Supporting Christian History

Local Churches Need Building Repair

I write this not for the politically-minded folk but for the more religious and more fraternal type readers who are not so interested in politics.

Arguments over history annoy me when it comes from academic snobs who too often ignore the role of religion. America is exceptional because it was founded by courageous, religious zealots out to spread the word of God to save humanity and free it from the bondage of sin and to promote prosperity. No other country has ever been fostered by such wild and wide exchange of arguments over conscience without engaging in war. Americans are so used to arguing, many are in the habit of saying: let us just agree to disagree or live and let live. For many, the habit is ubiquitous. Yet so many historians just want to talk about racism, nationalism and war and ignore all the rest.

For Omaha, we have numerous Churches of various faiths, particularly in the older parts of the City, as well as other houses of faith. (https://northomahahistory.com/2015/12/21/a-history-of-churches-in-north-omaha/) Many of the churches are deteriorating. Some have building or maintenance funds but many do not. I wish there was more agreement on people to repair and maintain such buildings but it seems many are just falling apart and turning to dust. There are exceptions but not many.

The Kountz Memorial Lutheran Church at 2650 Farnam Street, (https://www.kmlchurch.org/ scroll down to the 3D walk-through presentation) has removed the two large stained glass windows from their Church for repair as the windows were in bad condition.

The wood holding the windows in, had rotted and had to be removed as well. The Church is waiting on the return of the windows but it is at a cost. They established a building fund for the windows. They are also a historical site (https://mynehistory.com/items/show/163).

 
Some Churches are resurrected from past usage by new groups or factions. The Immaculate Conception Church at 2708 S 24th St (https://www.latinmassomaha.org/latin-mass) has been around since 1926 but in 2007, Archbishop Eldon Curtis entrusted the parish to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter to conduct Traditional Latin Rites. I have been to the Church and it needs some very serious repairs. They have a building fund as well.  However, they actually have a very old bowling alley (https://www.latinmassomaha.org/rec-center) and a favorite meat store is across the street (http://www.stoysich.com/)! See images below.

 

Even fraternal organizations have difficulty in maintaining their buildings. Free Masons, which assert the belief of God and good will, have a lodge in North Omaha which became part of the Prince Hall Lodge. (https://northomahahistory.com/2014/11/28/a-history-of-omahas-druid-hall/)

These institutions carried the ideas which fostered our nation but they are often subject to degradation and time. I hope people will look around and visit some of these places and offer support. So if you know of any religious building, or fraternity building or other place of religious significance, let me know and I will consider a further write up.