Marshall Browning Celebrates New Chapel
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The new chapel at Marshall Browning Hospital crosses over onto the footprint of the original 1922 hospital--now gone--symbolizing the late Lillian Browning's vision for a community hospital and the current board's desire that it continue.
More than 200 friends of the hospital attended Sunday's 2 p.m. dedication of the beautiful chapel which CEO Bill Huff described as "second to none (we are a little bias)." He continued, "This chapel is well-built, beautifully furnished and something we can all be proud of."
Board president Harold Rice added, "These are dollars well spent. All of us in our lives need a quiet time when there is trouble," he said. This new chapel will add that measure of comfort and faith.
The chapel was accomplished through $20,000 gifted during its 2009 capital campaign "The Tree of Life" by the hospital auxiliary. The balance was funded by the hospital.
Marshall Browning Hospital auxiliary president Sarah Doerner explained how it all came to be:
"One day, in the past, (the date is uncertain now), a child in serious condition was taken into the emergency room at Marshall Browning Hospital. The family of that child gathered in the waiting room to talk to each other and to be supportive. A MBH Auxiliary member observed this moment as she worked her shift at the hospital information desk. "That family needed a special place for privacy," she thought, and thus was born the idea in her mind that something should be done. She shared that concern with other auxiliary members and the idea for a special area, perhaps in the form of a "Chapel," grew.
"The MBH Auxiliary Tree of Life committee co-chaired by Sam Macaluso and the Past President of the Auxiliary, Shirley Holmes, took up her idea and recommended it to the auxiliary members, who quickly agreed. It was decided to use the Tree of Life contributions received from the Auxiliary's 2009 campaign toward the establishment of a Chapel room.
"MBH Board of Directors with the leadership of hospital CEO Mr. William Huff further agreed to accept that proposal and to offset any expenses beyond the auxiliary's contributions. On Feb. 12, 2010 at a Valentine Tea event, the Auxiliary presented a check for $20.000 to Mr. Huff from its 2009 Tree of Life campaign for furnishings for the new Chapel.
"Even before the formed Chapel Committee officially met, Mr. Huff worked on plans for construction of the Chapel. The work to be done was with the general contractor Mr. Randy Skoffic and the electrical work by McIntire Electric of Du Quoin.
"Those individuals participating on the Chapel planning committee were: Mr. Huff, Mr. Lyle VanZandt, Director of Support Services at MBH, Dr. Craig Furry, MBH Board of Directors member, Rev. Gerald Wright, President of the Du Quoin Ministerial Alliance, Rev. Rich Luh, member of the Ministerial Alliance, and three hospital auxiliary members: Marceil Reminger, Sam Macaluso and Colleen Furry.
"Their first participation-planning meeting was to communicate with each other in describing the vision of each as to the purpose of the Chapel and to what they each visualized as being in the Chapel. This proved to be quite interesting and informative. Their thoughts were similar, and the committee members found they were in unity.
"At the committee's next meeting there were paint samples, carpet squares and catalogs to view. They were delighted with the available choices. By the end of that meeting, members came together and chose what they felt would blend together.
"The paint chosen included two colors, which were "Instructive Cream" for the side walls and "Biscuit" for the front wall. The carpet came from Atkins Flooring in Du Quoin. The furniture (light oak in color) with red trim came from Gospel Land Bookstore in Carbondale. The red color gave it the brightness that was needed and yet blended with the rug.
"The stained glass window took a little thought, but everyone agreed it should be the "Dove." The Dove has been a symbol for the hospital, as can be seen on shirts, certificates, and stationery. It also is spiritual, representing the thoughts, prayers or concerns flowing up to heaven.
"The window is a duplication, slightly altered, from a window that a committee member had given to her church. Hers came from a company in Warsaw, Ohio. The actual Chapel window came from Mominee Studios in Evansville, Indiana.
"The only things needed that weren't found in the catalogs were small tables for the entrance way and a simple, plain, medium sized cross. Rev. Wright knew a carpenter who was doing some work for him, and he asked him if he would be interested in building the tables and the cross. The beautifully constructed tables and cross came from the work of the hands of Dennis Downs. Mr. Downs matched the wood and one would think they were all bought together. The banners were purchased from Victory Alliance Products, Arden, North Carolina.
"The individual who pulled all of the items together, finding the candles, the Bible, and other items that give the room its homey, friendly, comfortable feel was Pam Logan, MBH Director of Marketing. Pam deserves special thanks for all of her help.
"It takes great teamwork to complete a project such as our new Chapel - the teamwork of the hospital board, hospital administration members, the hospital auxiliary members, Chapel planning committee, and the contributions of many Du Quoin and area individuals including families and businesses as they made monetary contributions in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Today, the family of that child mentioned earlier can perhaps feel some solace that its needs on that particular past day helped spur the development of our Chapel, and perhaps the late Lillie F. Browning, benefactor for the establishment of Marshall Browning Hospital in her will of Jan. 14, 1918, is smiling down on us today, because Marshall Browning Hospital continues to reach out to its area citizens and their individual needs."
Pastors Rich Luh of the St. John United Church of Christ and Gerald Wright of the Spirit of Life Christian Church added their thoughts and their prayers to the dedication.
The dedication was followed by a reception in the hospital cafeteria.