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For more than 100 years the little church had stood on
that corner. When first erected,
it had been out in the residential district, but as the city grew, the
downtown areas crept up on it, finally overwhelming it completely. Great towers of office buildings
surrounded it on every side. The
congregation that worshipped in that little brown Church had never been
large, and as the membership moved out into the suburbs, it just seemed
futile to drive the miles, just to worship in the old home Church. About the only attention the little
Church received was a more or less covetous glance of appraisal, for the
land upon which it stood had become very valuable indeed.
Surrendering at last,
the congregation sold the property, took the money and build a new house
of worship out in one of the lovely sections of the city’s suburbs. The corporation that bought the site
dismantled the building and cleared the lot. At that point, and interesting and some
say, Providential discovery was made:
against the side of the great office building that had crowded up
so close, THERE WAS IMPRINTED THE SILHOUETTE OF THE LITTLE CHURCH. The sun and rain had bleached the
exposed portion of the building, but that portion protected by the Church
was of distinctly different color.
Behold a parable.
We must always remember the impressions made by the Christian
Church. We may be inclined to
doubt the effectiveness of the Church in a world like ours. Yet all the time the mark of the Church
is being emblazoned upon the lives of countless millions in city and
country alike.
Efforts in mission, sharing the Love of Christ
everyday and in every way, the preaching of the word, that Sunday School
lesson, bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, etc. all our making
contributions to the life of the community and world that no one can
guess or measure.
Tabernacle United Methodist Church is such a
Church: leaving its mark, its
impression on “the walls of this world” for Christ and love for
neighbor. Open this website and
see for yourself. Do you want to
become part of that impression through Tabernacle? Welcome!
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