Special to The Citizen

NEW HOPE - The Mid-Lakes United Methodist Church in New Hope is raising money to repair the frames of the stained glass windows of its sanctuary. The windows are nearly 75 years old, and some stress cracks have appeared in some of the panes.

Last February the church trustees met to discuss how to fix the windows. After getting estimates for the repairs that ranged from $6,000 to $10,000 for each of the six windows, the trustees learned about John McLain, who had repaired windows in a church in Moravia, and who came highly recommended. He said he could fix the windows for approximately $2,000 each.

The trustees voted to hire him for the work.

“The weight of the glass is causing the lead frames to sag under the load,” explained Bob Defendorf, one of the trustees. “We're afraid they might fall in.”

One of Defendorf's duties is to keep track of the donations and pledges for the window project. Nearly $10,000 has already been raised between cash donations and payment out of a special fund set up by the church. Additional money has been pledged over the next three years, but more money can always be used to offset the cost of the repairs. One of the windows has already been repaired, and a second window was scheduled to be removed by McLain after the Sunday service held Dec. 14.

Mid-Lakes United Methodist Church is a charming, white country church with a tall, gray-roofed steeple. The sanctuary has an unusual ceiling of four concave arches that run the length of the room. These were installed in 1975, not only as an architectural feature, but to conserve and hold heat in the winter. The building was erected in 1854.

The stained glass windows were added to the sanctuary in 1935. In 1969, the Kelloggsville and the New Hope Methodist Churches merged to form the Mid-Lakes United Methodist Church. The current pastor is the Rev. Robyn Hays. Her husband, David, is the pastor of the Methodist church in Moravia.

Duane Dann, the church treasurer, is happy with the progress of both the work and the donations, but he knows more money will be needed.

“We've been working on the window project for a few months,” he said. “The money has come mostly from donations and pledges from the congregation and the community.”

In 2007, the church developed a new mission statement, “Mid-Lakes United Methodist Church: Bringing New Hope through Jesus Christ.” The work of the congregation has not been limited to church repairs. Members held a Vacation Bible School during the summer and were able to send seven children to camp, and they hope to continue to actively support community projects such as the Moravia-Lock Food Pantry, and to pray for their members who are sick or are facing various personal difficulties.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, the church will hold a roast beef dinner. The cost is $15, and $5 of each ticket will support the Guatemala Mission Team. At 6:30 p.m., the choir will present “The Tree of Light,” a Christmas musical. There is no cost to attend the concert.

Then at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, a special Christmas Eve service will be held.

For more information about the church or the window project, contact pastor Hays at 497-1412.