Downey California Area Churches Booklet

Booklet
Downey, California Area Churches

This booklet is a compilation of blog posts from "Churches On Sundays" at http://www.churchesonsundays.blogspot.com of churches in the Downey area. 

Title Page

The Booklet "Downey Area Churches" has been donated to the Downey Historical Society.

Map and Contents

Cover: First Baptist Church
              8348 3rd Street
              Downey, California
              Blog Post-7/21/13

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

1330 Lakeshore Avenue

(Yahoo Images)

Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
Oakland, California

"Part of the Oakland geologic map showing Lake Merritt and surrounding geologic units"

(Link 4.)

"Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966." (Link 3.)

"In June, 1984, two churches with long histories in central Oakland, First United Methodist Church, and St. Stephens United Methodist Church, merged to create Lake Merritt United Methodist Church.

"On July 4, 1981, the First United Methodist Church building caught fire for unknown cause, and was mostly destroyed, although some of the contents and stained glass windows were rescued. (The saved figural design stained glass windows are installed in light boxes in the hallway of the lower level of the church. Several of the geometrical design windows are installed in the Administrative Office hallway.)

Tiffany Panel

(Link2.)

" An invitation was extended by the St. Stephens United Methodist to combine the two Methodist churches for worship services and program.

"Soon merger conversations began, making the decision in 1984 to go ahead,...The name, “Lake Merritt United Methodist Church” was selected and the property at 1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, on the eastern shore of Lake Merritt was purchased..      

"Architect Terrill Wade, of the firm Gillis, Judson, and Wade, designed the new building... The completed building was Hallowed on March 21, 1991, 

  
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church 
(Yahoo Images)     

"The western main entrance of the building at 1330 Lakeshore Ave., features a colored granite grand staircase. The sanctuary’s floor to ceiling windows frame a beautiful view of the lake and downtown Oakland. The northern wall is nearly completely covered by a triptych of three glass mosaic panels entitled “Te Deum Laudamus” (We Praise You, Lord) constructed under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany in about 1920." (Link 1.)


Thank you: To Rob Herrmann, Congregational Administrator, Lake Merritt 
               United Methodist Church
Link 1: http://www.lakemerrittumc.org/default.asp?sec_id=18001594Link 2: http://www.lakemerrittumc.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180076993&sec_id=180015948

Link 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Merritt
Link 4: http://geology.about.com/library/bl/tours/bloaklandgeo-lake.htm

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                          May 11, 2014

47-783 Monroe Street

Las Palmas Community Church
"A Nazarene Church of the Coachella Valley"
Indio, California

The Nazarene Church of the Coachella Valley "Started in a house in 1939 on Highway 99(now Highway 86) and Ave 61 in Thermal CA.  There were "Primarily two families (of the Millsap brothers and two teens).

"As the group grew, walls were knocked out (and the meeting area increased). At some pont the members felt they should find a place to move in Indio,  A place was found at Requa and Smur. (This church was dedicated in 1945.) This is where the Church remained until the present property was found and the Church was built." (REF)

1945 Church on Requa and Smur

Construction of church on Monroe, 1967

Las Palmas Community Church on Monroe Street was built in 1967.  Blond laminated beams were used in the vaulted ceiling of the sanctuary.  This was typical construction of the time and several other area churches were built with this same detail.  (See Blog Post for St. John's Lutheran Church,  5/4/14.)  Stone is another building material typical of the area, although the types of stone varies. (See Blog Post for Trinity Lutheran Church, 4/20/14.)

Corner Stone of church on Monroe, 1967

Front Entrance of Church on Monroe

The  double bank of  blond pews in the sanctuary match the blond laminated beams of the high ceiling.  A large cross dominates the chancel.

Sanctuary

Greeting the congregation on Sunday mornings is a cheery hand painted mural in  the narthex. 

