Grace Church and a Very Good Day

I recently returned from a most interesting, emotional and thought provoking weekend in Martins Ferry, Ohio where first cousins/partners and a niece, from near and far, attended the dedication of refurbished stained glass windows in Grace Presbyterian Church.  My mother grew up in Martins Ferry and her twin, Betty, remained there so visits were frequent to the town over the years until the last elders passed away.  When my Aunt Betty, my mother's twin, was aged and in the hospital recovering from some incident, she told the minister Rev. William Webster of Grace Presbyterian when he visited her, that she and her husband Homer "wanted to start a fund so that the stained glass windows would be better than the Lutheran Church's".  That comment brought laughter from family who knew this very spunky and outspoken woman.  And so it happened that many years and $60,000 in donations later; the windows were restored.  The cousins later toured the town, refreshed our memories and more importantly, our bonds.

The church, which opened its doors in 1851 and served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, was rebuilt in 1900.  Martins Ferry, a northern Appalachian community, was once a thriving city in the Rust Belt along the Ohio River, but has lost over half of its population in the past 30 years, mainly due to the transfer of manufacturing jobs overseas, increased automation and decline of US steel and coal industries creating enormous job losses.  When the current pastor arrived, the church was considered a "dead church" and there was a recommendation to close it and merge with another congregation.  However, despite the loss of jobs and population, the church is now a thriving church with a growing membership, and over 30 ministries, listed here.

What was so surprising about the church was how vital and welcoming this church felt.  To be perfectly honest, I am not comfortable in a church.  I feel like I am a fake and it will be discovered that despite my repeating the prayers and singing the hymns, I do not really believe in much of what is being presented.  But the service was meaningful and the church seemed to be so vibrant in the midst of a dying town that we came away uplifted. 

The sermon made me understand why this church felt alive.  It was titled "Glory Days" and included lyrics from Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffet projected on a large screen television where visuals enhanced the spoken word.  Reverend Webster was a dynamic speaker and the scripture lesson, Luke 9:57-62, tied the service together.

The message was that the church needs is to look forward, to the future and not find excuse or to wallow in the past or "Glory Days" (not that one cannot revel in "Glorious Days" such as the one my cousins and I experienced together that day).  Obviously this didn't just pertain to a church but is important for us all to embrace change and adaptation, but this church reflected it!  A church service in a cafe for those not comfortable in the formal setting.  Use of Internet and technology.  Outreach programs to aid the community. Encouraging inclusiveness. The service even had two hymns performed by singer Mark King who was baptized in the church and returned from his job at Disney World to perform in rockabilly fashion including hand clapping and audience participation.  

A very good day, indeed.