The History and Spirituality of SUM
Last Sunday, Greg gave us a glimpse of where our Stewardship money goes – the investment we make in programs, staff, and our campus. This week, we have another perspective on our Stewardship campaign offered by SUM’s Church Historian, Alan Lahue. Thanks, Alan.
Next year, the SUM Sanctuary will be 115 years old. To me, it feels special, both because it's a historic place and also because it's a spiritual space. Some of the spirituality comes from physical features, like the stained-glass windows illuminated by the morning light and the organ's voice as its sound fills the air and reaches into the farthest corners and the highest rafters of the sanctuary. Some of it comes from an awareness that worship has happened here for a long time. Thousands of services have been held. Countless hymns have been sung, and even more prayers have been offered. People come here, sometimes from great distances, to be married, to have their children baptized, to be remembered at the end of life. We're part of that. Whether we're here for a Sunday service or some other purpose, we're part of a long tradition. We're witnesses to the happenings of our times, and more than that, we're surrounded by a cloud of witnesses and heirs to the happenings of their times.
The property here has always needed care. Even when the structure was new, not everything worked as planned. In 1909, the new heating system didn't work as advertised, and it took some time before the sanctuary was comfortably heated. Over the years, there have been roof repairs, furnace replacements, electrical upgrades, plumbing fixes, kitchen renovations, carpentry repairs, HVAC installations, and all manner of things that need to be done and paid for, whether we know they're happening or not. Today is no different. This is stuff that isn't fun or spiritual, but it allows the place to keep going so that we can do the things that are fun and spiritual and that help us fulfill our calling as Christians and worshippers at Simsbury United Methodist. The gifts of the congregation allow us to do that. The pledges we make and the promises we keep say a lot about who we are.
It truly is God’s work—our Hands. If you haven’t pledged already, please consider, prayerfully, using the online pledge form here or one of the green cards available at the church. Whether you can increase your pledge, are pledging for the first time, are staying at the same level, or even if you cannot pledge this year, we would love to hear from you, and we are thankful you are here with us on this journey.
Alan Lahue