Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Old Rugged Belfry

24th008

On an evening before Memorial Day, Husband and I drove to the country church cemetery where his parents and grandparents are buried. Dusk was nearing so I immediately walked to the front of the church to get a photo of the steeple before darkness descended completely. The photo below is the first one I took. Just a few minutes later, I happened to look up at the belfry again and noticed the lighted red neon cross had switched ON!

24th004 This old belfry reminds me of the hymn The Old Rugged Cross, which I’ve known since childhood. My mom used to play it on the piano and we would gather around and sing along. I took the words very literally as a child……I imagined walking around with an armful of trophies, and hugging an old splintery wooden cross.

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On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain

REFRAIN:

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it someday for a crown.

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(Listen to The Old Rugged Cross on Cyberhymnal.org)

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Hey……betcha didn’t know I had started another blog at the same time as Midlife by Farmlight…….it is called The Hymn Hideout. Evidently, I was feeling quite ambitious that day. Midlife by Farmlight eventually took over all of my blogging attention. I haven’t posted on the hymn blog for over a year and I should probably just delete the blog for I hardly ever remember that it even exists.

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A blessed Sunday to you!

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5 comments:

Gail said...

I attended church with you today.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

actually i think i found your blog through your other blog so dont delete it...I love the old rugged cross and it is my mothers favorite too!

Leenie said...

Hmmmm. That neon sign is just a bit weird to me. But if it gets people to wander in the door...it is a good thing. Sunday Blessings!

Caution/Lisa said...

Don't delete that other blog, please :)

I am a neon-lover. Can you believe that? I have a blog friend who has quite a collection of pix of neon signs. She will love this one.

Jeannelle said...

Hi, Gail,

Hope you had a pleasant Sunday!

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Hi, Laura,

Really? You found the hymn blog before this one? Cool.

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Hi, Leenie,

Yeah, I was so surprised to see the lighted cross all of a sudden. It wasn't noticeable at all before.

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Hi, Caution,

That's interesting.....a collector of neon sign photos. Neato. They are pretty cool, really, though I don't know that I've seen one on a church before.