One of the saddest events we can imagine is the closing of a house of worship. Our own childhood church in Beaver County was closed three or four years ago and attending that final service where we were baptized and many family members married or buried was rather traumatic.

Harder yet would be experiencing the same thing in the church where you are currently a worshiping member. Such will be the experience on the 27th of February for the congregation of Grace@Calvary Lutheran in Butler. One Hundred and thirty-two years of praying, singing and worshiping as a congregation is coming to an end.

But as sad as that is, even in bringing its history to an end it has found a service-above-self answer to the needs in the town they have served in the calling of Christians. The congregation and the church leadership have recognized that Butler, perhaps, doesn’t need one more congregation, as much as there is another tremendous need to serve.

Many specialists report that one of the biggest growths in this country during this miserable pandemic has been the demand for mental health care. Grace@Calgary’s closing may have been the answer to many prayers as Glade Run Lutheran Services will be the new owner of the building — and guess what is one of the wonderful services they provide: By the blessing of Amazing Grace, they provide mental health services. Blessings on top of blessings and abundant in His gracious gifts.

We have friends at Grace and we were fortunate here to help with its announcement. Our initial reaction was really to be quite sad and suffer feelings of bitterness that such a thing was happening. But now we see that, as always, there is a plan and it’s a wonderful plan.

The many years that the beautiful church on the corner of the Diamond would continue as always to serve the Lord, Butler and the people who need it most. The parishioners are saying both goodbye and thank you to a building that served them well, but also praising God for leading them in the right path that brought them to this conclusion.

Many people will continue to be served, and the church’s mission will go on.

— RV