Blog

We’re having a look at all the crosses at FUPC for the Lent 2024 theme: “Lift High the Cross.” This is Beth’s cross. Beth Benham is the FUPC Office Manager. This cross was made of matchsticks by her aunt. Each match was burnt, then cut to a precise size and glued into place to form… Read more »

Harry Vandergriff carved this wooden form of the PCUSA Seal. You may see the seal in other formats around FUPC, too. But just what is the seal? It’s a registered trademark of the Presbyterian Church USA, comprising four symbolic elements: the cross, scripture, a dove, and flames. The seal was adopted in 1985 and was… Read more »

FUPC is home to many crosses! One is at the Labyrinth. Walking the Labyrinth is an ancient spiritual practice, generally agreed to have been around for 4,000 years. FUPC’s labyrinth is a classical labyrinth, designed for walking meditation. There are many traditional ways to use a labyrinth. One classic way is to divide the experience… Read more »

First School is a community ministry of FUPC. Their logo includes a cross to show that they are a faith-based school. FUPC has been involved with several schools over the years The Creative School was housed at FUPC for many years and there was a program called “Tot’s Time” which was a mothers morning out… Read more »

The Rev. Samuel Wilson Davies served the church for 28 years, beginning in 1874. In 1899, the Session honored him by commissioning a stained glass window, which was installed above the choir loft in the church at the time. It is now in place in Fellowship Hall. ” In 1874 Reverend Samuel Wilson Davies accepted… Read more »

In the Calvin building, outside of the classroom used for the Present Word Bible Study class, there hangs a sort of tapestry commemorating the fusion of the three churches that combined to create the present day First United Presbyterian Church. It has the names of three churches: Central Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, and Cumberland Presbyterian, with… Read more »

The Columbarium on the east side of the campus features multiple crosses. “Columbarium” comes from the Latin word “columba,” meaning dove. Columbaria were originally dovecotes, special structures with niches for doves to live in. Now a columbarium is a place for the respectful storage of funerary urns. This has been a Christian custom for thousands… Read more »

For Lent 2024, FUPC’s theme is “Lift High the Cross.” We’ll be exploring the crosses you can find at the church throughout the Lenten season. How many can you find? Our first example is the cross in the Sanctuary. It hangs from the ceiling, dominating the space and reminding us all that Jesus Christ gave… Read more »