Church in the Windshield

Church in the Windshield

 

Enterprise United Methodist Church

September 16, 2018

Enterprise, Kansas is a quiet little mid-western town located about six miles east of Abilene just off old highway 40. The Methodist Church is located in the western part of Enterprise only a few blocks away from the railroad. So during the summer months there is the familiar sound of a train whistle, a couple of times a day, as the Abilene Smoky Valley tourist train comes to town. From the church, we can almost hear people talking as they disembark the train and walk up the hill to tour the Hoffman Gris mill.

This stately old Methodist Church has been serving the community for one hundred and fifty years.  The Sunday that we attended the church service just happened to be the day of the one hundred and fifty year celebration. We entered the sanctuary and immediately experienced a sense of worship and awe. 

Our eyes centered on the beautiful pipe organ and on two flags; the American flag on the left and the Christian flag on the right (exactly as it should be in a church).  Placement of the flags indicated that the church was patriotic and God centered.  A quaint chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the pride of the pipes, the two flags and the altar below.  High up and to the right, a TV monitor displayed a picture of the church etched in the edifice of time and service to the Enterprise community.

The message of the picture: This church founded on the principals, of God (the altar) praised God through music (the pipe organ) and illuminated with God’s presence (the chandelier) stayed current with the times (the TV monitor).

Vivian Reschke, a member of the congregation, presented a very interesting history of the Enterprise Methodist Church.  We were very impressed with the amount of research that had gone into the presentation, especially the history of the pastors.

The Retired Rev. Jerry Sharp, singer, song writer and former pastor of the Church shared some thoughts and music.  We could feel and experience some of the rich and colorful history of his ministry in the church.

Daniel Vandenburg, pastor of the church is very sincere and dedicated to God. He has an extensive background in theology due to the fact he served churches of different denominations.  Thus he has the ability to accept people in their understanding of God. Pastor Vendenburg reminded us that the Enterprise Methodist church started with German immigrants; gave a welcome in German and then in English.  Needless to say, we were impressed. Pastor Vandenburg inspired us with a very thought provoking message entitled: “Following the Cloud.”

The congregation sang that great old hymn Faith of Our Fathers at the end of the service. What a great way to end the service; it gave me “goose bumps.”

Well, the old clock on the back wall marked time with every tic-toc, decades of time past, days of silence between services, and an eternal hope for the future. With a sense of mystic awe, Sheron and I are ready to climb back into the motorhome and hit the open road. We are ready to do again the thing we like to do best, look for churches to visit, in the windshield.  If you would like for us to visit your church, let us know and perhaps one day, we will see your church in our windshield. Until then, stay the faith and keep on ticking!

Ron & Sheron, drivers behind the windshield

Epilogue: If you would like to visit a unique little mid-western church, stop by the Enterprise United Methodist Church. The church is located at 210 West South Street in Enterprise, Kansas. Worship time is at 10:15 a.m.