VALDOSTA CrossPointe Church Pastor David Rogers wanted something different for his summer months.

Last fall, Rogers thought and prayed about a way to have a life-changing experience while changing the lives of others. He turned to a great friend, his church, the community, an in-church film crew. On Tuesday morning, Rogers and friend Bill Hurley will straddle their Harley-Davidsons and turn to the open road.

They embark on the Unseen Project, an ambitious two-month, criss-cross tour of the United States. Rogers explains the premise: Two friends set out on an epic journey to see America the Beautiful but find America the Unseen.

By unseen, Rogers, Hurley and the film crew will seek pockets of poverty, human trafficking, addiction and other troubles within the nation. They will learn more about these issues via human contact while sharing with others through the film project. But they also expect to find threads of faith and a deepening friendship as they travel by motorcycle from city to city and state to state.

Praying for a summer mission, Rogers was inspired by the idea of a nationwide journey. Traveling by motorcycle seemed the natural mode. Rogers has been riding since the age of 7.

Hurley seemed the appropriate partner for this adventure. Employed by Cauthan Construction, Hurley has been riding since the age of 9.

The two men became friends several years ago when the church was located in Remerton. They both say they have much in common. They like to play hard and work hard. They both believe they will see many emotional situations but they will also have fun along the way.

They have enlisted the support of their families and church for the Unseen Project.

Hurley and Rogers have met with various television and movie producers. Led by the churchs creative arts director, J.T. Cheek, a seven-man film crew of church members will accompany Rogers and Hurley. The crew will film the two mens actions. While Hurley and Rogers ride Harleys, the film crew will ride and film travel footage from pace vehicles provided by Cass Burch. The car dealership is one community business supporting the project. Allied Financial is another area sponsor. Spence Parkerson, the churchs worship pastor, has composed music for the project.

The film crew will follow Rogers and Hurley through all 61 stops, from the May 20 start to the scheduled July 19 return, as they travel north to Maine west through upstate New York to Pittsburgh through Ohio to Illinois and Chicago to the Dakotas to Montana then onward to Seattle, south through California, east to Las Vegas further east to Colorado and Denver then through the Rockies, through Texas along the Gulf Coast then home.

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Church ready for America the Unseen

Courtesy photo On Monday more than 25 parishioners with Immaculate Conception Church teamed up to build a temporary fence to secure the church's cemetery after it had be vandalized late last month.

On Monday more than 25 parishioners from Immaculate Conception Church took matters into their own hands to keep their cemetery secure from vandals by gathering together to build a temporary fence in light of recent criminal damage to the church's cemetery.

According to a May 9th Alamogordo Police Department report, grounds caretaker, Jimmy Villabisencio, told police that 11 sprinkler heads were broken and someone damage an irrigation pipe in the cemetery between April 23 and April 26. Villabisencio stated in the report that three rows of barbed wire on the south west fence line of the cemetery grounds were also missing.

Michael Lindsay, priest with ICC, said the APD officers advised them to secure the area to prevent and put up no trespassing signs to prevent future damages to the cemetery in the 1300 block of First Street.

ICC office manager David Gallego estimated the cost to replace the sprinkler heads could be up to $30 each and $175 for the labor.

Lindsay said several parishioners asked how they could help after the recent damage. Father Mike, as his parishioners call him, said he wanted to do something positive and get a group of people who care about their cemetery because it is important to them.

"A number of people were appreciative that we did this," Lindsey said about placing a fence to secure the cemetery.

Gallegos said it took just more than an hour to put up the 623 feet-long temporary fence.

Lindsey said due to the road project to extend Washington Avenue to the new elementary school currently under construction, fences were taken down which left no security for the cemetery. Several parishioners voiced their concerns that the City of Alamogordo never notified the church of construction or removal of the fences.

"We didn't know that they were going to put the construction road in until they cut through the fence and fenced off part of our property," Lindsey said.

