When a church is no longer a church

On Friday, January 6, 2017, Dave and I drove down to the former Rader Memorial United Methodist Church building. It was built in 1951 and in it's prime had hundreds of attendees every Sunday for two services. "We had to put chairs in the aisles on Easter!" was a familiar rallying cry, especially in 2006 when we had lost 2/3 of our membership to death or migration to other cities or churches. Hurricane Wilma and (as a result) tripled insurance costs forced us to make the decision to close and merge with Fulford UMC in North Miami Beach, FL. It wasn't a decision that any of us took lightly, especially those of us who voted in favor of closing. Having been born into that church in 1954, been married there in 1975, and returned several years later (1984) to become the minister of music (until closing), it hurt like no one could imagine.

I was vilified for my vote and people who I had loved and respected since childhood never spoke to me again. After we closed the property was sold to the Catholic Archdiocese, but never reopened as the Village of El Portal blocked them at every turn. They wanted to wall in the property for a sect of cloistered nuns. They were told no. They eventually sold to a Haitian congregation but that, too, was short lived. The property upkeep was horrific and in the intervening years the wires had been stripped by vagrants for their copper content. It closed again.

It has been sitting empty ever since. A year ago the property was purchased by a young-ish entrepreneur who hopes to use the building to house an arts community and a restaurant. It is to be called "The Sanctuary at El Portal" in deference to its original purpose. I was thrilled because it wasn't going to be torn down and replaced by something awful. But then you'll see in the photos how it looks now.

I took photos from the outside, and through the windows that were accessible. One window in the fellowship hall was broken so I carefully stuck my hand/camera in and took a few photos that way. I will try and caption each one as best I can. Some are nearly duplicates as I took some on my phone and some with my camera. I should also note that at our final service there in 2006 we had a formal de-comissioning as part of our service. Afterward, it was no longer considered a United Methodist Church. Also, had we not voted to close and held our ground the "church" could have come in, demanded our keys, and then closed it for us. As it was, we were able to keep the proceeds of the sale and eventually refurbish the entire education wing at Fulford UMC. I would like to think that the founders would be proud of us for carrying on their legacy.

Photo Album, Rader Memorial UMC 2017

Time Flies...

When you're packing up (and throwing out) 40+ years' worth of stuff and memories. My mother was a "keeper" and I have dutifully followed in her footsteps. Every scrap of paper I saved, every child's toy, every Sunday church bulletin ... every single item in my house, garage, and closets has evoked a powerful memory. And smiles and tears. The saddest thing is, I'm the only one who treasures these memories. My family just sees "stuff". Stuff that has no reason to exist except to take up space.

Since I posted last I have emptied out the garage (98%, anyway), four closets, and both kids' bedrooms. I've saved some things, but I've thrown away a whole lot more. I've taken photos of a lot of things and then cried bitterly as I tossed them into the dumpster that we rented. I've done this by myself because it was something I needed to do. I don't ever want to be able to accuse anyone of throwing away my things. It needed to be my doing, and I needed to have some closure when I did it.

I have miles to go before we move in two weeks, but it will be done. It has to be.

Moooving right along!

In five weeks I will be retired from directing a church choir. Sad, bittersweet as I wrap things up, but we have exciting new adventures ahead! Once our house sells (we listed it 5 days ago) we will be picking up stakes and heading for the rolling hills and country charm of Tennessee, just south of Nashville. We will be empty nesters, as our soon-to-be 18 year old daughter is refusing to go with us, but instead we are taking my husband's mother. She will be 81 in October and is tired of being lonely in her senior living facility.

So, adventures await us! Hubby will still be working, but he works from home and can go anywhere there is a wi-fi signal, so I'm looking forward to farmer's markets, pumpkins on my porch in October, and a simpler life style than Miami has afforded of late. I'm also looking forward to having a totally new area of the country to explore.

We visited in February and on the first morning we were there it was 19F and I loved it! Much balmier than the time we spent in Illinois as newlyweds, when some days the wind chill was -40F. We will get to play grandma and grandpa to our two grandchildren in the Atlanta area, and can't wait! Our Miami son and his wife are expecting their first baby (a boy) in September and we will most likely not be here for that but I know that we will visit as soon as we can, and that the other grandma and grandpa are ready to step in and be just wonderful to him.

"Tales From the Sunny South" will remain just that, so stay tuned for more adventures as we mooove into the next phase of our lives.