February 28, 2010 - Fifty years ago this very day, the congregation took leave of the old St. Mark's building and moved in procession up the street. They paused at the door to recite Psalm 24, and then entered the building as they sang Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty. This was the beginning of a week of events where the whole community was welcomed to experience worship in this beautiful space.
As far back as anyone could remember, the people of St. Mark's had been hoping for a new church. A long-cherished dream came true with the dedication service and the initial uses of this structure. Funds had begun to be accumulated by 1929, funds that were for the most part lost in the ensuing depression. The trials of World War II further delayed the dream, as well as the departure of long-time Pastor J. Ray Houser.
Almost every person who enters the nave for the first time utters one word, “Wow!” The architect wanted us to be struck with the awe of God, his majesty, and honor. Our eyes are drawn up, first to the cross as the saving event of our faith, and then to the great ribs of the room which shelter us as would a ship in a storm.
In the center aisle, we are on a path of the Christian life from the entry door to the altar of Holy Communion. Along the way, the windows to our right (south side) from the Willet Studios of Philadelphia depict the various parts of the worship service, and the windows to our left (north side) remind us of how our faith guides all that we do during the rest of the week. The windows that were installed in several stages from 1962-68 are made with chunks of thick glass that have been faceted in order to gather light even more brilliantly. The pieces are held solidly in place in a matrix of poured epoxy. The older style of thin stained glass pieces held together by strips of lead is used in the 1949 windows that were reinstalled in the chapel.
As we enter the narthex, we realize that the architect T. Norman Mansell has given us a rather confined space with a very low ceiling. He did not intend that we spend much time there, but step directly into the nave. As we approach the nave doors, we note the series of etchings on the glass dividing wall. These etchings are of six Milestones in our Christian life: Holy Baptism, Confirmation, verbal proclamation, Holy Communion, Marriage, and the Funeral Service.
With the coming of Pastor Frederick Hasskarl, planning began again. The congregation had enlarged its vision of worship and Christian education, and needed a building to match the vision. In the fifty years since then, we can see that the ideas of the congregation and architect for the future have indeed served us well.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church |
142 Market Street Williamsport, Pennsylvania |
A dozen years ago we made some minor alterations in the nave, which we believe are still in keeping with the architect's vision. The communion rail was moved to the nave level to make it more accessible. The rail was made removable for the sake of flexibility for concerts and other occasions. The choir pews were replaced with individual chairs that can be positioned wherever needed. As an innovation, the House of Grace was constructed to house in one place the chief Means of Grace: the pulpit Bible, the Body and Blood of Christ, and the Oil of Baptism and its shell. We also added the sanctuary candle, and reused the four evangelists glass panels from the 1949 chapel.
Although it had been recommended by Luther almost 500 years ago, very few altars before 1965 were moved away from the eastern wall. St. Mark's took this step in 1960 ahead of others. The organ screen above the altar bears plaques that were hand-carved by a Philadelphia designer Val Sigstedt. No one has been able to explain the order of the placement of the plaques.
As we turn from the altar, the great west window becomes visible, Christ with his arms raised in prayer and blessing. It is of very unique construction; the design is of glass when viewed from the interior of the church, and it is a glorious mosaic when viewed from outdoors. The tower beside the nave carries a carillon of 10 bells that were cast in Holland and proclaim the Gospel in song to the whole community.
There are always things to do in caring for a building. There are roofs to replace, heating systems to renew, air leaks to be sealed, dampness and insects to be kept at bay, and more. But the integrity of the architect's design remains, and continues to provide us with a wonderful space for the proclamation of the Gospel in word and music. As Bach always prefaced his compositions: Soli Deo Gloria , To God alone the glory.
