Yesterday, Sunday, April 13, 2009, a date which would live in infamy...for the Applewood Ward, Golden Ward, Red Rocks Ward and Denver 2nd Ward. The Golden Stake has changed our boundaries, reducing the four Wards to three, essentially dissolving the Applewood Ward, the Ward I grew up in, the Ward I dubbed the Psyche Ward (we seemed to attract some crazy people), the Ward I called home for (almost) all 21 years of my life.
The new Ward boundaries are as follows:
CLEAR CREEK WARD: (Formerly known as Golden Ward)
-South Border: 6th Ave to I-70 to 27th/26th Ave.
-West Border: Lookout Mtn Park
-North Border: Same as before (Stake boundaries stayed in place)
-East Border: Wadsworth Blvd
FOOTHILLS WARD: (Formerly known as Red Rocks Ward)
-South Border: Same as before
-West Border: Same as before
-North Border: 6th Ave to I-70 to 27th/26th Ave.
-East Border: Wadsworth Blvd
MOUNTAIN VIEW WARD: (Formerly known as Denver 2nd Ward)
-South Border: Same as before
-West Border: Wadsworth Blvd
-North Border: Same as before
-East Border: Same as before
The strangest part about the boundary re-alignment was the fact that I'm not even in the same Ward as my Grandpa anymore. That has NEVER happened!
The meeting was more emotional than I expected it to be. I mean, I was a little sad to see the Psyche Ward be dissolved right in front of my eyes, but I didn't expect the effect it would have on everyone in the Chapel. After the boundaries were announced, the noise of sniffles steadily grew louder, until Bishop Spencer got up to bear his testimony.....that was the hardest part for me; the realization that not only will he not be my Bishop anymore, but he also is no longer in the same Ward as me! Staying on the Spencer track, the Heinys and the Spencers always sit next to eachother because the Spencer kids love to sit with my mom and me. So after the meeting, I saw James struggling through the crowd, head bent to the ground, wandering like a long forgotten son. Once he found me, he just collapsed into my arms and quietly sobbed for a solid five to ten minutes.
That did it for me. It brought back so many memories, both bad and good (but mainly good, of course!) of the good old Psyche Ward. It brought me back to the days when my childhood hero, Andrew Elldridge(sp?), left for his mission, and I thought he'd never be back. It brought me back to the days when we moved from the McIntyre Building to the new Stake Center, how sad I was to leave the only building I ever knew, but excited to be going to a refreshingly NEW building! It brought me back to the Mutual days, the Stake Dances, the Basketball Tournaments, the EFYs, and the Youth Conferences.
It reminded me of the friends I lost, especially when the Farias left and when the Archbolts left (Lance had been my best friend since the day I had been born), but it reminded me more of the friends I made. Back in my middle school/high school days, I never really thought I'd actually keep in contact with the people that I still talk to today.
Then I realized that, although all of this happened while I was in the Applewood Ward, these are typical memories that can be created at any other place and any other time. I felt strongly then that everything would work out, not for my sake, but for the sake of all the snifflers in the Chapel, especially James, the sobbing Spencer resembling me in so many ways so many years ago.
I'm saddened to see the termination of the Psyche Ward, but I'm looking forward to the new adventures my new Wards will have for me in the future. Bring on the Clear Creek Ward!
And the Ward that I'm a part of when I move out the Provo:D
I feel as if a part of me is gone :( When I learned about the ward boundaries changing (and the dissolving of my beloved and eccentric home ward), I felt a little lost. We grew up in that ward! Hey, at least we're still in the same ward, because that would have been way sad. (Sorry you're in a different ward from your grandpa:( ) I heard the meeting was more emotional than people expected, and I can't believe you guys had to sing "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go." See you soon!!
ReplyDeleteI was much more emotional than I thought I would be. I realize that there is strength in meeting with good people each week and associating/worshiping with them. Glad we're still in the same ward as the Heiny's, though!
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