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Church members add fence to cemetery

Just before dawn, Father Moses Fredricks smooths plaster in preparation for the fresco painting of the Prophet Joel on the dome at St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church.

Story by ANN HUTCHINSON / Santa Rosa Correspondent

Photos by BETH SCHLANKER / The Press Democrat

Walking into Saint Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Christian Church in southeast Santa Rosa is like stepping back in time.

Father Patrick Doolan adds the finishing touches to a fresco painting of the Prophet Elias.

The cross-shaped building is reminiscent of ancient European cathedrals and Eastern Orthodox churches, with pillars, altar and dome. But since July, its center has been filled with modern scaffolding that supports Father Patrick Doolan and Father Moses Fredricks as they fill the dome with a fresco of Christ, angels and prophets.

The monks hope to be finished in late July, completing a project that has taken more than a decade to plan, finance and prepare. Its the most expensive of the frescoes envisioned for the church on Mountain View Avenue.

The fresco project is the largest, and maybe the only, project of its kind in a Christian Orthodox Church in the United States. Just the dome project will cost $112,000, financed with a $50,000 bequest and a fundraising campaign that continues after 15 years.

About 47 smaller frescoes remain on the uncommissioned list, priced at $3,000-$20,000 each.

Fredricks and Doolan have worked on and off since overseeing the first layers of special plaster 10 years ago, taking measurements, drawing sketches and completing many frescoes on the churchs interior walls.

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Monks create Santa Rosa church's new fresco

SFP - Church Construction Presentation (English)

By: GP Villanueva

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SFP - Church Construction Presentation (English) - Video

In the newly renovated First Lutheran Church sanctuary, the Rev. Matt Miller (back, right) and several church members stand around the baptismal font that was designed and built by church members. The entire sanctuary was renovated along with new additions built onto the church in the five-year, $2.1 million project.

Most of the pieces are in place, though the complex project appeared much like a colossal jigsaw puzzle five years ago.

After months of planning and construction, the two-story structure of First Lutheran Church on South State Street now stands as a state-of-the-art masterpiece, from the gleaming new sanctuary floor and polished organ console to the climate-controlled heating system and a stylish, welcoming portico.

And no one could be more proud and pleased than members of First Lutheran, even though the final tab rings up at about $2.1 million.

The church will celebrate with a dedication of the work at its 10:30 a.m. service Sunday. Bishop Leonard Bolick of the North Carolina Lutheran Synod will be the guest speaker. There will be an open house and tours of the facility from 1:30 until 4 p.m. with members of the congregation serving as guides.

"We are really excited," said First Lutheran pastor Matt Miller in regard to the new surroundings. "It means a lot to the congregation. It means having space, and we don't have to worry about the roof leaking."

Prior to the work, the church had no central air conditioning or heating system in its hallways. A climate-controlled heating and air system has been installed.

The original structure was built in 1959 with a parsonage next door. Over the years the parsonage was repurposed, then eventually razed. The new project included renovations as well as additions, and the area of work encompasses the space where the parsonage once stood. The project took place in two phases.

"It was extremely complicated," said Lee Conrad Jr., who serves as renovation chairman for the church. "We had some asbestos and structural problems."

Another challenge during the process was storage space.

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First Lutheran building projects to be dedicated

1m church plans put to Clitheroe congregation

2:51pm Thursday 15th May 2014 in News By Jon Robinson, Reporter

NEW development options that could cost up to 1million have been put to the congregation of a Ribble Valley church that can trace its roots back to the 15th century.

More than 150 people attended a meeting at St Mary Magdalenes Church in Clitheroe to discuss whether to build an extension on to the church to form as a new community centre or to re-order the interior of the church to create more room.

This is the first time that the detailed plans have been put directly to congregation members after being in the pipe line for several months.

A consultation period has now been started and church bosses hope that definite plans will be decided on by September.

Part of the money for the Grade II*-listed Clitheroe Parish Church project will be raised through the sale of the St Marys Centre which is set to be completed by the Lancaster foundation and church reserves.

