Church Journey Week 4 (Winsted)

 

This edition is brought to you by my husband, George.

Our spiritual pilgrimage continued at the First Church of Winsted: Baptist-Congregational on Sunday January 24, 2010 at 10:00a.m. The church is located north of the East End Park on Route 8. The stone building, according to the corner stone, was built in 1900. The structure is a testament to God and the faithfulness of His followers at the turn of that century. It has stain glass windows throughout. The one over the doors appears to be Christ in prayer. You have to enter by first ascending exterior stone staircase. This put you at a level equal to the top, except for the balcony, of the worship area. The seating is curved pews that descend from the narthax to an area in front of the pulpit that is raised and has room for a fairly good size choir. (None was available this particular Sunday.) Huge pillars are on either side in the front. The tops of the pillars have partially formed heads with expressionless faces.

When we entered we were offered a program, then were allowed to find our own way to a seat. We prefer to sit about half way down at a slight angle. This position works well especially when the church is equipped with large screen monitors to project Biblical verses or words to songs. (This church didn't have modern technology like this.)

The brochure depicts a pen and ink drawing of the exterior of the church. First Church was "gathered" in 1778. The slogan: The Church on the Green Where Caring People Gather to Worship God." This seemed at odds with the reception we had. The congregation was very small, probably fifty in a sanctuary that could easily hold 250or more. Only one person, a woman two pews in front of us, spoke with us. The others seemed to be absorbed in their own lives and probably sat in their "own" seat.

The pastor of the flock was the Reverend Michael Wu. A man of Korean decent, black hair, spoke with fluent English. His blond haired wife played the massive pipe organ. Candles in the front were lit by acolytes. This is a term we have heard quite often in our journey. An acolyte is someone who lights the candles and assists the minister as needed.

The order of service was typical congregational. Apparently since the church is Baptist/Congregational the wording for the Lord's Prayer alters between "forgive us our debts" preferred by the Baptist and "forgive us our trespasses" that is preferred by the Congregationalist. Fortunately, the bulletin tipped us off as to which word: debts or trespasses, to use. The Congregationalist won this one. Both terms seem foreign to our speech patterns of today. A more appropriate word would make this prayer clearer for us. Since both words mean "sin" it certainly makes more sense to simply say: "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

It has become customary for many Churches today to include the page of the text in the Bible along with the scriptural passage. Anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of the Bible can find passages without this additional clue.

The Service concluded almost exactly an hour from when it started. Normally, we have coffee and refreshments with the congregants to gage the spiritual atmosphere of the worshipers. And to get free coffee and pastry too! However, since they were having their annual church meeting immediately after the service, we elected to duck out the back door. No one appeared to notice or care that we left.

The service of worship, although held in a beautiful facility and faithful testament of the founders, was lifeless and without genuine participation by the members. It was as though they were sleepwalking through the service, content not to become consciously aware of the purpose.

I looked up front for the flag: there was none. But when I turned around to view the balcony I saw it along with the "Christian" flag. Displayed correctly.

I might return here in the future to worship. I could tell that God was willing to make himself known when the congregation was prepared to receive him.

Winsted has two Baptist/Congregational churches. One on either end of town, with very similar architecture. At one time there were two Congregational churches and a Baptist church. Apparently there was an irreconcilable rift in the Baptist church that caused the members to disband and half united with each of the Congregational Churches. Since Baptist and Congregationalist have the same form of church government, this was not a problem. However, there are some differences in beliefs other than "debts" and "trespasses". Congregationalist baptize infants with "sprinkling of water". Baptist baptize with full emergence with those who have made the conscious, individual decision to follow Christ. So, the union works and doesn't work.

Debbie's 2 cents worth: Hey, it's my blog. I can do that. Actually, George did a great job and was quite accurate. I got the impression that the meeting following was of great importance and the members may have been wrapped up in what was to come--so much so that not only did they not talk to us, but one woman was blocking our row talking to someone else and not moving to let us out--annoying. The sermon even centered around being compassionate with different parts of the church body, working together with compassion and understanding and not to take things for granted and the reminder that many members make one body. He based his sermon on I Cor. 12:12-31.

