General Information

First Church's building is completely accessible to all persons. A walker and a wheelchair are available for use of anyone who needs assistance. The new restrooms are located off the hallway to the east of the Narthex and are designed for use by handicapped persons.

There are also restrooms located off the south foyer and off of the breezeway in the educational wing.

Hoffman Hall, located directly south of the sanctuary is used for fellowship occasions. The Adult Bible Class meets there, and our church library is located at the north end. The church office is located onthe west side of Hoffman Hall.

The old Fellowship Hall, now accessible off of the west hallway, is designated as the Evelyn Shaffer Hall. It is used also for Sunday School classes. The church kitchen is located between Hoffman Hall and Evelyn Shaffer Hall.

Martin Hall is the name chosen for the newest addition to our church building. A multi-purpose room, designated primarily for youth meetings and crafts activities, opens off of the south end of Hoffman Hall. This addition also includes two garage-type rooms - one for the church tractor and yard equipment, the other for storage for newspapers for re-cycling.

The Church Nursery is located in the northeast corner of the educational wing, and the Music Room is adjacent.

Persons who wish to schedule the use of any part of the church building for a group meeting may contact the pastor or Chairman of the Stewards Commission.

Three Crosses

The three crosses on the front of our church building have provided appropriate visual symbols along 38th Avenue North since 1960. The new crosses, silhouetted against the stone, are even more striking at night, when a spotlight beams upon them. Thanks to the concept of Architect Arthur Dean, our building addition very effectively lifts up the cross. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." (John 12:32) It is our prayer that the lifting up of the cross is only the beginning of our dynamic witness to Him and His Way.

The cross, in any form, has always had great symbolic meaning. One doesn't often see three crosses together. The taller cross in the center symbolizes the cross of Christ and the two shorter crosses represent the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus.

The cross on the left is taller than the one on the right. That symbolizes the fact that one of the criminals was promised by Jesus, "today you will be with me in Paradise." He recognized that he was being punished for his wrong deeds, while Jesus had done nothing wrong. In a petition of faith he said, "Jesus, Remember me when you come to your kingly power." But the other criminal only mocked Jesus by saying, "Are you not Christ? Save yourself and us." Only the repentant thief was promised a place in Paradise (Luke 23:33-43).

Not only is the message of the three crosses proclaimed by our church building but the motif is also apart of the new face on our church sign (thanks to the Thomas Sign Company). Day and night we are reminding the community that there are two basic responses to the cross of Jesus Christ - faith or ridicule.

How did the three crosses happen to be used on our church building? Architect Arthur Dean explained that he had always been moved by the symbolism. In fact, he used to make hand-carved sets of three crosses to present as gifts or to use as object lessons in teaching young people. He had presented the idea of using the emblem to many congregations, and the original Building Committee of First Church of the Brethren in St Petersburg was one of the few that accepted the idea.

Building Materials

It seems appropriate that so many different materials were used in constructing the new sanctuary. There is symbolic meaning in each material used:

Concrete,

a mixture of cement and sand or gravel, represents the elements of the earth. Brethren and other Christian groups with strong rural roots have always had a deep appreciation for "the good earth." And we have always preferred to keep our religion practical and "down to earth."

Wood,

used in the crosses, the upper exterior walls, and inside partitions, is one of the gifts of the land. Mankind has used wood from trees to build fires, to make shelters, and to create tools and furniture. We may marvel at the ingenuity of man, but we have to admit that "only God can make a tree."

Steel,

formed from iron taken from the earth's crust, represents hardness and durability.

Rock

has been used for centuries as a building material. It symbolizes a fortress and shelter. Jesus spoke of building his church on the rock of faith. It is appropriate that stones are used as a visual symbol at the front of our new chancel. The Zyrian stone used, with its yellow and blue hues, is from the hills of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.