Why Susan? Why not Cathy? We went to the grocery after church today and picked up these babies for my garden expansion. I brought them in the house and played with them a little as it is too hot to plant them just let.
I needed a cheer me up today. The church that I showed you a while back has voted to sell our 125 year old building and look for smaller quarters. In our hey day we had about 800 members - down to around 65. I have been hanging around this old building for the last 56 years of my life. I was baptized there - worshiped there - married there - baptized my children from there - worked there - buried my parents from there - and thought I would have my memorial service there in that gorgeous sanctuary - God's Living Room. But that is not to be. I knew what was happening as I serve on the Session and we already voted. Today was the day that it became public and we informed the congregation. Just like all mainline religions today Presbyterians are losing membership all over the country. Folks don't attend the local churches like they did when I was a child. Life is different.
We are not closing Norwood Presbyterian Church. We are relocating somewhere smaller that we can afford to pay a heat bill.
We will stay where we are until the end of the year. We will celebrate one more Christmas in that gorgeous big sanctuary that they don't even build like that anymore.
And just like today - we will cry.
So I needed a Black Eyed Susan.
Great photo. I'm glad that it may have helped to cheer you up! So sad that so many of our gorgeous buildings are closing due to funding. You never know today's announcement may provoke enough of a response to keep you there.
Well, remember that old saying about when God closes a door he opens a window or something like that. Hope your congregation find a new place to stay a church community. Love your BESs. I got 4 of them this spring and a groundhog ate them down to the nubs. But leaves are slowly growing back, kind of like your church, hopefully.
Lovely photo - and I read what you are feeling in your comment!
I can appreciate something of what you share as it is a common story over here too! Hope you have opportunities to grow your community even in the last months of the older building and perhaps open new doors in the new one.
It is the sad reality the world over that churches are sold because the congregations is not as large now as before. I find it a bit weird that they in many countries are made in to family homes.
Great shot though, and let's call it Cathy from now on! :)
Oh Cathy I mourn with you. I too am an elder in a Presbyterian church. We had the same issue of an aging and shrinking congregation, but we called a dynamic young minister who has had a great vision for our future and through his energy and faith, he has pulled us out of the doldrums. We are seeing young families and an increased commitment to living The Word. That is not to say we can be complacent, but we at least have our eyes looking in the right direction. I am praying for your congregation.
Sad to hear about your church building ! The black eyed susan is definitely a bright flower to cheer you up and this photo of it is wonderful! Great color and detail~! Love the composition with the dark background!
Cathy, so sorry to hear about your church being relocated after all these years. I understand how you must feel. I do love your choice of flower -- it's one of my all-time favorites and you did a great job capturing its beauty.
Oh so sad about your church. A sign of the times I guess but you never know what will happen instead, hopefully something better. Love your picture. Such a cheery flower and so beautifully shot.
How very sad Cathy for your family & all who still worship there. If you don't get young people coming to church it dies. We have a handful of children that come to our church & it's not enough. Our daughters church though is thriving & currently having services in a cinema while they extend the home church. They do work extremely hard encouraging young people ...youth group , camping etc etc. & it works.
Your cheerful 'susan' will grow & thrive in your garden.
This is an all too familiar story happening around us today, Cathy. I don't know what is happening to our country anymore...in such a short time (it seems) everything is changing. I am sorry to hear about your own personal history and connection to this church. Hopefully your small church will thrive and grow. Pray that it does. Lovely photo ....I'm calling it Black-eye Cathy! Just for you. :)
I'm glad it's not a black-eyed Cathy. Lovely flower shot.
I am so sorry your church building is closing - our vicar always thinks of the church as the people not the building. I understand that he wishes we could meet elsewhere and give the money to deserving causes rather than fundraise to keep our ancient building going.... :)
Very beautiful flower and shot, Cathy. Great narrative too. I guess this is happening all over the world. It would never cross your mind when I was a kid that people do not go to church every Sunday. Today's younger generation here - not all but quite a few - go to church when they feel like it or not at all.
@megsy Thanks Megsy. @clmiller It is just getting through the initial accepting of the change. @marlboromaam Thanks Maggie. @vskolnik Thanks Vee. It is a true family church.
@lorraineb I intend to go in there one day and document all of the gorgeous old woodwork and columns. The kind of craftsmanship that no longer exists in materials they don't use anymore. @bleakhounds I'd like to think so but there are just too few of us.
