It was a large brick building sitting on the corner of Church and Green Streets. By today's standards, it wasn't a large building, but to me it was huge. The sanctuary had beautiful worn oak pews showing where hands had pulled and rings scratched, and the view inside was magnificant. The raised choir loft was situated just under a large, round stained glass window which depicted Jesus kneeling in the garden. Sitting out in that large room was an awesome sight when the sun reflected just right through the beautiful glass. At night, there would be a spotlight behind it. As the congregation sang, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, it could give you cold chills but a warm peace. The First Methodist Church of Swainsboro was my church.
I can't remember the number of windows on the sides, but each one showed a different scene from the Bible and they must have reached the ceiling they were so high. There was a circular alter rail with padded cushions and a little tray along the back of the beautiful worn wooden rail that held the tiny little glasses of "wine" for communion and the quarters that may be placed there by someone. In time, cushions were added to the pews and a beautiful carpet of a royal color. A large piano (where Ms. Vann with the floppy hats) flanked the right, just in front of the door that led to the Sunday School rooms on that side which were located in the back of the structure. Hanging on the wall at the left, a sign posted the hymns for the day. The table on the alter was graced with a large brass cross and candles to the side. Through the doors, little narrow stairs led to the level where the rooms were and I remember thinking it was like a cavern and sometimes felt spooky when I was alone. There were also stairs going down to the basement, which was ground level, and used for receptions, cake walks, MYF, Women's Circle meetings, and the like. Once at MYF, a bad boy, whose name escapes me, pulled a chair out from under me and to this day, I suffer from pain which I think of it.
The Sunday School section had a large room filled with little chairs and tables, where we all gathered for singing , and then we would go to our seperate rooms for our age group. Teachers would record our presence in her little book with a check. There was a collection plate passed around to collect our nickle. Then those sweet, dedicated teachers gave out little flyers with a Bible story and telling us the stories in her words. Then we prayed and marched single file up to the sanctuary for an assembly of all classes to belt out some Onward Christian Soldiers as Ms. Mae banged out the marching cadence. This process continued every Sunday morning all of my life. I wouldn't take a million dollars for these memories.
On the day I was Baptized at eight years old, I felt a great weight lifted, and love move through my body. I felt like everything I did from then on, was in God's hands, and all my life, I would be protected by Him, because I had made that commitment. Big Momma and Big Daddy, along with my Mother were gathered around me and I cried. I'm not sure why I cried, but I remember sobbing.
This morning, as the children led the service at Vineville, and the 3rd graders received their Bibles, my mind recalled the anticipation of receiving my very first Bible. Like clockwork, every year the children who were about 8 years old, received an engraved King James Version of the Bible, presented with great pomp and circumstance by our Preacher. As the Minister spoke today, my mind wandered through my old church where I took my first communion, said my first Lord's Prayer, made my commitment to follow the teachings of Jesus and was married. I wondered where my old Bible was probably with some childlike scrawling inside of various names or verses. I hope my children will appreciate it. I'm several Bibles down the road now.
Todays sermon was from Matthew 14, basically where Jesus tells the Disciples to trust in Him. It encouraged me to focus on what I trust and believe. He didn't tell them to ignore the winds and waves, but to trust that He would save them. He told them to turn away from uncertainty. There is a bright message for me in this passage and, if I look carefully and open minded, I find that no matter what happens that makes me afraid of life's situations, whether personal or global, if I turn away from my faith, I'll sink.
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