Scott’s Column: Restoring the Light

During our fall worship season, we are exploring Awe.  The psychologist Dacher Keltner writes about how our experiences of awe and wonder get turned into ritual, art, and culture.  And so these become “archives of awe”–passing down those experiences to new generations.  Churches, I noted, are excellent examples of this.

Elsewhere I’ve talked about how churches, during this era of global crises, must become communities of witness, vital at preserving the best aspects of humanity, including our rich traditions, our spiritual practices, our commitments to care and community, our service to others, our work for justice and peace, and the beauty of our artistry.  These are among the Christian churches greatest strengths and are among the gifts we share with humanity.

Our sanctuary here at First Central is an archive of awe–the soaring rafters, the dazzling play of sunlight through the stained glass windows, the magnificent organ, the caring people.

Among the unique artistic touches are the decorative pendant lights that hang down over the seating.  Those lights are original to the building and were a custom design by the great New York firm Rambusch.  Click this link and see some of the great projects Rambusch has worked on over the years, from the torch of the Statue of Liberty to the 9/11 Memorial.

They were founded in 1898 by a Danish immigrant craftsman Frode Rambusch.  As they describe it, “We make beautiful objects.”  They continue, “This interplay of art, design, and craft lives in the time-honored guild tradition, now a rarity in the United States.”

If you want a more close-up look at one of these lights, one hangs over the stairway in the glass entrance facing 36th Street.  Brad Milton rescued that one from the church’s basement a little over a dozen years ago, restored it, wired it for LED bulbs, and hung it in that spot.  Looking closely at that one, you can see the metal isn’t only gold, but there is also blue and red.

These lights are marvelous, beautiful objects of fine artistry and craft.  They are among the treasures of this congregation.

You may have noticed that a few of the sanctuary lights aren’t working.  It’s not just that the bulbs are burned out, we’ve recently learned that the fixtures need rewiring.  And with that, an update to newer, more efficient inner workings.  Restoring and updating the lights will both save money in the long run and further our values around sustainability and greening the building.  While also maintaining the artistic beauty of these custom crafted objects.

This lighting restoration project is among the new items that we are looking to fund in 2025.  As you consider your pledge for next year, think about how you can help us restore and maintain these artistic treasures to be archives of awe for generations to come.