St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mamaroneck, N.Y., dedicated a votive ship that hangs from its ceiling. Marvin E. Henk, pastor, had seen many in European churches. Sailors made and gave the votive, or nave ships, as thanks for safe passage, and Henk thought St. John, which overlooks Mamaroneck Harbor and a village with seafaring as part of its history, should have one. Member Ron Neilson built the ship called the Godspeed. At its dedication, Henk read from teachings of Gregory the Great: “The church is a ship in which God takes us safely through life from one shore, birth, to the other, death.” Our nave, derived from the Latin word navis means “ship” or “vessel,” Henk said, adding that the ship is a reminder that “the church is a place where we come to find sanctuary, direction and safety for our journey on the seas of life. We come here to be re-centered, renewed, energized and inspired for another week.”
Godspeed dedicated
November 26, 2015
