Goodbye Old Church

Yesterday they held the final worship service of my childhood church. The Buda United Methodist Church is no more. I SHOULD have been there. I guess they had a good crowd; had a lunch afterwards; many people shared stories from over the years. I really wish I had been there. Later this month they will hold an auction of the contents and the building.

I last attended when I was probably in grade school. Not too many people were still a part of the church. My parents were. I would say they usually had around 10 for Sunday worship. A week after my dad had hip replacement surgery he had to take up the offering because he was the healthiest man in attendance. It was a sturdy old brick building with beautiful stained glass windows. Supposedly someone wants to buy the windows. It will be sad to see the old building vacant and boarded up.

It's kinda funny how no one really seemed to care about the BUM Church while it was still alive. But now that it's gone we're all sentimental. I also never really thought about the initials: Buda United Methodist = BUM. It was the perfect church for me. :) Maybe I should buy the building and start a church in my old hometown... among all 350 people. Of course, the church I most recently came from in the same town might not like that too much. Especially since they helped pay for me to attend seminary.

At any rate, it all makes you wonder about what will happen to the people of BUM. Will they become a part of another church, or just fade away? I don't know what my parents plans are. I would think it might take awhile to get over this one. Kind of like when your spouse dies. You don't jump into bed with somebody else right away.

The death of a church is a sad thing. I have been a part of one church that closed, and we had only attended for a short time. They tried to play it up like it would be a positive - they could share themselves with other churches. But I don't think there's any way to get around the fact that it is sad. It is a death. It didn't work out for that body.

All of this makes me think two things:
(1) I don't want to be a part of another church that dies.
(2) For some reason I have this place inside me that is kind of drawn to a small church like this. I have always thought that if, or when, I change churches - I want to go smaller instead of bigger. I really feel for small churches with pastors who week after week make them feel guilty for who they are. They need to be loved; they need to be taught; they need to know they are valued and a part of the kingdom just like everyone else.

So long BUM. May you find a place, a peace, a new home.