Narthex Mural

"We are a Christ-centered church that is biblically based.  We purpose to Encourage and love people, Equip believers for ministry, Evangelize the lost, Exalt His name and Enable fellowship."   A Senior Pastor, Youth Pastor, and Children's Pastor lead programs  including: worship, Sunday School, prayer meetings, women's/men's/children's/youth groups. (Link)

Thank you: To Children's Pastor, Deanna Gibson for her help. Photos: Colored photos taken in February 2014 by SW.
Reference: Our History is His Story, 68th Anniversary Celebration, by Ruth 
                      Millsap, April 6, 2008.
Link: http://www.laspalmascommunitychurch.org/

*****

                                                                                                                             May 4, 2014

42695 Washington Street

St. John's Lutheran Church
Palm Desert, California

"Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately 14 miles (23 km) east of Palm Springs and 122 miles (196 km) east of Los Angeles....A major center of growth in the Palm Springs area, Palm Desert is a popular retreat for "snowbirds" from colder climates (the Eastern and Northern United States, and Canada), who swell its population by an estimated 31,000 each winter." (Link 2)

Stand alone steeple to St. John's

"On January 13, 1963 St. John's held its first worship service in the recreation center of Palm Desert Country Club.  On July 18, 1963, St. John's was formally organized with 30 charter members.  Ground breaking services were held on Washington Street on November 24, 1963, on a site purchased by the "American Lutheran Church Board of Missions.  On February 9, 1964, a cornerstone laying ceremony was held." (REF.) Distinctive features of the church's exterior are the front cantilevered roof and the tall pyramidal free standing steeple topped by a simple cross. The steeple is called the "Symbol of Faith Tower". (REF.)

Entrance to Sanctuary

The entrance to the sanctuary is on the side of the building.  The doors are framed with rectangles of colored glass: red, green, yellow, clear, and opaque. 

The window above the double doors features a red glass rectangular outline of a cross. 

Stained glass windows at entrance to the Sanctuary

The sanctuary was built with blond laminated beams typical of the 1960's. It originally seated 175, but with expansion now seats 235. (REF.) The tall rectangular side windows reflect their colors of green, yellow, and red in the pale wood surface.  Dark wood ceiling rafters are also exposed.  However, when air conditioning was installed it necessitated an enclosing rectangular white box to be mounted most of the length of the center of the ceiling.

The cross above the altar is lit to give a double shadow.  It, therefore, presents not one, but a trinity of crosses for meditation. (Note photo below.)

Sanctuary

At the rear of the Sanctuary is a step-up balcony and the entrance to the Ministry Center.  The Ministry Center, built in 2012, includes meeting rooms and offices for the church staff.

Step-up balcony at rear of Sanctuary

The Fellowship Hall was a separate building behind the Sanctuary that was added to the property in 1994.  The Ministry Center now connects the Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary. 

Portico to Fellowship Hall


Ministry Center

Visitors are welcome to the two worship services  held on Sunday mornings: traditional worship at 9:00 am and praise worship at 11:00 am.  

Photos: Taken in February 2014 by SW.

Reference: St. John's Cookbook donated by visitor from North Vancouver B.C.,

               Barbara Mayer.

Link 1: http://stjohnslutheranchurchpd.com/

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Desert,_California

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

47-783 Monroe Street

Las Palmas Community Church
"A Nazarene Church of the Coachella Valley"
Indio, California

The Nazarene Church of the Coachella Valley "Started in a house in 1939 on Highway 99(now Highway 86) and Ave 61 in Thermal CA.  There were "Primarily two families (of the Millsap brothers and two teens).

"As the group grew, walls were knocked out (and the meeting area increased). At some pont the members felt they should find a place to move in Indio,  A place was found at Requa and Smur. (This church was dedicated in 1945.) This is where the Church remained until the present property was found and the Church was built." (REF)

1945 Church on Requa and Smur

Construction of church on Monroe, 1967

Las Palmas Community Church on Monroe Street was built in 1967.  Blond laminated beams were used in the vaulted ceiling of the sanctuary.  This was typical construction of the time and several other area churches were built with this same detail.  (See Blog Post for St. John's Lutheran Church,  5/4/14.)  Stone is another building material typical of the area, although the types of stone varies. (See Blog Post for Trinity Lutheran Church, 4/20/14.)

