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Abundant Life Church gets faceliftBy MaryHelen Swanson Since they acquired the church building in 1999- they moved in the first Sunday in January-the efforts were aimed at making the building looks as important to others as it is to the worshippers there. Since last summer, the congregation has been working to brighten their church. They painted the interior, put in new carpeting and new chairs. This year theyíve been working on painting the exterior. They gathered their paint cans and brushes and got busy. But when they got higher than most of them cared to climb, they asked how they would paint the tower. A member of the congregation, Barrett Hanson, already familiar with painting in high places, said, ìIíll get out there and do it.î And he did. Youíll find him hanging around the bell tower this week as he puts on the finishing touches. Does the height bother him? Not at all, heís used to higher places such as water towers. ìIíd rather be up there,î he said during a break last week, ìthan on stage.î The church building itself is old, dating back to 1888. It may be one of the oldest buildings left in town. The steeple was put on in 1893 and a bell was purchased and put in place in August that same year. The church belonged to the Swedish Lutheran congregation, later known as Trinity Lutheran. They took the bell with them when they moved to their new church building east of town several years ago. ìWe love being in North Branch,î said Pastor Kevin Haseltine, as he viewed the work of Hanson last week with this reporter. He said the church loves doing community events and wishes it could do more. Any time we can get the community together for and event is a valuable things, he said. Average Sunday attendance at Abundant Life is 240. ©ECM Post Review |