The Silent Church

Looking at the old structure now, one can hardly tell it was an alive and thriving church. The rusted lock and chains that secured the front doors have been easily broken now by vandals that have entered this relic of a building and taken anything of value to sell. The once majestic bell tower that stood as a beacon over the village green, pealing to all who will, come and worship the Lord our God, has collapsed from age and disrepair. Windows that once allowed the bright sunlight to flow into the sanctuary and classrooms are all gone, broken out by rock hurtling vandals. The once manicure grounds overgrown with wild brush and weeds. The last vestige of Christian faith to stand in this quaint friendly town’s center dead and gone while awaiting the wrecking ball.

Standing there, looking at this relic of days gone by with tears welling up from the fond memories of the wonderful people and times shared in that building, a jogger ran by, saw me starring stopped and asked, “What happened to this church?” “Where are the church members now? Did they move and just let the building go?” I sadly had to answer “No, the church could no longer support it’s self and its ministries, so it just closed up and shut down.” His response surprised me as he said “Wow, a caring, loving congregation allowing this to happen is hard to believe. I attended a few services here and the warm welcome I received made me feel right at home.” “Yes,” I said, “We were all that and more with a wonderful music program and some very hard working dedicated people to lead our programs. But as with everything, in time people wear out and without someone else to step in and take the lead, plus with the Sunday offerings shrinking by the week, the church just died.” “Well, this is not going to happen to MY church!” he assured me and jogged off. No? Are we ever sure this can never happen to us?

No, we cannot be sure, but we can take measures to insure our children and grandchildren have this church to call home, if they choose. This structure of brick and mortar is not the church, we are the church – you and I - and we can each do our part to ensure the continuation of this church. We all can take any opportunity we see to invite someone who does not have a church home to “come and see”. We can continue to support our ministries with our tithes and gifts. We can also join in and become part of the working force loaning whatever talents we have to building Sunday school, church attendance and Wednesday nights and our special programs. Let us all – each and every one of us , no matter what our age or our physical limitations do whatever we can to insure the events of the first paragraph above never becomes a reality here in our great town and our great church.