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Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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Tuesday
March 25, 2014
www.wcfcourier.com/lifestyles
Waterloo / Cedar Falls insider Editor: holly.hudson@wcfcourier.com
Heaven sent Growing Baptist congregation finds new home Story by HOLLY HUDSON I Photos by Matthew Putney
TOP: Rev. Percy Thomas smiles during Sunday school at Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. ABOVE: Newly opened Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on March 9 in Waterloo.
G
od’s will. That is what the Rev. Percy Thomas said brought his co n g re ga tion to Church Row. Percy, the pastor for C h r i s t i a n Fe l l ows h i p Missionary Baptist Church, recently moved his congregation into the former Bethel Presbyterian Church at 930 W. Fourth St, making it the first African-American church in the historic neighborhood, he said. “This is really making history,” Thomas said. Not that the congregation was in the market for a new church.
“The funny thing is, we weren’t even looking,” Thomas said. “We thought this would be years down the road.” But when Thomas, who also is a mailman, heard from a customer on his route that there was a church for sale in the area, the pastor quickly contacted his deacon, Maurice Clark. “He works for MET, so he could get there easier than I could,” Thomas said with a chuckle. Clark was actually in the area when Thomas called and went to check out the building. “Some people who were in the church saw me looking through the windows and
let me in,” Clark said. Clark was impressed with what he saw. “It was the ‘wow’ factor,” he said. The church, built in 1912, boasts four floors, a full kitchen and fellowship hall, five bathrooms, space for a nursery, daycare center and youth room, office space, a larger parking lot, an elevator and is handicapped accessible. Beyond the practical features, the original woodwork, curved pews circling the sanctuary and dozens of striking stained glass windows — original to the building — surely sealed the deal. “We came up with an
agreeable figure on both sides, “ Thomas said. “There were other parties interested in turning it into something other than a church. It was meant for us to have. “It will handle all our needs, with room to grow,” he said. The Baptist congregation took possession of the building Feb. 24 and held their first service March 9. Thomas, who served at Mount Carmel Baptist Church before becoming the pastor at Christian Fellowship in July 2013, worried his congregation might think he was moving too fast. “Things really started falling into place and I thought,
Deductive production JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — For David Harnois, Sherlock Holmes was a dream role. It’s also a role he’s reluctant to relinquish. Harnois was cast as the famous 19th-century detective in Waterloo Community Playhouse’s production of “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lilly” in October last year. Although the run of that show concluded months ago, Harnois is just beginning to embrace the character. He is producing a series of audio adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories with himself as the title character. “He’s the smartest guy in the room, which itself is its allure,” Harnois said. The collaboration is called “I am Lost Without My Boswell: A Sherlock Holmes Project.” Harnois’ goal is to produce all 60 of the original Arthur Conan Doyleauthored Sherlock Holmes stories as he can. He adapted
a script from the short story “A Scandal in Bohemia” and cast the characters. Jens Petersen was cast as John Watson. Harnois wanted somebody who could commit to the open-ended project as Watson. Petersen said he was glad to be asked to be a part of the project. Petersen said his parents read him some of the Sherlock Holmes adventures when he was younger. “But I haven’t quite reached the fanaticism David has,” Petersen said. The two have been friends for nearly 17 years and verbally jab each other in between recording takes. “This is why they’re a perfect Holmes and Watson,” said Caitlin Hurban, assistant director on the project. Hurban is providing some voice work on the first story but her role is to coordinate with other actors and schedule production and recording times. Petersen intends to play Watson as an intelligent and capable friend — not as a
TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer
Caitlin Hurban, left, laughs along with David Harnois, center, and Jens Petersen. Harnois is the voice of Sherlock Holmes and Petersen is the voice of Dr. Watson. The three are rehearsing a reading of a Sherlock Holmes novel. The recording readings will be broadcast online. bumbling assistant as he is often depicted. Watson’s character is essential not just because most of the stories are presented from his perspective, but he also engenders the more human aspects of Holmes’ personality, Petersen and Harnois said. “I believe the only time Holmes threatens anybody is when Watson is threatened,” Harnois said.
“There’s a lot of parallels in our friendship,” Petersen said. “A lot of it comes through in how we deliver our lines.” Much of the recording so far has been done backstage at the Hope Martin Theater. Harnois is technical director at WCP. Petersen and Hurban are working on the upcoming production of “Garage Sale.” “It’s a place to record and I know it’ll be quiet,” Harnois
if this is what the Lord wants me to do, we got to do it.” Thomas said the move was needed to accommodate his growing congregation, which he estimated at about 125. “There are a good amount of people,” he said. “People are joining, people are getting baptized, people are getting saved. “But our congregation is not just black. Our congregation is not just white. We have a very diverse congregation,” Thomas said. “I wanted it that way. God didn’t just make one type of person.” Bethel Presbyterian were not able to stay in the building due to dwindling
attendance. “ T h e ( C h u rc h R ow Historic) Neighborhood Association was very, very happy to hear that it would remain a church,” Thomas said. Though the building is in good shape, Thomas said, some work is being planned. “That’s our most immediate problem,” Thomas said, pointing to water damage in a ceiling. “I expect that to be fixed by Sunday.” Thomas doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the upkeep on the huge building. “I don’t worry, I don’t get stressed. He’s going to give us everything to sustain it. … Everything I need for this church, God will send.”
WCP veteran takes on Sherlock Holmes audio project said. The stories will be read almost word-for-word as written by Doyle. “Jersey Lilly” wasn’t written by Doyle. This project gives Harnois a chance to embrace the character as written by the original author. Riley Germann is creating sound effects as sound designer. To give the stories more realism, Germann is recording live sounds where available. The steps leading to Holmes’ Baker Street flat are the steps up to Germann’s home. The door to the flat — Germann’s bedroom door. Robert Espe is composing original music scores for the productions. Harnois will make the adventures available for free online. He isn’t sure if he’ll build a website, blog site or put them on Soundcloud. com or a combination of those options. “I don’t have any aims to make money on this,” he said. In time he hopes the adventures will draw an international audience so that stories
taking place on other continents can have more authenticity. “I would like to find native speakers from where the stories take place when I can,” he said. “A Scandal in Bohemia” technically already has an international cast with Amanda Lynn Juhl, who lives in Canada, providing the voice of Irene Adler. Harnois plans to produce the adventures in approximately the order they were written by Doyle. “A Scandal in Bohemia” was the first of the Holmes short stories but was written after a few fulllength Sherlock Holmes novels. Harnois said the novels, which would be much larger and difficult productions, will likely come later. “I didn’t want to kill myself,” he said. The first story will likely be released early to mid-April. For more information and to find the episode online, go to I Am Lost Without My Boswell: A Sherlock Holmes Project on facebook.com.