06/17/2026
This was sent to the church by Shelby Lynn.
About the stain glass windows.
I grew up in this beautiful church, and seeing this photo brought back so many memories. I wanted to share what this place means to me and my family...
Watts Flats United Methodist Church isn’t just a place on a map; it is the very architecture of my soul. Even after years of absence, my heart still answers to its call, pulling me back to those worn wooden pews and the sacred echoes of a childhood lived in the light of the Spirit.
Every single Sunday, we were there. It was the rhythm of our lives—a weekly homecoming that anchored us. This post is dedicated to my great-grandparents, Ella Mae (Crosby) Gibbs and George Thomas Gibbs, whose steady devotion and quiet strength within these walls truly helped shape my own relationship with the Lord.
I can still feel the weight of the hymnal as I shared it with my great-grandmother, her hands trembling with age as we sang “How Great Thou Art.” Her voice was a soft, beautiful thread of silver—a sound I can still hear if I close my eyes. I remember the solemn honor of lighting the candles, the tiny flames dancing against the sage-green walls, and the nervous joy of standing beside my sister in the Christmas plays.
On warm mornings, the heavy doors would stand open, inviting the earthy scent of the swamp to mingle with the sun pouring through the stained glass. This small, sacred space is a living map of our family legacy: Ella Mae’s brother’s voice at the pulpit, Aunt Lacey’s vows at the altar, and Aunt Sandy’s wisdom in Sunday School.
But the worship didn't end when the service did. After the final amen, we would all travel just around the corner to my great-grandparents' house for Sunday dinner. Those afternoons were the heartbeat of our family, filled with laughter, love, and the warmth of being together.
I yearn for that sanctuary and the profound peace of belonging. To the congregation that gathers there now, I offer this prayer: May the walls of Watts Flats UMC continue to be a refuge of grace. May the light through that glass always remind you of His presence, and may the spirit of community that raised me continue to welcome every soul who walks through those doors.
Watts Flats UMC is more than a memory; it is home. And I miss it with everything I am. May God bless you all!
