The Neighborhood Church

The Neighborhood Church
Rhonda Cope
09-09-08

There was once a neighborhood church, whose tower bells rang the hours.
On Sunday the bells rang a joyful tune, calling all to worship. The doors of the church were wide open for all to worship.  The sun shone brightly through the stained glass, and the sanctuary was full with multi-colors.
The Sanctuary was filling with people; talking with one another; some old and some young and greeting new comers. Then suddenly it was quite, as the choir filled the loft.  Behind them a curtain was pushed back.  And the minister joyfully baptized those who gave themselves to the Lord. Some young and some old.

After the baptisms, the choir led the congregation in praise and worship.
Their voices were heard throughout the neighborhood. Then the preacher brought a Word from the Lord, which brought the congregation to their feet praising God.
Then the invitation is given, many come to give there lives to the Lord, Some young,some old. Some for healing.  After church there is dinner on the grounds behind the church.

The grass was plush and the trees covered the grounds to shade them as they ate. Many of the ladies of the church worked hard the day before and they were proud to serve what they made. While they, ate they talked about the weather, gossiped, talked about the latest news. The children played around the trees, chasing each other.

It was time to go home, and the people grabbed their leftover and their kids and started for home.  As the church was emptying one of the deacons checked around the church then locked the doors. Decades pass by and the neighborhood isn't like it was.  Many of the children that lived in the neighborhood, grew up left. and many died.  The houses are in disrepair. Many were torn down and the the foundation is all that remains. 

The remaining building is the church. The church bells were taken away. The stained glass that once filled the sanctuary with multi-colors are now boarded up.
And the doors that were open wide for all to worship is boarded up also. The pews are gone, so is the choir loft.  The plush grass is now only weeds and tall grass, and some of the trees have been damaged by storms.

The church is only a memory in the minds of the older people who still live in the neighborhood.  The old church in the neighborhood is still there, it's history is long. and if you listen just right you can hear the sounds of worship and praise that once filled the old church in the neighborhood.