Carrollton Presbyterian Church

It's just a little snake...

The Jr/Sr High Sunday School class had a blast last Saturday playing “Stump The Ranger.” Jonathan Stober, who is a biologist for the Talladega National Forest took us around in the woods and we tried to stump him with questions, fast and furious.

But what happened is he mostly stumped us, showing us all about the plants and animals that live in this area. Best/scariest moment? When we found a snake crawling through the grass and he picked it up, just like “Croc Hunter.” It was non-poisonous though, so there wasn’t any real danger. Except when he let us smell it’s “musk” glands that were oozing with some snake-stink sauce. He told us it was a defense mechanism and it we all agreed. It worked. Nobody wanted to mess with that stinky snake.

Thanks to Jonathan Stober for sharing his bio-brain with our class.

The last Sunday night of each month, CPC members, friends, and community members gather at 6 o’clock for a time of contemplative prayer that we call “Evening Song.” This 35-minute service incorporates scripture readings, musical meditations, and time for silent reflection. Those present are also invited to participate in open and responsorial prayer and simple, repeated congregation songs as they feel led. The music consists of traditional contemplative hymns as well as responses used in the Iona Community on the western shores of Scotland (http://www.iona.org.uk/) and the Taizé Community of Southern France (http://www.taize.fr/en).

Inspired by Taizé styles of worship, the musical accompaniment consists mostly of quieter acoustic instruments (such as strings and woodwinds) that support the singing of those assembled. Also similar to the practices at the Taizé Community, the service takes place within a darkened sanctuary, illuminated by a host of white candles at the front. All are invited to attend.

Artist rendering of Carrollton Presbyterian Church

The Carrollton Presbyterian Church on Maple Street in Downtown Carrollton is one of the oldest structures in Carroll County. Built in 1902, its neo-gothic style architecture reflects the Scottish heritage that was principal in the formation of the early Presbyterian denomination. On the front of the church, you can see two towers of different sizes. The right tower is higher than the left. This represents the Reformed church, our constant and never ending journey to strive toward Godliness, and our certainty that we, as humans, can’t attain it.

The sanctuary has been preserved in an almost pristine original state, with handsome millwork railing, rafters & trim, and plaster columns adorned with acanthus leaf details. In 2011 we underwent an extensive renovation of the stained glass windows to return them to their original condition.

Although the current brick structure was completed in 1902, the actual organized church is older still. In 1841, two decades before the Civil War began; West Georgia was a frontier community bordering the unknown wilds of Alabama. It was that year that individuals who lived in the area made a request of the Flint River Presbytery, in session at West Point Georgia, to be constituted as a church known as the Carrollton Presbyterian church. In response, the Presbytery directed two of its members to repair to Carrollton and organize a church. This makes Carrollton Presbyterian the oldest organized church in Carroll County.

In 1952, Westminster Hall, the three-story addition to the original church, was completed and has since then been renovated several times over. This space houses Sunday school rooms, meeting rooms and the Fellowship Hall.

When the church was built in 1902, an article in the Carroll County Times – Feb. 13, 1902, read:
“The present elegant and lasting edifice is the outcome of studious investigation, extending over several years past by members and friends of the Church, with a view of originating a building plan, not too expensive for the means of the Congregation, and yet one which, while meeting every requirement of taste and comfort in its interior appointments, would insure a structure creditable in the estimation of the community and responsive to civic pride in our growing and ever progressive City.”

A very interesting feature of the church is that the founders chose not to put their names on a cornerstone, preferring instead to dedicate the building solely to the glory of God.

HISTORICAL FACTS
• New Church constructed between July 1901 and February 1902
• Architects: Butt & Morrin, Atlanta
• Contractor: J.A. Pierce, Gainesville.
- Bids $10,000.00 up to $17,000.00.
- Raised Low Bid
- $1,000.00 to cover a mistake on the Stone Work.
- Total Contract Amount = $11,000.00
• Pastor: Rev. William Edwin Dozier (1894-1915)
• Building Committee:
- L.C. Mandeville
- Mrs. Mary Aycock
- Abner A. Simonton

Empty Bowls

Last month CPC partnered with the Carroll County Empty Soup Bowl Project to get ready for their upcoming event. 35 Presbyterians got their hands dirty creating a dazzling array of pottery bowls.

Potter Helen Helwig organized the program and our own potters and craftspeople, Randy Ayers, Penny Ayers, Amelia Huxley (and Ioan) rolled clay and helped us create our own masterpieces.

Dianne Cox made a delicious pot of soup for lunch and we ate it till the ladel scraped the bottom of the pot.

If you missed out on bowl making, you can still catch the Empty Bowls event at the Carroll County Ag Center on Feb 26th. Local restaurants will be serving up specialty soups in hand made bowls. Come enjoy live music and hot soup. The fun starts at 11:00.  Tickets are just 10 bucks.  All proceeds go to help finance the Carroll County soup kitchen.

For more information about the Feb event:

http://carrollcountyemptybowls.com/joom/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=4

In the spring of 2011, I participated in a group program called LifeKeys, facilitated by Rebekah Carpenter and Jared Price. About 12 of us met once a week in the Old Manse at Carrollton Presbyterian Church. We formed a tightly knit group based on trust and the mutual desire to investigate ourselves.

I had long hoped for a way to know what God has planned for me and expects of me. (I know I’m not the only who feels that way.) I wanted to know not only what to do, but how and when to do it. Even though I was doing well, I knew I could do better; I was missing something.

At times, I thought maybe I tried too hard, prayed too fervently, yearned too selfishly. Other times, I was sure I didn’t do enough, was too lazy, perhaps undeserving. Whatever else I was doing, I was also growing ever more anxious about what felt like a long period of stagnation. And, I was lonely and didn’t know what to do to solve that dilemma since I was new to Carrollton. I was confused about the role I play in other people’s lives. Also, I lacked confidence in myself, and I felt ineffective and inadequate in regards to my job and career.

So, the offer to enroll in LifeKeys – a course with the tag line, ‘Discover Yourself,’ – seemed a providential opportunity. However, I couldn’t have predicted – or even hoped for – the affirmative influence of the course and its positive and lasting effects.

The friends I made through LifeKeys, the people to whom I now feel bonded, were part of God’s answer to my prayers to find my path, to hear a calling and respond. I met people who affirm my strengths and shore up my weaknesses. I’m rarely lonely any more, and if I am, there’s someone to call.

I was empowered in my career by the realization, through LifeKeys, that the skills and passions I have are gifts from God. He wants me to use them; He made me good at what I do. My career puts me in the role of support rather than management or leadership. I used to think my contributions in the workplace were trivial, but I learned to value what I do. Those in leadership and management roles depend on me to aid them in their success. I did not appreciate that desire to serve in myself before LifeKeys.