Tree stump becomes memorial of faith at First Christian Church

Like most of its Vinton neighbors, the First Christian Church property sustained noticeable damage during the July 11 storm. Virtually all of its trees were damaged or destroyed, and many shingles blew off the roof (although no water seeped into the building).

The tree between the church and 13th Street had been reduced to a large stump.

Church members, led by Wendy Dunkelberger, decided to turn that tree into an artistic expression of faith. They contacted Vinton chain saw artist Brian Parr.

"We gave him a few ideas, but left it up to him to determine what he saw in the tree," said Dunkelberger. Parr created the praying hands sculpture.

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PD October 3, 2011, 12:43 pm What a beautiful example of how God can make something good come out of something we view as so tragic.

MK October 4, 2011, 9:45 am What a beautiful sculpture! The perfect way to make something good out of a stump.

RCW October 4, 2011, 1:09 pm We so appreciate everyone who has come by to see the beautiful praying hands that Brian crafted. This amazing sculpture is a testament to the community spirit of renewal and rebuilding happening throughout Vinton.

D October 4, 2011, 2:27 pm I love it!!

MW October 4, 2011, 5:10 pm Beauty I guess is in the eye of the beholder but these tree stump sculptures are rather hideous to me. Before I saw this story I happened to drive by this \"work of art\" and at first thought it was something else....

VL October 5, 2011, 10:35 am Brian Parr is a wonderful artist and person. He carved a hawk out of our stump. I think recycling a stump into a work of art is an amazing and beautiful thing. I love that so many of these are going up all over town and look forward to seeing many new ones.

TM October 6, 2011, 9:51 pm It reminds me of that last scene in the movie \"Carrie\" where her hand comes out of the ground from beneath her tombstone. That still freaks me out to this day. I refuse to sleep with my arms dangling over the edge of my bed for fear that Carrie will grab me.

MV October 17, 2011, 8:47 pm I like hideous...

News : Tree stump becomes memorial of faith at First Christian Church

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