Visiting these churches, I wish that we were more versed in architectural terms. The stain glass, the pillars, the organ...this church was magnificent in structural beauty. I wish I had the words to describe it, but with my 2 cent vocabulary, I cannot.

The First Church (American Baptist and United Church of Christ) of Winsted is located at 95 North Main Street, Winsted, CT. Worship service is at 10 am. It is the home of the wonderful (so we've heard from many and we plan to go one year) Boar's Head Festival and it hosts Steam Vent Coffee Houses. Website: http://www.firstchurchofwinsted.org/index.html

33 Years

Thirty-three years ago today, my life took a major turn in the road. Today is our wedding anniversary. For November 1st, it was a gorgeous day, a little breezy, but we were able to have our pictures taken outside without coats. And our honeymoon in the Poconos was in the 70's. It was an absolutely perfect start to this long journey.

We met on January 31, 1975. I had just come back from a long road trip and the girlfriend who I usually went out with on Friday nights had anxiously waited for me to return so that we could go out as usual. I really did not want to and tried to beg out of it, but she convinced me. The moral is sometimes it is good to do something you don't want to do.

I met George at the Springtree Lounge in Torrington. It was a dance club and it's really too bad that there aren't more of these around now. It was a little fancier, as I remember it. I don't remember people wearing blue jeans. I gave him my number that first night and on Sunday we went for a ride and to visit a friend of his.

After that we went out every weekend and never saw anyone else. In February near to the 22nd, I was asked out by another guy and I told him I was seeing someone. I can't believe he asked who. When I told him "George Washington" I'm sure he thought I was lying.

I knew from the beginning that there was something different about this guy. He stole my heart when he bought me a lilac bush knowing it was my favorite flower. That was in May and soon after that he proposed in the parking lot of the Chart House restaurant where we often went to their lounge upstairs.

In his proposal he was building up how hard it was having a name like George Washington and he asked if I had ever thought about changing my name. Duh! I said, "no". I missed the point, but then pretty quickly got it and said, "yes". We went in and I still have the little bottle that the champagne came in that we celebrated with that night at the Chart House.

In those days most people did not live together before getting married. We knew we wanted to be together for the rest of our lives and so, we did not want a long engagement. So nine months after we met, we were married.

I would not recommend such a short engagement, but it did work for us and I would never "test the waters" by living together. I don't feel God approves of that. It is true that we did not know each other completely and learned more through our marriage and we grew together. Of course it has not been all roses (or lilacs). We've been through as Dickens said, "the best of times and the worst of times".

I always tell newlyweds that a sense of humor is a key to the relationship. We love to laugh together. I remember the time we were having a silly little confrontation. He was upset that I bought creamy peanut butter when he likes crunchy. I had just finished cooking breakfast and he emphasized the point by saying, "I like everything crunchy, crunchy peanut butter, crunchy cookies," and then I took his plate and said, "Fine. Let me make your eggs crunchy." He burst out laughing and the tension was gone. I get it now. He likes crunchy peanut butter, but I like creamy. I think in life we are that way too--I like to smooth things over, let things go and he likes the crunchy road and although it's bumpy, fight for justice and his beliefs. We don't see eye to eye on everything, but we do on a lot and that helps our relationship.

When you don't see eye to eye, it is a hard thing to convince the other to your side and if you can't, you have to find a middle ground that is acceptable to both. George would say that he was always the one to give in, don't believe it. The hardest part was agreeing in areas of raising the kids. We came from quite opposite backgrounds (he was one of thirteen and I was an only child). Becoming a parent is an on-the-job training position. You make mistakes and you have regrets, but you do your best and above all love them. I remember when I had my kids of being so happy that a part of George and I would always live on.

Looking back, I also believe having the same morals is of utmost importance. This makes a firm foundation for your life together. We are born-again Christians and therefore, have conservative values. George is a man of integrity, honesty, hardworking, intelligent and best of all, loves to laugh and does so easily. He thinks I'm funny which works out well. I love to hear him laugh.

Creamy and crunchy, I'm a chocoholic and he doesn't care for it, only child and one of thirteen, and the list goes on. We have our individuality in our relationship yet share the same foundational beliefs and love which has seen us through 33 years and another 33, God willing.

Happy Anniversary, hubby! Love you!