The congregation would aim to raise the rest of the money while construction was being carried out.

The church has recently finished raising money for covering the costs of repairing the spire which dates back to 1848 after it fell into disrepair.

Rev Andy Froud said: We are looking at securing the church for our childrens children and beyond.

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1m church plans put to Clitheroe congregation

Be inclusive, Catholic Archbishop William Goh urged his congregation, at a time when the Church is undergoing a crisis.

In the latest issue of the Catholic News, the archbishop said young Catholics have stopped going to church.

"How many of your friends have gone to other Christian churches?" he asked.

He said the Catholic Church is full, "thanks to the migrants" who are "giving the impression that the Church is vibrant".

Archbishop Goh also warned against marginalising groups such as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people, divorcees and people who have undergone abortions.

"Have compassion for them," he said at a recent meeting to outline his 10-year plan for the archdiocese.

Among those present at the meeting were 750 representatives from Catholic churches here, including some priests.

This is believed to be the first time that Archbishop Goh, who took over a year ago as head of the Catholic Church here, has come out so openly to urge his flock to be tolerant towards groups that traditionally have been shunned by staunch Catholics.

In February, amid a debate between religious groups over a sexuality advisory from the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Archbishop Goh said he was aware some Catholics are struggling to come to terms with their own sexuality or that of their loved ones. He added that the Church "feels with you and views every individual as unique and precious in the eyes of God, regardless of his or her sexual inclination or state of life".

He said he was exploring the establishment of support groups for those "struggling with same-sex attraction" and for their loved ones who have difficulty accepting them.

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Be inclusive: Catholic Archbishop

Historic downtown church turns to public to repair aging bell tower

The Rev. Charles Svendsen understands that the life of a church can be a tricky thing. Svendsen is interim minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ. Perched on the South Park Blocks, First Congregational is one of the citys oldest and most imposing churches. For 60 years, its 175-foot-high bell tower was the tallest structure in Portland. Only First Congregationals bell rings out over the South Park blocks on Sunday mornings.

But that bell tower, basically unchanged since its construction in 1895, has been crumbling. Once, the church would have prevailed on its members to pay the $500,000 cost of the repairs. Forty years ago, the church had 700 members. Today it has 328. Most Sundays, somewhere around 135 people attend services, many of whom are children or grandchildren of earlier congregants, who drive in from the suburbs, often passing other congregational churches on the way to what Svendsen calls the mother church.

These churches down here, theyre historical, theyre central, theyre the ones from whom all the other churches came, Svendsen says of the old downtown houses of worship.

While a number of once-proud Portland churches have closed their doors in recent years, First Congregational is not about to go broke. In fact, while its membership contributions are down compared to years past, its income is greater than it was 10 years ago due to rental revenue it gets from leasing part of its property for the Newmark and Winningstad theaters on Southwest Broadway Avenue.

The churchs 328 members would each have to contribute about $1,500 to pay for the restoration of the First Congregational Tower. While some are making contributions about $85,000 has been pledged so far the church has decided to ask the greater Portland community to take ownership of its bell tower by contributing to its Restore a Portland Landmark fundraising campaign. Its pitch asks the residents of what often is referred to as the nations most unchurched city to examine their relationship with its historic religious institutions.

Just south and west of First Congregational on the Park Blocks stands St. James Lutheran Church. A little bit farther south sits the Christian Science Church. Just south of First Congregational is the First Christian Church. Another dozen or so churches are scattered throughout downtown and the Goose Hollow neighborhood. Most of the old ones have at least one thing in common.

All these churches have declined, Svendsen says. But all are vital to the health of downtown and the larger Portland area, he insists.

Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, says hes a backer. He says the church, which was designed to resemble Bostons Old South Church, is one of the few examples of Venetian Gothic architecture in the country. It also happens to sit next door to Tymchuks Historical Society.

