The Church That Builds

The old retaining wall was leaning badly. I feared that the backyard of our first home would soon topple into the alley. The seasonal cycles of freeze/melt/freeze had done its slow grinding work, and the wall had been neglected for decades.

I was encouraged by my seminary friend, Don, to take on the project – “We can do it ourselves!” For him, no home improvement project was too daunting. He calculated the two of us could destroy the old and build anew in a matter of six hours - three each, on two consecutive Saturdays. “Piece of cake,” he said. I should have asked Don if he had any experience in this regard. Instead, I was persuaded by his unbridled confidence. So, one June morning we hefted sledgehammers and traipsed 20 paces through my backyard to the job site. Don cinched his leather tool belt as if he had done it before. He clapped his hands and said, “Let’s get started.”

The tearing down was the easy part. Cleaning the mess and digging the deeper trench in the rocky soil demanded more sweat. Finally, we were ready for the first stage of building. We mixed water with the six bags of Sakrete in Don’s rusty wheelbarrow. Then, we dumped the gray goop into the trench, smoothed it with a trowel, and eye-balled it.

“Looks good! Next week will be the fun part,” Don said. 

When we returned to our task a week later, the concrete had turned white and hard, ready for the laying of the first course of blocks. We mixed the mortar and our work progressed steadily. We beheld the first course of block with macho pride. But, with the third, and then the fourth course of blocks, we could see that each end of the wall was significantly higher than the middle. 

“No problem,” Don said, “We will just use extra mortar in the middle and scrimp at the ends. It will even out as we go.” 

As our new creation rose to the fifth row it was apparent that the wall was not looking better. There was a pronounced sagging in the middle. I heard Don mutter “Hmm, we probably should have used a level.” 

Well, that wall never leveled out. It got worse as it rose. From a lousy foundation grew an ugly wall. It was clear that the two seminarians possessed more hope and confidence than skill and know-how. 

More than once, since coming to Gethsemane, I have thought of the contrast between the seminarians’ building project and what I have witnessed at Gethsemane. I have never served a church that – in such a very short time – had so many major building projects underway! There was the roof, the Fellowship Hall, 1st floor Hallway, Nursery, Kitchen, and the ceiling in the Main floor hallway. Members of Gethsemane’s Building Committee expertly worked with contractors on the big projects; then, did much of the work themselves. Never once did they ask this seminary graduate for assistance with a hammer, level, or trowel! No, our members possessed the vision, tools, and know-how. I guess we all have different gifts!

While many of the physical building projects of the past year are behind us, other construction projects – of different types - are well underway.  For examples, members of our Call Committee are persistently moving us toward Calling a new Pastor; our highschoolers are planning a great summer Mission Trip to Boston; the Quilters continue plans to create quilts to give to mission partners (last year they made 60 quilts!); collaborative efforts with friends from Our Savior’s and Messiah are further developing the innovative LIFT program for youth 4th grade through High School; our Generosity Team has designated twelve mission partners to be recipients of our monthly special offerings; Vacation Bible School is being planned for the summer; and, the Endowment Committee is preparing to provide scholarships for Gethsemane members to continue their education post-HS!  Whew!

So, even as we return our trowels, levels, and hammers to the shed, with sincere gratitude we move ahead in mission! Thanks be to God. 

Pastor Mark Holman