Take a walk into Dr. Bob Summers' office, and the first thing you might notice is his collection of portraits of Christ hanging on the wall behind his desk. Or the collection of puppets that adorn the top of his bookshelf. Or the religious books that line the shelves on both sides of the room, full to bursting.
If you are really observant, you might see the family photos on the back wall, next to a bookshelf filled with antiques.
It is a study in a life of one minister, the pastor at St. Andrew's United Church of Christ in Dexter.
The congregation itself began in 1883 in a small white church, now a museum, which was moved across the road in 1974 to make way for a new brick building. There are 389 members, and Worship Services are held at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday during the school year.
Over the past 125 plus years, ministers have brought their spiritual insights to the congregations in new ways.
Summers uses his office as a showroom to start conversation.
"I like to see what (visitors) focus in on. What they start talking about. It is something to start the small chat, and learn about their interests," Summers said.
"The first portrait (of Jesus) I collected is the laughing one. I've always thought that Jesus would be fun to be around," he said, describing a prominent portrait of Christ, not somber like most portraits depict him, but laughing. This portrait is Summers' favorite. He also has another portrait in which Christ is smiling, as well as many others depicting him in prayer, like the one set in Gethsemane, and another at the Crucifixion. There is a modern depiction of the stone rolling away from the empty tomb, accompanied by brightly colored light from within.
"What I find interesting about (these portraits) is how different people respond to them. How do they envision Jesus?" he said. He describes it as a faith journey, to find out what Jesus is all about.