It would look so much better without that netting around it, Tymchuk says, referring to mesh placed around a portion of the bell tower to catch falling tracery panels. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, a 2-foot-long piece of one of the wooden Gothic panels fell to the sidewalk near the church.

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For whom does this bell toll?

Published: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 3:39 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 3:39 p.m.

A longtime landmark of the community of Cotton Plant, St. John's United Methodist Church will celebrate its Spring Festival on Saturday while also recognizing the church's organizational roots, which date back to 1844. The celebration will be held on the grounds and in the fellowship hall, and the sanctuary will be open for viewing.

The building's historic charm is reminiscent of the days when people came to church on horseback, in ox carts and by foot. Some traveled long distances on Saturday and camped out on the grounds overnight.

In those days, the women wore long dresses and wide-brimmed bonnets, and used paper fans to cool themselves in the stifling summer heat. The church's male and female members were required to enter through different doors and had to sit on opposite sides of the sanctuary. There also was a segregated area for slaves. Male leaders set the rules and scoffed at people who ignored them, such as the ignorant gentleman who escorted his female companion through the wrong door one Sunday.

Cotton Plant, settled in 1842, was a farming and cotton growing area. Star-Banner columnist David Cook has noted that Cotton Plant, located just west of Martel, was a thriving town in the late 1880s, with a population of about 1,000 at that time.

Officially founded in 1852 by Joseph P. Barco, St. John's congregation first met in a log cabin on a lot 1/4 mile northeast of the current location. The next building, erected on the current site, served as a schoolhouse and a church. In time, it began to lean to one side and, in 1892, was replaced by the present two-story frame building. The upper floor was often used for meetings by a local Masonic lodge, which helped pay for the church's construction.

Current members, particularly those who had a hand in the renovations, feel the church is more than just a building.

I think you become a part of it, said Leonard Pete Michael. I'd hate like everything for that church to fail. We can't let that happen.

A retired owner of a steel construction firm in South Florida, Michael, who moved here in 1988, became involved in repairs to the building's termite-infested foundation. Using five hydraulic jacks, steel reinforcing rods and concrete, he led a group of hardy men from the congregation to form a more lasting foundation.

I think another three or four months and it would have collapsed, Michael said. We'd have lost it if we hadn't shored it up and put in a new footing. The wall could have come right on through all the way to the ground. We caught it just in time. I could say it was my idea to fix it, but I don't think so. I think the Lord put me there. And there were a lot of people involved in it.

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Keeping the faith for 170 years

Chinese citizens should have the freedom to practice their faith, to worship together, to establish religious venues, to use religious symbols, to publish religious books, and to disseminate religious faith, the consensus said.

Missionary work is currently illegal in China while Beijings State Administration for Religious Affairs tightly controls the construction and administration of places of worship.

The statement comes at a time of growing pessimism over the Communist Partys handling of religious matters.

Many Christians fear Beijing is planning a nationwide campaign to slow the growth of their community, which now counts tens of millions of members.

Those concerns have been fuelled by the total or partial demolition of at least half a dozen churches in Zhejiang province and a spate of detentions across China. Tan Jianhua and Zhang Yuncheng, two members of Beijings Shouwang church, have been in custody since last Sunday on charges of disturbing public order, said Jin Tianming, a church leader.

Beijing also faces criticism over what some describe as its heavy-handed treatment of Muslims in the far western province of Xinjiang.

During a tour of one Xinjiang mosque earlier this month, Xi Jinping, the president, said he hoped, religious people would continue their patriotic tradition and take a clear stance against extremism.

"I believe Xinjiang's religious people are righteous, he was quoted as saying by state media.

However, activists accuse the Communist Party of meddling in local religious practices and fear such interference will worsen following three deadly terrorist attacks that Beijing has blamed on extremists from Xinjiang.

Teng Biao, a respected human rights lawyer who signed the consensus, said activists were increasingly concerned about Beijings treatment of Christians, Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.

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Beijing urged to respect religious freedom amid 'anti-church' crackdown