AMY SZPARA

PHOTO: The Rev. Ken Graham delivers the children’s sermon during consecration ceremonies at First United Methodist Church, located on New U.S. Highway 51 in LaPlace, as the “Weird Angel” (Kay McKey) wanders onto the scene. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) LAPLACE – A long-awaited day finally came for members of First United Methodist Church in LaPlace. After selling their old church, moving into a storefront on Airline Highway and waiting patiently for construction to be completed for their new church, the congregation moved into their house of worship in May. Sunday the members had a consecration service. The church packed a full house and a live band played as church-goers sang hymns. After the children’s hand bell choir delighted the crowd with ringing harmonies, the Rev. Ken Graham gave the children’s sermon. During the children’s sermon, the “Weird Angel,” played by Kay McKey, and her angel-in-training, daughter Kaitlyn, arrived. The white-clad woman and daughter are guests who wander into the church on special occasions, and the angel always has a lesson for the children. Looking around in awe at the new building, she stumbled through the aisles, greeting members. The message for the children: The people are the church. No matter how nice a church is, it is the people that matter. After the history of the church was given by Building Committee Chair Richard Hall, the consecration portion of the service took place. Hall explained the property, two lots on U.S. Highway 51 bordering on Bamboo Street, were bought in 1990 and 1993. After the needs of the church were evaluated, the congregation decided to sell the existing building on Main Street in LaPlace, move into a store in a shopping center on Airline Highway and work toward building a new church on the property purchased. A multi-purpose building was constructed, which the congregation now uses, and a large sanctuary will be built at a later date, said Hall. According to Hall, the building committee met a total of 100 times before the May 20 opening of the new church. During the service, the building was presented and named First United Methodist Church of LaPlace, a prayer was said and then the congregation read aloud from the bulletins. “I’ve been here for six years,” said Graham. “For those six years, we’ve been working toward this point. “We moved out here so we would have more visibility and to be able to grow in numbers and in our ministry.” The church sold its building on Main Street, which is now the home of New Home Ministries, after being at the location for 61 years. The second building on the site, due to destruction of the first during Hurricane Betsy, was sold to have some money to pay for the new building. They have raised additional money for the new spot as well. “We’re doing something that’s new for us. We’re not set in our ways yet. We’re still trying to decide what and who we are going to be,” said Graham. “We’re in a growing process.” An active church and committee member, Wanza Lewis, added, “When we moved from Main Street to the storefront, people thought we were just going to crumble, but we added new ministries there. We’re continuing on this wonderful adventure, and it’s just really nice to be a part of it.”