Our church building burned down a year ago yesterday. I tried to write a blog post yesterday afternoon but had terrible writer’s block. The block persists but seems a bit easier to bypass this morning. It’s not that it’s hard for me to talk about the fire. In fact, I feel like everyone has moved on and we’re all dealing just fine with the empty lot at 9th & D. The sheer emptiness of it all still looks and feels rather pathetic, but I have great hope for that space. While the congregation of Zion has moved down south into Southwood Lutheran’s old building, a new life is springing from the ashes. Within a short time after the fire, it was decided that a new church (what we call a daughter church, or church plant) would come back to this neighborhood to serve downtown Lincoln. We are a part of that church plant and next Sunday, in fact, will be our last week at Zion.
Redeemer is our name and it’s been a joy and pleasure to be a part of the very beginning stages of this new work. There’s so much to say about God’s goodness to us in the midst of the church plant, but the ole writer’s block is plaguing me. Suffice to say that my work for Redeemer as an Administrative Manager (the term Office Czar was a close second) is consuming a lot of my energy these days. There’s always a balance to work out with my chief role as Mommy and I’ve seen God’s grace many times over as I look for that balance. I love office work more than one can imagine and it’s a privilege to serve Redeemer and Tobey Brockman and Adam Odell (our pastors) in this way.
So, while I experienced twinges of sadness yesterday about the fire which devastated our building a year ago, I can’t remain sad about it. Good things are coming…
6 Comments
Melissa Marsh Jun 10, 2008 10:47 AM
I can’t believe it’s been a year. Goodness. And every time I go past that empty lot…well, I still miss that wonderful old building.
But I am very excited to see what awaits that empty lot!
Erin Jun 10, 2008 12:30 PM
I remember reading about that last year on your blog. Glad to hear the good that is coming about from such a devastation. I know an Adam Odell also but not sure if it’s the same one. Is his wife’s name Kate?
Sarah M Jun 10, 2008 12:53 PM
wow. It actually seems longer than that as we pass that lot regularly (we live over there)…I remember thinking how soon grass started growing there. I am glad Zion are planting another church there, and I didn’t know you were going with it! I would love to hear more about it at the next playgroup day (are you going to be working full-time there now?).
Jamie Jun 11, 2008 11:02 PM
i just was thinking about that the other day, a whole year has passed since that fire! i can hardly believe it, its gone so fast and has been full of so many changes, for Zion and for us as a family. It seems like a few months ago to me.
Kerri Jun 13, 2008 9:21 PM
It’s weird–I didn’t even think about the fire anniversary. Maybe because we were visiting our daughter in Indiana, whose 1st anniversary was the day before the fire (yes, the last event held at Zion; and yes, we were exonerated from being the cause of the fire! All of our candles were out, they really were! ). So I was thinking more about that anniversary.
Also–because I am excited about the good things to come as we start Redeemer!
Rebecca Jun 21, 2008 5:35 PM
Hey Erin! Yes, that’s the same Adam & Kate. Small PCA world, eh?