Corner Stone of church on Monroe, 1967

Front Entrance of Church on Monroe

The  double bank of  blond pews in the sanctuary match the blond laminated beams of the high ceiling.  A large cross dominates the chancel.

Sanctuary

Greeting the congregation on Sunday mornings is a cheery hand painted mural in  the narthex. 

Narthex Mural

"We are a Christ-centered church that is biblically based.  We purpose to Encourage and love people, Equip believers for ministry, Evangelize the lost, Exalt His name and Enable fellowship."   A Senior Pastor, Youth Pastor, and Children's Pastor lead programs  including: worship, Sunday School, prayer meetings, women's/men's/children's/youth groups. (Link)

Thank you: To Children's Pastor, Deanna Gibson for her help. Photos: Colored photos taken in February 2014 by SW.
Reference: Our History is His Story, 68th Anniversary Celebration, by Ruth 
                      Millsap, April 6, 2008.
Link: http://www.laspalmascommunitychurch.org/

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

                                                                                                                               April 20, 2014

81-500 Miles Ave. at Clinton Ave.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Indio, California

"Trinity Lutheran Church in Indio had its beginnings in January 1940, when services were held in the Woman's Club of Coachella...(In 1949) the property at the corner of Park and Requa Street Indio was purchased, and a World War II Army Hospital and Barracks unit was moved to the new church site....the two units ... were converted into a sanctuary and parsonage.  Church Church was dedicated on October 19, 1948....

"Formal organization of the Church took place on May 12, 1949.... In July 1960 the original buildings were sold to the First Methodist Church, and the congregation purchased the property at  Miles and Clinton Streets, where the church is now located.

Construction of church on Miles and Clinton, 1949

"A parsonage, sanctuary, and education building were erected at a cost of $100,000.  Many hours of volunteer made this possible.  Our present church facility was dedicated on Sunday, October 8, 1961.

Sanctuary entrance

Window above Sanctuary entrance doors

"Trinity's sanctuary has several unique architectural elements which make it an Indio landmark.  The elegant arc of the soaring a-frame is detailed with stained glass panels and culminates with a cross at its pinnacle.  The one of a kind rock chinking was painstakingly cut by hand and individually placed. The diamond shaped windows had to be completely redone because the manufacturer made them all the same size-in reality the windows grow in size as they march toward to front of the chancel....

Sanctuary

"The use of natural stone, wood, sky blue beams and altar backdrop, as well as strategically placed windows contribute to the light, airy feeling of the interior. making it a house of light and life.

 "The original pews, still in use today were purchased by families or individual members.  the decorative wrought iron Trinity symbol which graces the altar and communion railings were crafted and donated by congregation member Clarence Moe. (As was the hammered bronze altar cross.)" (REF.)

                                       Trinity Lutheran Child Development Center

The Lutheran Child Development Center (a preschool/daycare center) adjacent to the church  was constructed by "the Laborers for Christ and Church member volunteers.  The 7,000 square foot building was completed in the fall of 1989." (REF.)

Photos: Taken in February 2014 by SW.

Reference: Trinity Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 50th 

                       Anniversary, 1949-1999.

Link: http://www.trinityindio.org/

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

707 W. Hornet Avenue

Pier 3

USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier-Chapel
Alameda, California

"The USS Hornet Museum is a museum ship in Alameda, California, USA. (Link 1.)  Tucked away on the lower deck is the Library which also serves as the Chapel.  In front of rows of blue chairs are the altar, the small organ, and the lectern.

Sign for the Library and Chapel

Chapel area of the Library

"• Every Sunday – Protestant Divine ServicesHornet Chaplain John Berger conducts church services at 11:00am in the ship's Chapel. All hands and guests are welcome." (Link 4.)  The Sunday bulletin is titled "All Hands General Worship". (See photo below.)

"All Hands General Worship" Bulletin

The Office of the Chaplaincy is adjacent to the worship area.  Hanging on the side walls are photos of past chaplains as well as the crest of the "Chaplain Corp, U. S. Navy". (See photo below.)

Crest of Chaplain Corps, U. S. Navy

Bibles, spiritual books, and hymnals are available in bookcases lining the walls of the library area.

