In the Church Building
On April 22, 2012, after a series of many providentially answered prayers, after the diligent work of many people, after the passing of many inspections, Christ the Word church held its first service in the big orange building on the corner of Central and Murd. That is the first (obviously) formal sentence in this post, and probably the last. Which may be appropriate for that Sunday, for it was a joyful, red-letter, and yet unofficial sort of day.
Seeing the front parking lot full of cars was different. Also, dressing up to go to the church felt a little funny. Then, we entered and saw...people. Lots of people, milling about the main hall. It was strange to see all these people there.
Unfortunately, I had brought my camera, but neglected to bring the battery, which was recharging. Fortunately, we drove separately and Eric has a phone, so we called home and Dad brought the battery. Unfortunately, I missed taking pictures before Sunday school.
A picture of a Sunday school class, compliments of Dad, who had a camera to return to Grace after borrowing it to take to England
All these people, dressed nicely, with little kids, in the church building...
...it was weird to see. I know I said that already, but I said it many times then; if you spoke to me that morning you probably heard me marveling at how strange it felt.
But it was good. Even that day, it seemed already like we belonged there.
After Sunday school I wandered around taking pictures.
Yes, Mom is washing her trombone slide in the water fountain.
Quinn and Rachel...
Those two pictures didn't work, so we tried again.
I forget what Mom and Grace were making fun of me for...taking pictures, I think.
Where to sit? For larger families the choices are narrowed to the middle row. It was interesting to see who sat where-how some tried to find seating correlating to their normal row while others sat in completely new places. (I love how we took a congregational picture the last day at the SDA building with everyone in the pews, so we can remember where everyone used to sit.)
I was asked to record the service (see the video camera on Ryan's tripod in the picture above), so I had my stuff (a.k.a. my camera bag) in the sound booth, but I figure I should get out of the habit of putting my things in there as I always did when I worked there, that is after they moved the pallets we used to put our stuff on out of the main hallway.
Pastor Bayly's brother Tim came for the first service
The first nursery
Returning from the nursery, I was slightly late for the first service:
Took a picture of Ryan and Grace for my own amusement.
Then again because the first was too dark.
The brass played for the offertory. I think they enjoyed the space, and being able to stand.
After the service, I stood in the soundbooth with the telephoto lens and had fun.
For now we have to have a fire watch during services, hence the bright vest.
Mrs. Oberly noticed me taking pictures. ;-)
DiDi asked me to take her picture with Mrs. Oberly and Mom.
I really like this one, even though it's blurrier, as many of them turned out to be, than I though when I took it.
Pretty Miss Alyssa with her earrings...
Isn't this a nice picture of Tyson and his matching boys?
I like this picture. It's sort of haunting. I tried to take it again better, but it didn't turn out the same.
Melody and some of her usual entourage
I noticed Elijah wandering amidst everyone, looking cute and tiny between all the legs.
Aunt Jen found him.
Lilly and Bella enjoyed running from the camera.
Ed got bubble wands for the kids to play with.
Ethan was fascinated by the bubble wands.
Pastor Bayly getting someone
The "mirror", a one-way window, is fun to take pictures with.
Micaiah was fun to take pictures of; unfortunately they turned out blurry.
But these two are cute.
Dad told Mrs. Bayly about his trip to England.
Abbi finally noticed me taking her picture:
A picture of the signs before we left:
It is good to have our own church home at last!