An historic Middle Tennessee United Methodist Church burned down last week due to lightning. Bethlehem UMC's pastor, the Reverend Matthew Kelley, was on a mission trip to Costa Rica at the time. Nevertheless, at the time of this writing he is back home and surveying the site of what was once a beautiful building as seen in a music video with Trace Adkins and Stephen Baldwin.
While it is unknown how long the fire was smoldering before witnesses put in the call that Wednesday night, by the time the volunteer fire fighters got the blaze under control there was nothing left of the building. Church members are already vowing to rebuild on the site. Nearby UMCs have offered space to the congregation as they make plans for the future.
This past Sunday, Kelley led the congregation in a service of death and resurrection for the building. He reminded the people that the church is not the building but the people of God. During the service, members of the congregation built a "wailing wall" out of the old building's bricks. As with the Wailing Wall in the holy city of Jerusalem, worshipers put pieces of paper with their prayers on it into the crevices between the bricks.
Bethlehem was formed sometime before 1836 when the land was deeded over to the congregation. In 1842, it was one of 12 church's served by a single pastor, or "circuit rider" as early Methodist preachers were known. Fifty-five years later, according to church records, it was one of two congregations served by T.W. Noland. Under Noland's leadership, the building was constructed in 1899.
The structure was on the National Register of Historic Places. The historical marker survived the fire, and Kelley says that it will be used as part of a memorial in the new building.
Services through August 16 will be held at the Clarksville Civic Hall, 530 Pageant Lane. Kelley requests prayers for the congregation as it goes through this time. Those who wish to contribute to the building fund may visit the congregation's website at http://historicbethlehemumc.org.
Here is a video story of last Sunday produced by WKRN, Nashville's Channel 2:
For more info:
Trace Adkins's "Muddy Water" video featuring Bethlehem UMC.
Kelley's blog, The Truth as Best I Know It
Comments
Thanks for this story, Andrew. Blessings to you.
Matt...
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