JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Two years to the day that a San Marco church went up in flames, the congregation celebrates the new sanctuary with a grand service.
Flames visible for miles shot up into the air in the early morning hours of December 23, 2007. The fire, cause still unknown, destroyed Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. Almost immediately, the pastor declared that the church would be rebuilt and the fire would not tarnish the 60 year-old church spirit.
Just days before Christmas, the congregation held a service in the parking lot vowing that they would begin rebuilding that very day. Members of the community, neighboring churches and complete strangers, came together to help assist in the rebuilding process.
A statement released by the church noted the loss was stunning. The stained glass window with the Welcoming Christ that had greeted and comforted all northbound traffic on Hendricks Avenue was completely destroyed.
In addition to the window and structure of the church, the congregation lost everything inside instruments, choir furnishings and robes, Bibles, hymnals, communion accessories, altar and all accoutrement's, pulpit, gallery contents, narthex, historical portraits and every single bit of paraphernalia that goes into a place of worship.
The church will celebrate the official re-opening tonight and for the following days during Christmas.
Wednesday, Dec. 23 - 7 p.m. -- Handel's Messiah, performed by the Sanctuary Choir and members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday.
Thursday, Dec. 24 - 4 p.m. - Family Christmas Eve service
11 p.m. - "The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols," patterned after the traditional King's College service in Cambridge, England.
Sunday, Dec. 27 -
8:45 a.m. - The Gathering a contemporary-style worship service
11 a.m. - Traditional worship service
Sunday, Jan. 10 - 10:30 a.m. - formal dedication of the new sanctuary with one service combining the two styles of worship, featuring musician Kyle Matthews.
