The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Rev. Harrelson (right) and Dick Kellog in the frame of the Community Hall. Photo by Shawn Strannigan

The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration sanctuary offers one of the best views in town, but the facilities have become a bit cramped in recent years.

Last May, the church embarked on a building program which will revamp the existing facility and add a Community Hall which will double the church's square footage.

"I came to this church in August of '95," said Reverend Larry Harrelson. "Not long after I arrived, we did a facility study and realized we needed more space. The church has doubled in attendance since then."

In order to accommodate his growing flock, Harrelson started a second worship service. The sanctuary was no longer crowded, but Harrelson wanted the church to be better utilized by the Sisters community.

"We are building a Community Hall, not a Church Hall," Harrelson emphasized. "This church has always been a gift to the community. Groups such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), the Sisters Bridge Club, the Lions Club and the Sisters Choir all use the building now.

"We want to continue the church's long-standing tradition of blessing the community."

Dick Kellog, who attends the Episcopal church, is serving as the project manager and chairman of the architectural committee.

"Dick is a gift to us," said Harrelson. "He's working closely with Tom Deatherage, an architect from Bend."

The new Community Hall, which will seat around 100 people, will provide accessible restrooms and additional office space. It will also have a fireplace and a removable platform. French doors will open out onto a trellised patio area, and the new building will be connected to the existing facility by a gallery hallway.

Harrelson hopes the Community Hall will be finished by next Easter, but his plans don't end when that building is completed.

"We eventually will have a small, intimate chapel, with stained glass windows," said Harrelson.

"We also want to build a Meditation Path, which will be a third of a mile long and will meander through the trees on our property. We've been blessed with a great view and want to share that with the community."

"That will be a long term project," added Kellog. "We will just keep expanding and adding to it over the years. We want to have benches and scripture plaques situated along the path."

A labyrinth is another facet of Harrelson's long range plans. According to Harrelson, the labyrinth was used by early Christians as a substitute for the yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

"The labyrinth is usually a simple geometric circle pattern," said Harrelson.

"It's not like a maze -- it's just a path marked out on the ground. It's a paradigm of our spiritual journey -- we are not always going on a linear path toward God."