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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
February 2002 |
Country
Church:
Valentine church, members and mural show Christ's love
By Matthew Oates
- Valentine UMC, Michiana District
- Pastor: The Rev. Titus Speicher, Jr.
- Members: 28
- Location: At the corner of LaGrange County roads 365 South and 200 East
VALENTINE, Ind. -- The red-bricked church that sits at the corner of LaGrange County roads 365 South and 200 East radiates love to this northern Indiana farming community.
And if that doesn't warm you up during the cold Hoosier winter, then the mural inside the Valentine UMC might melt your heart. The mural of Christ praying in the garden reminds everyone of the ultimate sacrifice of love.
The Rev. Titus Speicher, Jr.'s sister-in-law, Mary Speicher, repainted the mural. It is about four feet by five feet and is painted on the wall directly behind the pulpit for all to see. "Our church has always been a praying church, and the mural just goes along with that," says Janie Schrock, who serves as a pianist/treasurer/trustee.
Schrock says that with a small church when one member hurts, everyone hurts. When someone hurts and asks for prayer, members, even children, will join Rev. Speicher around the altar. "Ninety-five percent of the time, 100 percent of the church is there," says Schrock.
The framed mural was one of the many things that have been fixed up at Valentine UMC since it reopened more than 17 years ago.
When Speicher felt the call to go into ministry, he went. But they didn't give him just any church; they gave him a church that was closed. His job was to reopen the doors.
When he received the keys and went in, he knew the challenge. "It was piled full of junk when we got there," recalls Speicher.
After 17 years, it's been refurbished with new heating and cooling systems, new pews, carpeting and the restored mural. "It's comfortable."
The cornerstone proclaims that the First Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1880 under trustees' W. J. Rowe, J. A. Drake, F. W. Draggoo, H. S. Elderkin and J.S. McKibben watch. In 1952, Valentine Church saw a "carriage house" style fellowship hall added. It even has a playground for younger members.
But there might never have been a Valentine Church, let alone a Valentine, Ind. When originally suggested, the name was to be Palestine. But the Postal Service (which closed the town's post office years ago) rejected the name and chose Valentine instead. In a side note, from an aerial view, the town closely resembles a heart.
A mauve door is how you enter the heart of the church, the sanctuary. The main wing has four opaque-styled stained glass windows arching towards the heavens framed with outcropped brick. There used to be a bell tower, but it was removed for safety reasons.
Sundays are busy for the multi-generational church with a fellowship time, Sunday school at 9:15 and worship at 10 a.m. Fellowship events are planned throughout the year, and mission projects are done in connection with the district and conference. When Speicher is not working full-time selling stone monuments, he can be found planning the Sunday service. "You never know what's going to happen," says Speicher. "It's just different on Sundays."
Last updated on 01/14/2004