Thank you for your kind comments. In coming back home to you all I am once again treating this as my blog - a piece of me to share.
I worshipped yesterday at 4400 Floral Avenue, Norwood, Ohio. That is the address of the church building where I was baptized, where my son was baptized, where I was married, where I was employed, where my mother's memorial service was held and where I thought mine would be, also. That address is now the home of a pentecostal Presbyterian congregation. I never even knew there were Pentecostal Presbyterians until they bought my old church building.
This congregation is holding two services on Sunday morning as they are bursting at the seams. They have the proverbial coffee bar and a band with a worship leader and the building is now air conditioned. They have screens on either side to follow along with the service, songs and prayers and cushioned pews. Their Pastors are all men. Their Elders are all male as is their list of Deacons. They are so very young, looked pretty prosperous and I only saw two people of color attending worship this morning. They charge for Bible study and other program participation.
I spent the majority of the time that I was there thinking back to the life that I had lived under that particular leaky slate roof. I went to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. I loved church potlucks, plays, rummage sales, youth group meetings, confirmation classes, Advent, Lent, Christmas Eve and Easter Sunrise services held inside those walls. I was ordained as a Deacon in that sanctuary and an Elder in that chapel and my faith foundation was built there. I attended Let's Chat which gave birth to Baby Bear, an outreach that I still run today. I heard a pastor during a funeral service describe that sanctuary as "God's living room. " I have never forgotten that particular phrase and I certainly felt that way when I would walk in during a work day to bow my head and discuss something with my Creator or stand on a table to change the paraments.
My congregation sold that piece of property, but not my memories or the moments that built my faith. The building maintenance was killing the congregation. We couldn't afford to fix the leaky roof or pay to heat the sanctuary. We now rent space at 3846 Montgomery Road. My particular flavor of Presbyterian is part of the Presbyterian Church, USA. We have women who serve as Pastors, Elders and Deacons. We welcome folks from all walks of life and we don't ask who you sleep with at night or if you have sex outside of the bonds of marriage. We will ordain gay/lesbian Pastors, Elders and Deacons.
I can't figure out what's not to love. I don't know why folks, particularly women, would willingly take a step back in time. I keep on talking to my Creator about these issues. We have entered a new and exciting phase sharing our space with a non denominational black congregation that leans Baptist and we worship as one on the first Sunday of the month. We are doing mission and having fun together. If you are in the neighborhood on a Sunday morning my congregation would love to welcome you no matter who you are or where you are on your own faith journey.
Very beautiful photograph and such interesting musings. I remember when you sold your church and the struggle it was for you to wrap around that idea. I also remember many times you talking about your Baby Bear mission and I'm glad to hear you are still involved with that
@grammyn@jackie8@tonygig@seattlite@jesperani@mittens@phil_howcroft thank you all for your kind comments. After posting this I thought maybe I shouldn't have as I totally feel like what we believe in is a fairly private matter. The old church building just echoes in my memory. That is indeed an abstract. I am looking forward to abstract August as I did an 8 week mentorship on blurs and abstracts and loved it.
