In a long-forgotten box, words of enduring faith at a Marietta church

But it was the letter, signed by 10 deacons a half-century ago, that most touched Mount Zion’s pastor, the Rev. Ted McClung. He carefully opened it again recently, re-reading the deacons’ words:

“ ‘Prayer is the key to all who believe and never doubting what the Lord can do,’ ” he read. “Those are powerful words.”

Words to sustain a congregation in trying times. For Mount Zion, those times are now.

Piece of a brighter past

The church, founded by nine members in 1843, was known for its rollicking gospel music. In its 1960s heyday, the small sanctuary strained to hold its 250 worshippers. Believers parked their cars on the shoulders of Powder Springs Road, then a dusty two-lane. It had 10 deacons. Its stationery proclaimed Mount Zion “The Little Church with the Big Welcome.”

But church members died, moved away, or transferred memberships to larger congregations. Today, Mount Zion has three deacons. When McClung took over as pastor last year, he counted maybe 45 or 50 folks in the sanctuary on a good Sunday.

Earlier this year, when painters discovered a sanctuary wall about to topple, the church consulted an engineer. He suggested a new roof and walls — in essence, a replacement building. It would cost about a half-million dollars.

“With a little band of Christians like us, it would take a long time to raise that,” said Gene Casey, chairman of the church’s board of trustees. The first time he came to Mount Zion, Casey was a baby in his mama’s arms. He’s 82 now.

He was there 51 years ago when the congregation inserted the time capsule behind the cornerstone, “but I’d sort of forgotten that.” He was there again two weeks ago when workers pried away the stone and the capsule came to light.

“It caught us all by surprise,” Casey said.

Caught him by the heart, too. One of the deacons whose names appear on the letter was Casey’s grandfather, Robert Casey.

Carolyn Wheeler Thrailkill was no less moved when the box was discovered. Her late father, Charlie Wheeler, was chairman of the 1951 deacon board. His signature, in blue ink, adorns the letter.

Those were good days, said Thrailkill, 71. She recalled gospel music that brought people from miles away.

“You couldn’t get everyone in the house,” she said. “We had the [sanctuary] windows open, and people standing outside, looking in.”

Words to cherish

Those long-ago worshippers at Mount Zion sealed the box and christened their sanctuary on the third Sunday of September 1958. This year on the third Sunday in September, the church will have its annual homecoming. Present and former members will worship in the fellowship building, where the church meets now. Later, they will gather at the concrete picnic tables and eat lunch, Lord willing, under a clear sky.

And they will examine again the contents of the time capsule — the mortgage note, the program, and that letter. Especially that letter.

“May you always depend on him to lead and guide you in whatever you do,” the letter concludes.

Those are words to believe, church members agree.

“We needed those words,” said McClung.

“I have faith that perhaps we can rebuild,” said Casey.

“The church has had its ups and downs,” said Thrailkill. “It’s down, and so we’ll have to pull together and go forward.”

As it does, Mount Zion will hold onto its cornerstone and its steeple. One day, it may have a new sanctuary that needs those finishing touches.

And the time capsule?

There’s room inside it for more church documents, for more words of faith to sustain a future generation, in good times and bad.