As we enter Friedland’s anniversary month, I want to share some words written on the fireplace in the church pavilion:
“ORIGINAL SITE OF FRIEDLAND MORAVIAN CHURCH, ESTABLISHED 1775. THE NEW CHURCH OCCUPIED DECEMBER 1952. OLD CHURCH DEMOLISHED IN 1959. Stones from the foundation of the old church used in building this pit, fireplace, and chimney.”
Whenever I see this fireplace, I can’t help but feel inspired by the boldness, courage, and skill of the Friedlanders who came before us. I can’t imagine the time and effort that went into building an entirely new church building. It must have been difficult to demolish that old building that held so much history and memories for so many people. And yet, the fireplace that remains in the pavilion continues to fulfill the primary purpose of the original church building: to provide light and warmth to all who gather around it. This fireplace reminds me that the world around us will always be changing, but our mission as a church remains the same: to make Jesus Christ a reality in the lives of people with Christ as our cornerstone. It is my hope that as we continue being the church in 2022, that we will be filled with the same courage of our ancestors: the courage that comes from trusting in Jesus to guide us. I pray that this courage will allow us to approach the ever-changing world we live in with a renewed sense of optimism and hope knowing that wherever we go, Christ is already there.
-Pastor Adam
