The Weight Of The Cross
Stories
56 Stories For Preaching
The restoration of First Community Church had been completed.
The 150-year-old house of worship with its fresh paint and newly-
installed multi-colored stained-glass windows seemed to glow
under the warm April sun. Inside the sanctuary, the old hand-made
pews had been carefully refinished and heavily lacquered. Bright
red cushions adorned the pews and pulpit furnishings and were
matched by thick, wall-to-wall carpeting. New paraments covered
the pulpit, lectern and communion table, and a large white metal
cross had been attached to the high wall behind the new choir
pews, just above a magnificent window depicting Christ standing
on a hilltop preaching to the multitudes.
Pastor John surveyed the sanctuary with great pride as he
stood before a shiny lectern and opened the church's first
business meeting in the remodeled building.
"I think our first item of business should be the discussion
of brass nameplates for the new windows," said George Hendriks.
"I agree!" Harold Wickenham jumped to his feet. "I would like
the large one in front, the one with Jesus giving the Sermon on
the Mount."
"No!" shouted Harriet Munford. "That window is mine! I was
chairperson of the stained-glass window committee, and I think I
should have first choice!"
"That's ridiculous!" Percy Winville stood, waving his arms for
attention. "Nobody has given as much as I have for this
restoration. And besides, my great-great grandfather was an
original founder of this church! I want his name under that
window!"
"Please -- please!" begged Pastor John. "This is not the way to
decide the issue! Anyway, I assumed that the names of all the
church's pastors would be placed under that window!"
"I will not stand for this!" Henrietta Anvil stepped heavily
on Harry Johnson's toes as she struggled out of a pew and
positioned herself directly in front of Pastor John. "I give more
money to this church than Percy Winville, and if anybody gets a
name under that window, it will ...."
She was interrupted by a loud tearing noise as the top of the
large, metal cross separated from the wall. The church members
watched in shocked silence as the top of the cross fell, swinging
down to crash loudly into the massive stained-glass window. The
window shattered completely as small pieces of colored glass flew
through the air, causing Pastor John and Henrietta Anvil to fall
on the floor, scrambling under a front pew for cover. From the
safety of their refuge, they stared at the upside-down cross
which dangled in the empty space of the window that was once
filled by the image of Christ.
The 150-year-old house of worship with its fresh paint and newly-
installed multi-colored stained-glass windows seemed to glow
under the warm April sun. Inside the sanctuary, the old hand-made
pews had been carefully refinished and heavily lacquered. Bright
red cushions adorned the pews and pulpit furnishings and were
matched by thick, wall-to-wall carpeting. New paraments covered
the pulpit, lectern and communion table, and a large white metal
cross had been attached to the high wall behind the new choir
pews, just above a magnificent window depicting Christ standing
on a hilltop preaching to the multitudes.
Pastor John surveyed the sanctuary with great pride as he
stood before a shiny lectern and opened the church's first
business meeting in the remodeled building.
"I think our first item of business should be the discussion
of brass nameplates for the new windows," said George Hendriks.
"I agree!" Harold Wickenham jumped to his feet. "I would like
the large one in front, the one with Jesus giving the Sermon on
the Mount."
"No!" shouted Harriet Munford. "That window is mine! I was
chairperson of the stained-glass window committee, and I think I
should have first choice!"
"That's ridiculous!" Percy Winville stood, waving his arms for
attention. "Nobody has given as much as I have for this
restoration. And besides, my great-great grandfather was an
original founder of this church! I want his name under that
window!"
"Please -- please!" begged Pastor John. "This is not the way to
decide the issue! Anyway, I assumed that the names of all the
church's pastors would be placed under that window!"
"I will not stand for this!" Henrietta Anvil stepped heavily
on Harry Johnson's toes as she struggled out of a pew and
positioned herself directly in front of Pastor John. "I give more
money to this church than Percy Winville, and if anybody gets a
name under that window, it will ...."
She was interrupted by a loud tearing noise as the top of the
large, metal cross separated from the wall. The church members
watched in shocked silence as the top of the cross fell, swinging
down to crash loudly into the massive stained-glass window. The
window shattered completely as small pieces of colored glass flew
through the air, causing Pastor John and Henrietta Anvil to fall
on the floor, scrambling under a front pew for cover. From the
safety of their refuge, they stared at the upside-down cross
which dangled in the empty space of the window that was once
filled by the image of Christ.