@sailingmusic That is exactly what we all are talking about. @gerry Gerry thanks for the fav. You are being too kind. @sarah19 We are hoping to grow in a smaller space. We are still a vital ministry in our community. @dishaparekh176 Thank you Disha.
@jenniferruge Change is very hard. But we are finally ready to accept it. @soboy5 I have great memories. @redrucksack I know that things are changing everywhere. @allie912 Thank you Allison. Our lay pastor, we called her three years ago, was once the Moderator of the General Assembly. She is very forward thinking. We hope to make some basic changes. Nice to meet another elder.
@sugarmuser Thanks Sharon. @snipsnap Thank you Ramona. @grammyn I love shooting a flower against a dark background. Fun to experiment. @yonnie I just wonder who did come up with it. Probably somebody that was in love with Susan. @cindymc I hope it will grow and spread in our garden addition. It is cheerful. @timandelke Thanks Elke. Black Eyed Cathy, it is. Too bad my eyes are green. @jesperani Thanks Jennifer. That is what we are counting on. Something better. @happypat Thanks Pat. We are hoping to be up to the changes. @janets Then you know exactly what I am talking about. I am one of the younger ones. @karenann It does seem like a short time. It is much more important to go to soccer games on Sundays than it is to go to church. @calm Thank you Cathy. I appreciate it. @vickisfotos Thanks Vicki. It was fun to play with. @rach_who Thank you. @filsie65 The church is always the family. We will have our mourning time for our past and find a way to our future. @sangwann It really is different times. @worthitall Thanks Rashella. I heard a minister at a funeral describe it as God's Living Room - and so has it been in my mind ever since.
Oh Cathy, I read this narrative and my heart goes to you. I know the feeling of belonging to a place, God's place, where you have celebrated so many life milestones, and to know that you will need to change. Unfortunately it's happening all over. Fortunately you are moving to another location, not closing.
Sorry to hear about your church moving. Your building was so lovely and historic. Change is hard. But God is in the midst of it...which helps a bunch. Hugs to you. Love your beautiful black eyed "Cathys"!!
I can appreciate something of what you share as it is a common story over here too! Hope you have opportunities to grow your community even in the last months of the older building and perhaps open new doors in the new one.
Great shot though, and let's call it Cathy from now on! :)
Your cheerful 'susan' will grow & thrive in your garden.
It's sad to see the church I attended as a child - my parents are some of the "younger" members.
I am so sorry your church building is closing - our vicar always thinks of the church as the people not the building. I understand that he wishes we could meet elsewhere and give the money to deserving causes rather than fundraise to keep our ancient building going.... :)
@clmiller It is just getting through the initial accepting of the change.
@marlboromaam Thanks Maggie.
@vskolnik Thanks Vee. It is a true family church.
@bleakhounds I'd like to think so but there are just too few of us.
@gerry Gerry thanks for the fav. You are being too kind.
@sarah19 We are hoping to grow in a smaller space. We are still a vital ministry in our community.
@dishaparekh176 Thank you Disha.
@soboy5 I have great memories.
@redrucksack I know that things are changing everywhere.
@allie912 Thank you Allison. Our lay pastor, we called her three years ago, was once the Moderator of the General Assembly. She is very forward thinking. We hope to make some basic changes. Nice to meet another elder.
@snipsnap Thank you Ramona.
@grammyn I love shooting a flower against a dark background. Fun to experiment.
@yonnie I just wonder who did come up with it. Probably somebody that was in love with Susan.
@cindymc I hope it will grow and spread in our garden addition. It is cheerful.
@timandelke Thanks Elke. Black Eyed Cathy, it is. Too bad my eyes are green.
@jesperani Thanks Jennifer. That is what we are counting on. Something better.
@happypat Thanks Pat. We are hoping to be up to the changes.
@janets Then you know exactly what I am talking about. I am one of the younger ones.
@karenann It does seem like a short time. It is much more important to go to soccer games on Sundays than it is to go to church.
@calm Thank you Cathy. I appreciate it.
@vickisfotos Thanks Vicki. It was fun to play with.
@rach_who Thank you.
@filsie65 The church is always the family. We will have our mourning time for our past and find a way to our future.
@sangwann It really is different times.
@worthitall Thanks Rashella. I heard a minister at a funeral describe it as God's Living Room - and so has it been in my mind ever since.