HONORING THE LEGACY OF FRANKLIN GROVE

More than 100 people from congregations across the district and as far away as Indiana and Arizona gathered on Sunday, March 12, for a final “farewell” service at Franklin Grove Church of the Brethren. The congregation voted last fall to stop holding regular worship services at the end of 2022, after their small numbers made it difficult to care for their large facility.

The day was filled with music, stories, laughter and tears, and good fellowship. Former pastors Tim and Donna Ritchey Martin and Diana Verhulst were in attendance, and several other former pastors sent written and video greetings. Many others shared their memories and reflections from the congregation’s long history, which began in 1845. Long-time member Jeanette Lahman, who now lives in Indiana, was able to attend and led the final hymn, “Move in Our Midst.”

After the service, Franklin Grove hosted all those attending for a time of refreshments and further sharing in the fellowship hall. Music, books, and other resources from the congregation’s life were available to be “adopted” and taken home.

A local group will be purchasing the property this month to use it as a Christian school. District conference will officially act on closure of the congregation in November.

A group from Franklin Grove will continue to oversee and care for the nearby Emmert Cemetery and chapel as a separately incorporated board. The chapel will be available to use for functions in the future as needed. Our prayers continue with the members and friends of Franklin Grove in this time of endings and transition.

Some videos from the service can be viewed at YouTube. And following is an original poem that Diana Verhulst shared at the service:

The Shade of Her
Always blue
She’s more blue today
Sensing the end of her duties
Holding up the heavens
Protecting those within
Being. Just being.
For structure
For safety
For purpose
For demonstrations of devotion.
By acts of pure love.

Merely inanimate
But pulsing with heart
With duty
With responsibility
Standing sturdy through the years
Never failing, always willing, ... no, eager:
She opened her doors
So her destiny would be fulfilled
To be as a shroud
To echo the prayers
To absorb the grief
To press the memories
Into decades of comfort.

This place.
Now with a new purpose
For they are not yet done,
These proud, sturdy timbers…
These shy, blue walls.
Now, laughter and innocence
Will flood her again.
Gone for so long … she was forlorn.
More echoes, much younger!
Welcome, innocents.
Unstained by legacies.
Lured by multitudes of destinies yet unknown.
Yes, she is happy.
This place.
|Your place.
Blue. Still blue.
And yet … now … New.