February 5, 2019
Sometimes I think about the church in Los Angeles where my Great Grandparents, my grandparents, my mother, assorted aunts, uncles and cousins, and my family went. My Grandma and Grandpa Hosfeldt were the first couple to get married in that church in 1897 and celebrated their 50th anniversary there in 1947 a few months before Ii was born. Our family attended that church until I was about 12 or 13. We traveled from our home in West Covina to Los Angeles every Sunday and my parents decided that we should go to church near our home. I have seen current pictures of the church and have looked at their facebook page and have even had dreams about visiting the church and comparing the differences.
Recently I asked my siblings to share some memories from our church. I need to share my memories. Bible Brethren Church of Los Angeles was the beginning of my spiritual journey. I have a lot of memories of the physical building and the spiritual foundation of my life.
The white church on Hancock Street was just a few blocks from where my grandma Shultz and my mom grew up. My mother told me that she used to walk to church sometimes with her Grandpa Hosfeldt. So I can just imagine my grandma and mom growing up there. Some memories I have of the building itself are on the side there were pews with a staircase going upstairs. It was probably smaller than my memory. Upstairs there was a peephole looking out over the sanctuary. We loved being up there and looking out. Behind the church was the fellowship hall and there was a lowered place where you would go down to get to the bathrooms. In the back of the parking lot was another building where we would have Sunday School.
I remember a special speaker who came to our church when I was nine. I "went forward" at that time to accept the Lord. I don't think I entirely understood what I was doing but I knew that I was a Christian. I also was baptized a little after that and I was given a handmade prayer cap that was made out of net. I was given a Bible and still have that but don't have the prayer cap. All the older women in the church wore their prayer caps in church. Shortly after that I memorized I John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I even bavely enough stood up in church one time and quoted it. Shy me! This passage meant a lot to me.
As I said that was the beginning of my walking with the Lord. I have many more memories there -- going to camp, experiencing communion, VBS, and I will always cherish that place. I would love to visit there and compare it with the people who are now worshiping in the church my great grandpa had a part in building. This church is now the First American Indian Church of Los Angeles.
Recently I asked my siblings to share some memories from our church. I need to share my memories. Bible Brethren Church of Los Angeles was the beginning of my spiritual journey. I have a lot of memories of the physical building and the spiritual foundation of my life.
The white church on Hancock Street was just a few blocks from where my grandma Shultz and my mom grew up. My mother told me that she used to walk to church sometimes with her Grandpa Hosfeldt. So I can just imagine my grandma and mom growing up there. Some memories I have of the building itself are on the side there were pews with a staircase going upstairs. It was probably smaller than my memory. Upstairs there was a peephole looking out over the sanctuary. We loved being up there and looking out. Behind the church was the fellowship hall and there was a lowered place where you would go down to get to the bathrooms. In the back of the parking lot was another building where we would have Sunday School.
I remember a special speaker who came to our church when I was nine. I "went forward" at that time to accept the Lord. I don't think I entirely understood what I was doing but I knew that I was a Christian. I also was baptized a little after that and I was given a handmade prayer cap that was made out of net. I was given a Bible and still have that but don't have the prayer cap. All the older women in the church wore their prayer caps in church. Shortly after that I memorized I John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I even bavely enough stood up in church one time and quoted it. Shy me! This passage meant a lot to me.
As I said that was the beginning of my walking with the Lord. I have many more memories there -- going to camp, experiencing communion, VBS, and I will always cherish that place. I would love to visit there and compare it with the people who are now worshiping in the church my great grandpa had a part in building. This church is now the First American Indian Church of Los Angeles.
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