Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe, aber die Liebe ist die größeste unter ihnen. 
Faith, hope, and love,but love is the greatest among them.
                               -I Corinthians 13

Bin ich nicht Andern
ein Apostel, so bin ich doch
euer Apostel, denn das Siegel
meines Apostelamtes seid Ihr
in dem Herrn.

The Painting Of The Sanctuary

For many people who have not been to Zion lately it will be quite a surprise to see the church in its new paint.

After completing the Altar wall between Easter and Pentecost to overwhelmingly positive response, the property committee and the church council decided to use the momentum created and get the rest of the downstairs done. The painters from O.T. Neighoff returned in October to paint all the walls downstairs, including the face of the balcony and the columns (the latter being a donation on their part).

They did an excellent job, and thanks are due to Betty Niemann for coordinating this work from Zion ’s end.

A great surprise was that an inscription was found on either side wall.

We had thought that all inscriptions were lost together with the stenciling when the walls were covered with muslin. But when the wall cover was removed, these two wonderful inscriptions came to light.

The one on the north side is next to the window of the three graces that was given in memory of Mrs. Scheib in 1889 by the Ladies Aid Society. It is a quotation from I Corinthians 13 and says:

The other inscription goes with the window showing Paul preaching in Athens . It was given by the congregation in 1895 to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of Pastor Scheib’s ministry.

The inscription clearly reflects the struggle in which Pastor Scheib found himself among others Pastors who would call him a Unitarian, and it reaffirms the fond affection in which his congregation held him.

Both inscription can be dated to a timeframe between 1895 (the date of the Scheib window) and 1908 (when the entire church was re-decorated). They have a wonderful flow, like a banner flowing in the wind.

We were lucky that Perette Manz-Hendrich, our German trained conservator who had cleaned the Luther picture and its frame over the summer, (donating her time for that labor), was available to touch up and paint around the inscriptions.

The sanctuary looks great; we are also happy to be able to complement it on Advent I with the new red hymnal copies that were given.

A continuation of the painting upstairs will require considerable funds due to the necessary scaffolding. It can only be done after the northern half of the roof has been fixed and needs to be coordinated with our plans for the organ.

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Sanctuary Alter Area 2000 - Before Restoration

Sanctuary Alter Area 2007- After Restoration

Martin Luther painting taken down from sanctuary curtain in 2007

Votive Candle Tree of Life