20 years in the Presbyterian Center. Now that was something to celebrate. And we did – with worship, songs, greetings, honored guests and laughter.
On October 29, 1989, the Presbyterian Center was opened. Two industrial buildings with a railroad track running between them were transformed into the Center that has served us well for two decades and became an anchor for the transformation of the waterfront development in Louisville. Mayor Jerry Abramson (mayor then and mayor still) led an energetic contingent of Louisville religious and civic leaders to lure the Presbyterians to Louisville, and they still love to tell the colorful story. A number of the people who were instrumental in promoting Louisville were on hand for our celebration last week.
We began with worship in the chapel which was brimming with staff and guests, led by members of our Office of Theology, Worship and Education, and joined in by instrumental and vocal musicians, readers and a liturgical dancer. With familiar verses from 1 Peter as his primary text, Joe Small, in his sermon, “Built into a Spiritual House,” addressed our celebration not only of the anniversary of a physical building – but more importantly the mission and ministry it houses. Joe cautioned us that “we are most in danger of stumbling when we imagine that we are the builders” rather than God. “We must give up the illusion that we are the architects,” he said, “but the raw material from which God builds the church.” Rhashell Hunter serving Communion was the picture of the event that appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal newspaper – a Good News story we like to share.
After worship we moved to the atrium, the large center area that joins the two once-separate buildings. The mayor brought greetings by video, happily recalling the civic effort and outcome for Louisville. Dot Ridings, a member of the Louisville delegation, recounted in colorful terms the joyful reaction by the Louisville team when the vote was taken at the General Assembly. Words of gratitude were shared, and Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, introduced and thanked our guests. I shared how the first time I came to the building with my husband, Chris, he looked at the pictures of the renovation that are on display in the cafeteria. He said “I know this building. I used to ship grass seed into here when I was in the seed business and it was the Belknap Hardware distribution facility.” Chris now tells people, “I used to ship seeds in, now Linda ships seeds out!”
The afternoon then moved to staff awards, our annual honoring of employees of the General Assembly Council (GAC), Office of the General Assembly (OGA), and the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP), who have served for 5, 10, 15, 20, and up to 40 years. This year we had fun with the awards. Our first class of honorees was the class of 1968. That year, young seminarian Curtis Kearns was added to the United
Presbyterian Church of USA’s Committee on the Consultation on Church Union, in response to a directive calling on each denomination to add one young member. Cliff Kirkpatrick began his service in the church that year. Thirty five years ago, colleague and friend Jay Hudson, President of PILP began his service as did Nohra Carrillo from Theology, Worship & Education, Joan Richardson from the Office of the General Assembly, and Perfecto Romero from Shared Services. For each 5 year class, two of our colleagues began introductions by mentioning things that had happened in the world and in the church and then read the names of the employees we celebrated. Considerable ad libbing and humor ensued, mixing with expressions of honor and gratitude. And, of course, we all rose to our feet to honor seven new retirees, as they set out on a new chapter in their respective vocational journeys.
With such a word and such a visible witness of hope, how can we help but “tell to all the joyful Gospel,” as our closing hymn proclaimed. May it be so for each of us, for the next 20 years and always!
(*Photos courtesy of Jerry Van Marter and Evan Silverstein of the Presbyterian New Service)