In a glass case opposite the worship area is the banner used at outdoor services. (See photo below.)

Outdoor 

Worship services are held on deck for special occasions such as the one that was held this Memorial Day.

On Deck Worship Service

"This year marks the 13th year the museum is holding this ceremony (Memorial Day) and it will include a special invocation by retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Chaplain John Berger, a special wreath-tossing ceremony off the ship, and the presentation of Colors by the Boy Scouts of America. There will also be musical performances featuring the Hornet Band and the Young American Patriots Fife & Drum Corps beginning at 11 a.m." (Link 3.)

***

"It (USS Hornet Museum) is composed of the USS Hornet (CV-12) aircraft carrier, exhibits from the NASAApollo moon exploration missions, and several retired aircraft from the Second World War and the transonic and early supersonic jet propulsion period. A number of compartments contain exhibits concerning contemporary carriers that are supported by related associations. The flight deck, hangar deck, and first deck below are open for self-guided tours. Docent-led tours are available into the ship's navigation and flight deck control areas of the island and down into one of the engineering spaces containing two of the four ship's propulsion turbines.

"It is located on the southernmost pier of the former Naval Air Station Alameda. There are plans to relocate it to the corner of the Seaplane Lagoon closest to the Alameda Point Museum in conjunction with a ferry terminal and a light rail or bus connection toBART." (Link 1.)

"The USS Hornet CV-12 is one of the 24 legendary Essex-class aircraft carriers built during and after World War II. Built at Newport News, Virginia, and the eighth ship to be named “Hornet,” she is one of the most decorated ships of the US Navy.  For 16 continuous months Hornet was in action in the forward areas of the Pacific combat zone, sometimes within 40 miles of the Japanese home islands.

"Hornet participated in World War II, the Vietnam War, and the first moon missions.

• Earned 9 battle stars for her service in WWII
• Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her WWII operations (only nine carriers so cited).
• Flawlessly recovered the Apollo 11 space capsule and the first men to walk on the moon. A few months later, she also recovered the Apollo 12 capsule and its all-Navy crew; 1969
• USS Hornet (CVS-12) is designated a National Historic Landmark; 1991
• Hornet opens to the public as an aircraft carrier museum in Alameda, California; 1998
• USS Hornet is designated a State Historic Landmark; 1999.
• The F/A-18 strike fighter carries on the name of Hornet in today's NAVY." (Link 2.)

Photos: Taken in June 2013 by SW.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hornet_Museum
Link 2: http://www.uss-hornet.org/history/heritage/index.shtml
Link 3: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/23/news/la-trb-memorial-day-uss-hornet-20130522
Link 4: http://www.uss-hornet.org/calendar/upcoming/

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

8155 Painter Avenue

Whittier Church of Christ
Whittier, California

The Whittier Church of Christ is built in a classic Spanish style.  It features a front colonnade of  arched openings.  The whole of the church is roofed in red clay tile.  And above the roof of the double front doors of the auditorium is a circle window.  Another distinctive feature is the tower with a dome of turquoise and maze glazed brick.

Tower and Dome

Colored Glazed Brick Dome of Tower

"During World War I the need for a congregation in Whittier was recognized. A few members of the church lived in the Whittier area for short periods from 1916 to 1938. The earliest know attempts to begin a congregation was in 1916 in the home of R.T. Lyttle.... But, not until May 1938 was there a sustained work begun.

"The church began regular meetings with 32 charter members. They met in the Women’s Club, at the corner of Friends and Bailey Streets.

Front Entrance of Auditorium

"In 1943 the congregation bought a building at 341 South Milton Avenue. The church occupied this facility until property was secured and the present auditorium built at 8155 Painter Avenue. The new building was dedicated December 17, 1950.

"Additions have been made to the property.

"On October 6, 1985 the church concluded a building fund campaign called “To God Be The Glory” by taken up a $1.2 collection to the build our Family Life Center. The FLC consists of classrooms, fellowship hall and gymnasium." (Link 1.)

Photos: Taken in June 2013 by SW.

Link 1: http://whittiercoc.org/new-here/our-history/
Link 2: http://whittiercoc.org/

*****

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

(SW)