady I was sitting next to pointed out to me that of all the beautiful stain glass windows in the chapel, they have 3 original windows. She was very proud of those three windows. It struck me as a little odd. I know stain glass is beautiful but it seemed a bit of a random bit of trivia. Why would this woman know exactly how many windows were original. She could point them out to me as well. Well here is how she knew. During the 80's the parishioners began a massive renovation of the stain glass all over the church. The wooden frames had deteriorated and the glass was looking bad. A gentleman in the congregation went to school to learn how to make and repair stained glass. Then he came back to the church and started a 3 year process to replace/repair the stained glass. This was a project taken on by the entire congregation. They all learned how to make stained glass windows. Of all of the stained glass, (and there is LOTS in that chapel) only 3 windows didn't need to be replaced. You can tell the difference between the old and the new by looking for bubbles. The old stained glass has bubbles because old glass had bubbles. Furthermore, they painted color over the glass. They didn't have colored glass. The new windows are made from colored glass. In the historical room, there are drawings and patterns for the windows. This was a uniting experience for the congregation. They served together for the benefit of the congregation and for the beautyment of their sanctuary. It reminded me of the efforts made by the Saints as they built the early temples. So that woman, she knew exactly how many windows were original and which ones were original because she had worked to put them together. In the picture above, you can see some of the stained glass on the sides of the church and the front.

Around the chapel you will find a few small gardens. Those were donated and maintained in the memory of members who have passed away. They are small little patios of flowers and plants but they mean the world to the congregation. They know exactly who the garden was memorializing and what they did in the church. One garden in particular was to memorialize the woman who had been in charge of wedding coordination at the church for many years. It is now the backdrop for pictures for couples who have married in the church. Another garden is called the bible garden. It is planted with species mentioned in the bible. This too is a memorial garden and the first one that greets people as they walk into church. A couple of benches are there with a waterfall. It was a lovely little place.

Another touching thing was the recognition of a woman that taught Sunday school to children for 40 years. We complain if we stay in the same calling for more than a couple of years...she choose to teach bible stories and the truths contained in them to children for 40 years. At the celebration, she was there and took a group picture with every person in attendance who had ever been in her class. It was a very sweet moment.

The stories are endless of how the people of the church served each other, the building and ultimately God. I couldn't help falling in love with all of these people, their history, their service to God and service to each other. When I tried to put words to what I was feeling for and to the congregation, the description that fit best was lovingly endearing.

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Keep watch for the last trail marker, "Faith Confirming"