When God closes a door

The organ music paused to allow the final bells to ring out and fade away Sunday morning at the United Church of Christ Congregational during its last service before the sale of the building is finalized Tuesday.

The building is being purchased by Abundant Life Church in Creston.

The service

Due to coronavirus concerns, the congregation of 15 sat scattered out in the sanctuary, masks were worn through most of the service and hymns were “sung” in silence to the sound of the organ.

Liturgist Deb Peterson read a letter from the United Church of Christ’s Associate Conference Minister for Southwest Iowa Jonna Jensen.

“We mourn, we remember, we raise thanksgiving,” Jensen said, adding words from the book of Matthew, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Lay leader Jon McCulley gave the final message, speaking about the plans God has for the church — both the building and the members — using the Last Supper and Moses’ struggles in the desert as illustrations.

“I chose the Last Supper for a reason,” he said, saying that although it was the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, it was not the end for him, just as the closing of this building is not the end for the church.

“We are not losing the church; we are the church,” he said.

The story of Moses’ need for water while wandering in the desert shows what God wants from his people, McCulley said.

The first time Moses asked God for water, God told him to gather the people and strike the rock to receive water. The second time, God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock again.

Due to Moses’ actions, he and the other refugees from Egypt would not be allowed into the Promised Land.

“God doesn’t use perfect people,” McCulley said. “He uses obedient people.”

McCulley went on to speak about how church members cannot rely on the past to see what God wants them to do.

“He’s got a plan for us,” he said. “The doors might be closing for us, but they are opening for Abundant Life.”

The church was quiet and more than one tear was wiped away as Rosario McCulley snuffed out the candles for the last time.

The members

Peterson called herself a “new” member of the church. She has only been a member for ten years. She said she came to UCCC looking for a more open and inclusive church. For the past two to three years, she has served on the church council and helped organize and run services since they have not had a full-time minister since the end of 2017.

“It was a community effort to keep it open,” Peterson said.

However the declining membership could no longer sustain the costs of operating the building.

Like other members of the church, Peterson said she is not sure what her next steps are or where they will lead her. She said she’s going to “take a pause” before finding a new church home. Several area churches have reached out to the congregation, she said.

Bruce Lyons handed out the bulletins for the final service. He got involved in UCCC through helping with the food pantry, which has since become too big for the space and moved to the former Assembly of God church on Wyoming Avenue. Lyons soon became a member who “did a little of everything” except lead services.

“I’ll miss it dearly,” he said.

Carol and Mike Brentnall have been attending the church together since 1995. Each of them had an early start at UCCC with Mike being confirmed in 1954 before moving away to California. When he returned to Iowa he attended the Presbyterian church but returned to UCCC when he married Carol.

“We’ve lost something, but another church is coming in,” Mike said. “It goes on.”

Carol was baptized at UCCC in 1963 at the age of 5. She moved away for three years and then attended church in Cromwell for a short time, but she never moved her membership. She along with several other UCCC members expressed their thankfulness that the building will remain in the hands of a church.

“It was a vibrant church for a long time,” Carol said. “We’re glad it’s going to stay a church.”

Church and community staple Betty Wallace said through tears that there is good and bad in the change.

“We are extremely happy that another church has bought it,” she said.

One of the longest relationships with the church belongs to Diane Palmer and the Fastenow family. Her father Bill Fastenow’s mother played the organ years ago. Family funerals were held there. Aug. 8 her father-in-law, husband and grandson were all baptized in the church.

Palmer herself has been attending for 54 years, her whole life. She said she will take with her the “laughs and great memories” and compared the closing of the church to a death in the family.

“I’m almost in mourning,” she said. “Friendships are now family.”

McCulley’s final message helped Palmer deal with the loss, she said.

“It’s not over; it’s a new beginning.” Palmer added “This will always be my church.”

She regrets that due to COVID-19 restrictions her father, who is in a nursing home, could not attend the final service. It was, however, recorded so he would be able to experience it.

“Bill was a pillar in the church,” Palmer said.

He was “genuine, heart and soul,” Peterson added.

The future

Doug Brunell, pastor of Abundant Life church, attended the final service as well. He said he does not know when Abundant Life will begin having services in the building or exactly what that will look like.

“We’re not moving our (main) service,” Brunell said.

Instead the church may hold an early Sunday morning or a Saturday service in the building. It may also be used for Easter and Christmas services or outreach events.

Members of the UCCC have a hope that a new place for the open table, which was held in the church basement for 10 years, can be found once the threat of coronavirus has passed.