Haven’s altar was unveiled Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. The altar is the Memorial Communion Altar funded from donations in honor of Thelma Ferrel and other folks who kept the church together during Jerome’s “quiet” years.
Built by Rex Funk, husband of former Haven Pastor Lujet McCullough, it was designed to harmonize with Haven’s period architecture. The multiple angles mirror those of the church building. The top is a single solid slab of quarter-sawn Bubinga, an African hardwood. It is supported by nine turned and ebonized hard maple spools, which allow the top to expand and contract laterally with changes in humidity. The base is mahogany plywood, trimmed in bubinga, cocobolo, and macassar ebony. The inlay motif utilizes curly ash, red maple burl, macassar ebony, and sapele, trimmed with bloodwood. Veneers in the motif were selected and arranged to convey a three dimensional effect. The finish is hand-rubbed polyurethane, and the top received over ten coats.
The design was a collaboration between then Pastor Don Benton, the Church Administrative Council, and the artist. The base recalls the Ark of the Covenant, and symbolizes the individual covenant each of us has with God. The diverging angle of the top of the base suggests arms raised in an open gesture to heaven. The floating top suggests the connection between heaven and earth. The motif represents a communion platter and chalice. Letters symbolize the stages of life, death, and resurrection.