75th Anniversary Celebration Southeastern District- LCMS

The Processional Cross

This processional cross gifted to the 

Southeastern District of the LCMS

 is crafted in memorial of the Christian brothers

 and sisters of Iraq and Syria that died

 for their confession that Jesus Christ

 is the Son of God, 

the Lamb of God that takes away

 the sin of the world.

  The materials were donated

 by Dr. Benjamin Harrison Allen.

  The white oak, black walnut, 

and wild cherry trees grew on his property

 for just over 75 years.  

Three types of wood were used to symbolize

 the three regions of the Southeastern District: 

Northern, Central and Southern.  

When studied closely, each type of wood

 forms a distinct cross, and yet,

 when viewed from a distance, 

the three form but one cross. 

 Each region of our district serves communities

 and neighborhoods deeply influenced

 by their histories and the many cultural traditions

 that settled and are continuing to settle there.

  Yet, our mission is one:  

Proclaim the love of God that expressed itself

 most profoundly in the cross that Jesus Christ

 bore and sacrificed His holy life upon

 2000 years ago. 

      

This cross was created by Rev. Denton White,

 the pastor of  St. Paul Lutheran Church,

 Whispering Pines NC and

 St. James, Southern Pines, NC. 

He has given all of us in the Southeastern District

 the processional cross used to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our District.

 He found the trees, shaped the lumber, 

designed and made the cross. 

We give thanks to God for Denton 

and his amazing artistic ability and the way

 he as used it to give honor and glory to Jesus.

 Denton says,

  “I was almost complete with the finishing process 

when I noticed that the cherry wood

 I used on the outer edge,

 because of its irregular grain,

 almost resembled flames.

  Oh, may our God make us burn with desire

 for His cause in the lives of others 

and with sincere, child-simple love for Him.”

Part of the Celebration for the 75th Anniversary 

for the Southeastern District- Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Praise the Lord!