My recent train journey across five states afforded me a spectacular view of all the best and worst that America has to offer. The acres of yellow sunflowers, the rolling hills and the oil wells of North Dakota, the vast expanse and flatness of Montana, the magnitude and breathtaking heights of the Rockies and the little towns nestled along the water with views of the Olympic Mountains in Washington were the good parts. The less than scenic views were the mounds of old tires, the heaps of rusting car bodies, the unending displays of graffiti, and sadly, the abandoned and forgotten little churches.

 Those once vital and busy buildings had a history. Some group of people years ago determined that they needed a church and so they built one. They painted it and made sure the bell in the steeple worked to summon the people. They hired a pastor. They formed committees. They held important events in their little churches, weddings, baptisms, confirmations and funerals. They had fundraisers, suppers, rummage sales, bake sales and picnics. They loved their little churches and willingly took care of them.

So what happened? Did the people move away? Did the town experience an economic downturn? Did folks just quit going to church? Didn’t anyone care?

 Church buildings, like children and relationships, require care - constant and sometimes expensive care. Our church requires care and we have done a lot of it. Now we are being asked to do more. Do we care?

 I want the little Valley children who come up front for their special Sunday sermon to be able to return in fifty years to show their children where they were baptized, went to Bible Camp and were confirmed. I want the couples who were married here to show their grandchildren where that important event took place. I want little kids to come here as adults and remember their grandpa’s funeral that took place in our sanctuary. I want the wonderful legacy of Valley to be sustained for the future. We need to respond to the needs if we want Valley to be there for all the coming generations.

 That will happen if we care. I care. I know you do too.  

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