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As we were completing work on their Rotation Sunday School area during the summer of 2002 the memorial committee of Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio came to me with a most unusual problem. When the church moved from their old location in Alamo Heights to their new facilities in 1994 memorial plaques from all over the church were collected and packed lovingly away. The hope was that they might be given some place of honor in the new facility some day. Eight years had passed and hope seemed to be fading that these recognitions of the sacrifices of generations of the church's members would ever find a home. |
Churches have a fundamental cultural purpose that transcends academic adherence
to theological ideas. They transmit values across generations. In
today's world they are almost the only institutions to do so effectively.
Faith is not a dry acceptance of some roster of the attributes of
God. Faith gives us and, more importantly, our children a sense of
our place in the universe. Children who are active in churches are
generally more successful as adults than those who do not have that association.
That gives churches a responsibility bear witness to the service prior
generations have given to God. As children we learn to do those things we see our parents and those they respect doing. This is why I felt this project was a very important one to pursue. |
In answer to the committee's request I produced a general plan that placed
plaques in categories on separate wooden panels. Originally I felt that
these should be displayed in the children's chapel. The consensus of
the committee, however, was that the Seminar Room, the church's most used
room and a room in which I had already done extensive work would be the best
choice.With the design modified to suit this room the plaques were arranged according to categories such as "sanctuary windows", "general facilities", etc. In keeping with the trompe l'oeil effects I had used ten years ago in this room all of the panels are themselves trompe l'oeil paintings. They fit so seamlessly into the room that even I agree it was a better idea to place the memorials here than in the chapel. |
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Want to find out more about Rotation Sunday School programs, other church art, or any other product on this website? Just click here to E-mail Lee Emmerich Jamison, or you can "snail mail" to- PO Box 265 Dodge, Tx. 77334