| The heavens sparkle inside Lovely Lane church again BY MELISSA LAUBERUMConnection staff  At Lovely Lane UMC in Baltimore the heavens really do now reflect the glory of God.
This summer, the Mother Church of Methodism put the finishing touches on a 360-degree mural of the night sky over Baltimore Nov. 6, 1887, when the church was consecrated as a memorial to 100 years of Methodism. In the mural, situated in a dome that soars above the sanctuary, worshippers can spot Saturn, Mars, the Milky Way, the Big Dipper and the stars in Orions Belt. It is a celebration of what humanity can do, said the Rev. Nancy Nedwell, the churchs pastor. It is the very best our congregation has to offer God. The congregation traces its roots back to the founding of the denomination in the United States, when Methodisms leaders gathered for the Christmas Conference in 1784 on the farm of John Lovely, which is now Redwood Street in Baltimore. More than 40 other congregations can trace their origins directly back to Lovely Lane. The facility at 2200 Saint Paul St. is the churchs fifth building. Designed by architect Sanford White, Lovely Lane is known in the architectural community as one of the finest churches in the nation, said Matthew Mosca, a historical painting consultant who is working on the churchs restoration. Mosca examined pieces of the walls under a microscope and was able to tell the congregation about the original coloring of the sanctuary. For years, the walls were cream, Nedwell said. They have now been restored to their original red which changes as the wall ascends from Pompeian to Venetian red. As part of the restoration, the carpet is also being replaced and the 800 theater-style chairs have been sent to Canada to be reupholstered. The colors and design match the churchs original green, pink and brown. Several hundred visitors tour Lovely Lane each month. Now, theyll be able to view what the Methodists attending the 1887 dedication of the church saw when they entered the sanctuary, Nedwell said. The restoration has created a sanctuary that radiates grandeur and reminds people that God is a whole lot bigger than the boxes we would try to confine God to, Nedwell said. Efforts to restore the church have taken more than 20 years. Two years ago the roof was repaired with terra cotta tiles at a cost of $600,000. The restoration of the sanctuary, which also includes re-gilding the organ pipes in gold leaf, will cost $1.2 million. The congregation has also chosen to restore four vestibules that lead to the sanctuary, but are not sure how they will pay the $200,000 that has yet to be raised. The 200-member congregation has given faithfully to the restoration campaign. We also have friends across the country, said Nedwell, and the France-Merrick Foundation has also given funds. Nedwell has grown very comfortable asking people for money. If we dont ask, we dont get, she said. These kinds of things really do matter. They have value, so I ask. Painting the heavens on the roof of the sanctuary reminds worshippers that nothing separates them from God. It also provides a sense of beauty that draws people closer to their creator, Nedwell said. Before the restoration began, large slab-like pieces of canvas were peeling off the dome. Everyone who has visited during the restoration stage feels like theyre viewing a masterpiece in the making. Nedwell hopes the project will be completed by Christmas. On the walls of the circular sanctuary are brass plaques that list the churchs pastors that go back to Francis Asbury, the denominations first bishop, and the Rev. John Goucher, who oversaw the first churchs construction. The first woman on that list, Nedwell reflects upon the plaques during quiet, holy moments when she finds herself alone in the sanctuary. Looking up at the ceiling, she is connected to a sacred past, in awe of the present and looking forward to the future God has in store. Past, present and future, she said. It doesnt get more exciting than that. | 
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