Peaceful Memories
Oh church of my youth, how you come to my mind
With sweet memories of the happiest kind
I remember my baptism so special to me
I knelt together with Daddy and Lee
The distance from home made it easy to walk
This time together was a good time to talk
Sunday school, Luther League...more memories bring
Being part of the choir and loving to sing
Confirmation class is where Saturdays were spent
Preparing to recite what the bible meant
It was here I learned I will never be alone
God is with me always whatever path I roam
I loved the piano, in the parsonage it stood
I didn't play, but pretended I could
Potlucks in the basement, lots of yummy food
The men playing darts. Oh I loved the friendly mood.
At Christmas, we all felt especially jolly
With candles on the sills with our home grown holly
Bags of Christmas goodies for the children all...
Even when you'd think we were getting much too tall
I loved the gorgeous statue, I loved the tall steeple
But most of all I loved all the wonderful people
Oh, church of my youth, how you come to my mind...
With sweet memories of the happiest kind
-Barbara Jack- November 1986
Peaceful Memories Back Story
Peace Lutheran church was at the corner of 21st and South Cushman Street in the Hilltop district of Tacoma Washington. In 1949 my family, the Trotters, moved from Fort Lewis and my folks purchased their first home. I was 11 years old. Our home was old and large and the price for it was $7,200. My mother, a Norwegian, had grown up in a large Lutheran church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was very excited to see us become involved in the church. My brother had friends from school going there and so did I. Soon all four of us were very involved and loved it. Our house was only 3 short blocks from the church, so we always walked together.
The house beside the church was the parsonage where Pastor Lentz and his family lived. The church was small so we did lots of events in the parsonage living room and dining room. I always pretended to play on the piano and dreamed of someday having my own. My wedding was held in First Lutheran because of the size fitting our family and friends. However, I never left Peace until Norm got his first job in Kirkland Washington.
We loved that intercity immigrant neighborhood called the hilltop. The best part of all were the friendships that developed there. Some of the people are still close years over 65 years later.
Barbara Jack reads Peaceful Memories
During the 60s the hilltop had a reputation for being unsafe and full of crime. I was very happy when I heard that the church had been purchased by a group that used it as a community center for people who need extra help. The love continued.
As I was getting this ready for my website, I heard on the news that Bill Hanawalt, the director of PEACE COMMUNITY CENTER, is going to be a special guest this month at an event with President Obama at the White House. The group meeting will be looking for new ideas for helping inner city kids. Mr Hanawalt was one of nine individuals from across the country named a WHITE HOUSE CHAMPION OF CHANGE FOR SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES. The tiny old church and parsonage have been torn down along with a couple other very old small houses. Now there is a sport program, tutoring program and they have a number of students in college on their scholarship program. The summer program exposes these children to their community, the arts and many other experiences.
I'm glad my son Jay created this wonderful picture of the church that meant so much to me, but even more I thank God for this ground, that was so loved by my family, and now touching the lives of these young people who are also growing up on my Hilltop. God is good.
To learn more:http://peacecommunitycenter.org.