New Church Building Dedicated

With the interior illuminated through stained glass windows by the brilliance of an April afternoon sun, the congregation and friends of Bethany on April 26 dedicated to the glory of God the beautiful church building that rose from the ashes of the historic building that burned to the ground in June of 2007.

Among those at the dedication were friends from church congregations--Disciples and others--from as far away as Brunswick, Ga., friends from the community, representatives of the construction company and architect, and others who helped in the rebuilding.

Preceding the dedication, Bethany gratefully thanked those who tried to save the burned building, those who helped in the clean-up and reorganization after the fire, and those who helped with the rebuilding.

Also dedicated were the organ and piano, wonderfully demonstrated by organist Tom Gibson and pianist Shirley Ensley, the chancel furniture, and the stained glass windows.

We gathered,


We sang,


Bells played,


and we enjoyed refreshments,


as we prayed that this new building, God's building, will be the home of the Bethany church family for many hundreds of years into the future, and that it will provide the setting for the faithful whose home this will be for spiritual nourishment and renewal of faith, for those who will here be baptized into the love of Christ, those who will marry here in the presence of God, and those who will depart this life for the everlasting life that is ours through the love of Christ.
Photos by Tommy Banks