Carrying the Cross

On Nov. 30, 2004, following a brief devotional service that included the singing of “The Old Rugged Cross” and a focus on 1 Corinthians 1:18, a wonderful intergenerational crowd from Greenville FMC (IL) carried their sanctuary cross a mile and a half — from its original home (it was constructed and placed in 1970) to the church’s new location on East State Road 140.

Much of the journey was made on foot, but for the portion along the highway a tractor pulled the cross on a wagon. “As we arrived in the new sanctuary we joined in celebrating the risen Christ by singing ‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’ and praying for those who will be impacted by the message of the risen Christ in our new facility,” recalls Pastor Darrel Riley. “It was a wonderful day of worship, celebration and fellowship.”