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The Evangelism and Service of Calvary: Past and Present

Dear Friends,

In last week’s e-news, I shared correspondence with The Rev. Randolph Cooper (retired), son of Calvary’s rector from 1938 to 1960, The (late) Rev. Francis Cooper. More recently, he shared a photo of his parents and the following memories:

I came across a bunch of old photographs all taken in the first several years of my father’s ministry at Calvary. Mom and Dad moved there in 1938. I am attaching a picture taken at their first service. They certainly do look somber.

The rectory was on Lexington Avenue. Shortly after I was born in June of 1940, the home on Lexington was sold and the new rectory was 1117 Bath Avenue where we lived for the rest of Dad’s ministry in Ashland, which ended in 1960.

Calvary was a wonderful church in which to grow up. Our youth program was the largest in Ashland. For several years there was a monthly dance in the parish hall for the young people. Youth from many of the other churches also participated. Those were the great years for Calvary and for Ashland. Ashland Oil was booming, ARMCO Steel was booming, and the two Solvay plants across the river were booming. The population was 30,000-plus. It is hard for me to accept the fact that now the population is some 10,000 less than what it was in the 1950s.

Calvary was and still is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. The carvings behind the altar and around the pulpit are truly museum quality.

I want to thank you for putting Susan and me on your mailing list. I do so enjoy reading about what is going on in the life of the congregation.

Ashland, like so many towns in our region, has seen a decline in population in more recent years primarily because of the relocation or reduction of once-vital industries. Its churches have experienced a corresponding decline. Recently, however, Braidy Industries announced plans to locate an aluminum plant in Greenup County. Those jobs, and jobs in related support businesses, offer the promise of the beginning of economic renewal in our area.

It will be important for us to keep our eyes open for opportunities to increase our presence through evangelism and service in our community during this time of new hope. It is not feasible to try to recreate Calvary’s boom in the mid-1900s; instead, it is time to discern new ministries, collaborative ministries, that extend the reach of our hands and feet and other resources for the glory of God among our neighbors.

One small, initial step is our collaboration with Centenary United Methodist Church and Hope Central (a ministry of Central Baptist Church) on August 19. An Ice Cream Social, including games with prizes, assistance to neighbors-in-need, and a strong person-to-person presence from the churches, will reach out to people near to us – another message of hope.

Calvary’s participation includes gathering (new) white socks, underwear, and T-shirts in kids’ sizes to combine with similar donations from the other churches to offer families with children returning to school. The initiative at Calvary is being coordinated by Junior Warden Izak McKenzie, who needs volunteers to prepare the clothing for distribution and to staff our table during the event, held near Centenary.

Please volunteer to help (see signup sheet in the parish hall), and don’t forget to pick up a pack or two of underthings to drop in the basket for the next four Sundays! Ask friends, neighbors, and relatives for donations! The collection has taken on the character of a friendly competition; let’s show folks how mighty a small congregation can be!

Wishing you every blessing,
Mtr. TJ

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