Waynesboro

The Waynesboro Presbyterian Church sits with historic majesty on the main street of town. Visiting for the first time, I noticed its steeple several blocks before I arrived. I soon discovered a wonderfully welcoming back door entrance, along with ample parking, directly behind the church. Like many, healthy "downtown" churches today, the Waynesboro Church has done an excellent job of redoing their building. Often these old, main street churches were built to reflect a time when church people appreciated a stroll along main street and direct access to the sanctuary. The architecture was frequently directed toward the main street, the back bone of small town America. The church was often set apart from the main street by steep steps up to the sanctuary, very symbolic of rising up to worship. This symbolism is completely obsolete today, and churches often must rethink. Now with our automobile culture and the scattering of our homes away from main street, we always prefer parking lots to on-street parking. Main streets do not connect people together as they once did so the church must try to do it.

The Waynesboro Church is another brilliant expression of this massive culture change. Their new entry space, with the covered outdoor entrance off of their parking lots, and their bright, light, and spacious greeting area, "Jessen Hall," is fabulous. Without affecting their sanctuary, the congregation has effectively remodeled their church building to create a very inviting space. It is another example of intelligent architectural design which both makes an innovative theological statement and remains very true to the tradition of the church on main street. Of course, accessibility throughout the building is the symbolism we want today, reflecting our theology of hospitality. Congratulations Waynesboro on your successful remodeling and, of course, the good news that it is already paid for, and a full tithe of the Capital Campaign was directed to mission work!

I was delighted to lead worship with the Waynesboro congregation. Being a detail person, I greatly appreciated the care with which I was prepared for worship and particularly the care and reverence which went into the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. There was a wonderful, good spirit in the congregation. I perceive the congregation to be in a very good place to move into the future which God has prepared, after the long and successful service of Chuck Jessen.
In addition to their architectural innovation, the Waynesboro Church also has a deep and obvious commitment to extending the Gospel of Christ around the world through their generous mission commitment. Waynesboro is also on the front edge of our changed way of doing mission work, with our new emphasis on personal relationships and mutual support. We no longer simply throw money at projects. Now congregations across the church are creating ongoing, intentional, long-term, personal relationships with people doing ministry all around the globe. This personal commitment to mission is a very evident, high priority of the Waynesboro Church and reflects a transformation in the way our denomination is doing mission. Their mission bulletin board, the likes of which I have seen in many churches, includes a photograph of all their mission partners and concretely reflects our new theology of mission. Waynesboro Presbyterian Church, Thank you for your commitment to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ!