Along A Country Road....for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Countryside with rolling hills...

A perfect setting for the

Swiss Alp, Texas Lutheran Church.

 

 

A small part of it's history,

is recorded on the Texas Historical Marker

 

I've photographed and written about this church

 in a previous post.

Click

HERE

 

Even though the grass is meticulously mowed,

I still think of this spot as the

 "Church in the Wildwood"

 

 

"How sweet on a clear, Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh, come to the church in the vale."

 

Enjoy your Sunday

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking today with others

 from around the world.

Click

HERE

 

 

Three Crosses on a Hill..... for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Faith

 Prairie Life

 

Meggie Mac

 

Linking

 with others

from around the world.

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HERE 

to view

 

A View of Texas Bluebonnets for InSPIREd Sunday....

 

What could be more inspiring for Sunday Morning Worship....

 than a historical church,

in a field of wild bluebonnets.

 Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Dubina, Texas,

 was built in the Carpenter Gothic style, popular in rural communities.

 

Click

HERE

and

HERE

to read two previous posts, including the interior photos.

I promise you will not be disappointed.

 

It is one of the many "Painted Churches",

 all within a few miles of my home,

 located in the rich Blackland Prairie of South Central Texas. 

 

 

The Bluebonnet is our Texas State Flower.

 

 

 

Although these photos were taken a few weeks ago, today

I can still see faint patches of color along the way.

They are heavy with seed pods,

 ready to drop

 the promise

 of next years' blooms.

 

Enjoy your Sunday !

Meggie Mac

 

 

Joining others for this weeks'

inspired Sunday

Click

HERE 

To view other churches from around the world.

 

Dubina Texas Historical Painted Church.. ...for InSPIREd Sunday

 

It's easy to be inspired when walking the land around one of

The Painted Churches,

all within close proximity of my home.

 

 

Although the community population is only 44,

there is a Sunday Mass.

 

 

Anytime I have out of town guests,

I manage a tour of several of these churches.

The hand-painted interiors are exquisite.

As you can see, it is a remote location.

 

 

When you enter, the sky blue ceiling immediately catches your eye.

There are hundreds of tiny gold stars,

 hand-painted on the ceiling.

 

If you would like to see more of the interior,

please click HERE

There are more photos to share with you,

 from a previous post.

  

The doors are always open for viewing....but, at certain times of the day,

 a gate is placed before the inside entrance.

 

 

Such was the case today.

I had to literally lie flat on the floor,

place my camera lens through the bars,

to capture the above photo.

 

I would say it was well worth it....

 

Enjoy your Sunday.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking today with InSPIREd Sunday

Click HERE

to view other churches,

synagogues, cemeteries, and other religious buildings

from around the world. 

A Church Once Rolled on Logs...for InSPIREd Sunday

 

Can you imagine a building this size moved by rolling logs under it?

 

That is exactly what happened in 1873.

 

 

Of course, in 1873, the car and truck traffic was not an issue.

But, I live on this prairie....

 and I know these rolling hills must have been a challenge,

 for a move such as this.

 

 

Using the name Union Church, from 1885-1913,

several faiths shared this sanctuary.

It was reorganized in 1927 as First Baptist Church.

(Information obtained from: fayettecountyhistory.org/  )

 

 

 

So you are curious why there is a sign "Not An Entrance"...

I was, too.

Fortunately while I was taking the photographs, someone stepped outside the church.

It was the music director.

She was kind enough to give me a quick tour inside and explain the sign on the door.

The old church building is now being used as their Fellowship Hall,

 with entrance through the new construction.

 

 

What a wonderful way to tie the two buildings together.

While touring...she said the bell,

still in the old bell tower,

 is rung on Sunday morning.

 

 

The windows also remain in the 1800's structure.

 

 

The newest construction is where the Sunday Morning Services are held.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your Sunday...

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking with:

 

Click HERE

to view

other churches,

 synagogues, cemeteries, and other religious buildings

from around the world. 

Flatonia Texas United Methodist Church for InSPIREd Sunday

 

The United Methodist Church, a well-kept white framed church, is located in

Flatonia Texas, a small community of about 1,300 people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the only stained glass I could see.

 

 

 

The Texas Historical plaque provided the only history I could find on the church.

 Even the historical plaque seems vague using these words, "Founded about 1855".

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking first came the tree...then, the sidewalk.

Nice to see how they saved the tree

 

Before closing with this post,

I would like you to check (Czech) out the heritage

 of many of the residents.

 

 

With the Czech heritage in abundance here, 

 the Czech language has been passed down through the generations, as is

 in most of the towns that surround where I live.

 

Nearly 100 early settlements in Texas had Czech names,

with half still in existence today.

 

The Czhilispiel Festival

 has a very interesting story of how it was started,

 to fund a local student's medical education.

 

Click HERE

to read about it.

 

linking today with

 

Click HERE

to view other churches, synagogues, cemeteries,

 and other religious buildings

 from a round the world.

Historic Church in the Country....for InSPIREd Sunday

 

My plan this morning was to arrive early,

 before the service started.

I wanted to once again capture the sunrise on a steeple.

 

God had other plans.....

The rain started before daylight. 

It is still raining as I photograph.

 

 

The steeple is a formidable sight to see,

 situated in the middle of open ranch and farmland. 

 

 

The history of the church, dedicated in 1879, and the bell can be read HERE .

Quoting from this link, "It has rung joyously at weddings; it has rung somberly, announcing the declaration of wars, deaths, fires and other significant events in the community and the world."

It also was rung on September 11, 2001.

 

 

A Texas Historic Landmark plaque was placed on the church property in 1994.

 

 

It's almost 8:30am and a light rain is still coming down.

Members are beginning to arrive for the Sunday morning service.

 

 

The door is open....

If you hurry, you can still make the service.

Meggie Mac

 

Click HERE

to view other churches,

 synagogues, and other religious buildings

from around the world.

 

 

Faith, Hope and Charity.....for InSPIREd Sunday

 

How often do you see a new church under construction?

I would say, not often enough.

But, in truth, this is a re-build of an old structure....

an active African American Church since 1867.

 

 

If my sources are correct,

the building of the new structure

 was donated by a local successful builder.

 

This community I live in,

 continues to re-new my Faith and Hope

 for our future generations.

Meggie Mac

 

 

Click HERE

to view other churches, synagogues, and other religious buildings

 from around the world.

Evangelical Lutheran Church for InSPIREd Sunday

 

A small unassuming white church on a narrow country road.

 

In the late nineteenth century, Rutersville became a German Lutheran settlement.

During this time, a German-English elementary school, a free public school, was opened.

 

Members of the church have been meeting here since 1895.

 

 

No amount of "shooing" could make these vultures fly away. I tried....but they were still there when I finished photographing, in the 100 degree temperature.

 

 

Today's photos remind me of the beloved hymn written by the German theologian, Martin Luther.

 

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

based on Psalm 46

 

God is our Refuge and Strength

An Ever-present Help in Trouble.

 

Meggie Mac

 

 

Linking today with inspired Sunday. Click HERE to view other churches from around the world.