Devastating...
... is the only word that really describes hearing that the church I grew up in has burned down.
Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church of Jacksonville FL caught fire early this AM and burned; it was a two-alarm fire and took about an hour and a half to bring under control. The entire sanctuary is gone as is everything in it... the amazingly beautiful pipe organ... a harpsichord that was given in memory of the late spouse of our long-time pianist... scores and scores of music... hymnals, many of which had been given in memory or honor of people... the stained glass windows that had recently been placed at the front of the church as well as the side stained glass windows that were placed by my grandmother in honor of Granddaddy...
And there are so many memories tied to that building... I was baptized there. I was married on the grounds albeit in the smaller chapel. My sister was married there. Her kids were dedicated there, and my own child would have been had I been living locally enough to really make it doable. I worshipped there my entire childhood and, throughout adulthood, whenever I was in town for the weekend. I learned to sing praise to God there and sang more works than I can count. I most recently sang there alongside many other folks who grew up there too as we remembered our beloved late long-time pastor. Suffice it to say that there are many special things tied to that building.
As heartbreaking as it is, I also realize that a building is just a building... it is NOT the church. Hendricks Avenue Baptist church is the people. It is the people who formed the community who taught me what being a Christian is all about. It is the people who modeled showing love and compassion to others. It is the people who, in the aftermath of my divorce, again showed that love and helped me move forward without being judgmental of either me or of my ex. It is the people who come together in tough times to support those in need. It is the people who come together for all the memorable events- both happy and sad- that have occurred inside that building... and those very people will come together in their sadness & grief and rebuild. No, the church is not the building... but that building provided a beautiful backdrop for those things to happen.
It is ironic that worship is back in the gymnasium. When Hendricks was formed, the first building erected was a multipurpose building that included a gymnasium. The goal was to provide outreach to the youth of the community and to provide a place for them to participate in sports in a positive environment. So yet again, the recently renovated facility will double as a place of worship.
And to the people who are Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church- my church family away from home- you all are in my thoughts & prayers during these days. You're also in the prayers of my home church (Grace Lutheran of Tallahassee.) May God grant you peace, comfort, and a sense of direction & purpose.
(Added:)
I paid the church's website a visit to remind myself what the outside looked like before it was destroyed and to reminisce about the history of the church. I came across the program from the 60th anniversary celebration and found words written by my daddy that appeared on the back of the program. They are truly fitting during this time:
We are defined by those who have come to love and respect us
as we are and for how we have influenced them in significant ways
during important times with laughter and tears.
We find ourselves at the intersection of our lives
in the fullness of God’s time to the end that we arrive at our heart’s home,
our true sanctuary filled with true family --
our spiritual identity.
Malcolm Hanson
December 12, 2005
This link tells about HAB and has at the bottom corner a picture of the front of the church prior to the destruction.
http://www.habchurch.com/
This link contains the story from the Florida Times Union site.
http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2007/12/23/pre-dawn-fire-destroys-hendricks-avenue-baptist-church/
Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church of Jacksonville FL caught fire early this AM and burned; it was a two-alarm fire and took about an hour and a half to bring under control. The entire sanctuary is gone as is everything in it... the amazingly beautiful pipe organ... a harpsichord that was given in memory of the late spouse of our long-time pianist... scores and scores of music... hymnals, many of which had been given in memory or honor of people... the stained glass windows that had recently been placed at the front of the church as well as the side stained glass windows that were placed by my grandmother in honor of Granddaddy...
And there are so many memories tied to that building... I was baptized there. I was married on the grounds albeit in the smaller chapel. My sister was married there. Her kids were dedicated there, and my own child would have been had I been living locally enough to really make it doable. I worshipped there my entire childhood and, throughout adulthood, whenever I was in town for the weekend. I learned to sing praise to God there and sang more works than I can count. I most recently sang there alongside many other folks who grew up there too as we remembered our beloved late long-time pastor. Suffice it to say that there are many special things tied to that building.
As heartbreaking as it is, I also realize that a building is just a building... it is NOT the church. Hendricks Avenue Baptist church is the people. It is the people who formed the community who taught me what being a Christian is all about. It is the people who modeled showing love and compassion to others. It is the people who, in the aftermath of my divorce, again showed that love and helped me move forward without being judgmental of either me or of my ex. It is the people who come together in tough times to support those in need. It is the people who come together for all the memorable events- both happy and sad- that have occurred inside that building... and those very people will come together in their sadness & grief and rebuild. No, the church is not the building... but that building provided a beautiful backdrop for those things to happen.
It is ironic that worship is back in the gymnasium. When Hendricks was formed, the first building erected was a multipurpose building that included a gymnasium. The goal was to provide outreach to the youth of the community and to provide a place for them to participate in sports in a positive environment. So yet again, the recently renovated facility will double as a place of worship.
And to the people who are Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church- my church family away from home- you all are in my thoughts & prayers during these days. You're also in the prayers of my home church (Grace Lutheran of Tallahassee.) May God grant you peace, comfort, and a sense of direction & purpose.
(Added:)
I paid the church's website a visit to remind myself what the outside looked like before it was destroyed and to reminisce about the history of the church. I came across the program from the 60th anniversary celebration and found words written by my daddy that appeared on the back of the program. They are truly fitting during this time:
We are defined by those who have come to love and respect us
as we are and for how we have influenced them in significant ways
during important times with laughter and tears.
We find ourselves at the intersection of our lives
in the fullness of God’s time to the end that we arrive at our heart’s home,
our true sanctuary filled with true family --
our spiritual identity.
Malcolm Hanson
December 12, 2005
This link tells about HAB and has at the bottom corner a picture of the front of the church prior to the destruction.
http://www.habchurch.com/
This link contains the story from the Florida Times Union site.
http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2007/12/23/pre-dawn-fire-destroys-hendricks-avenue-baptist-church/