Onec upon a time there were three buildings—a big old Poppa of a building, owned by the Ameri can Legion; a Mother-of-modern-church-architecture building, owned by the Meth odists; and a little Baby church building, unused and for sale by the Wesleyans. The three buildings were living deep in the metropolis of Oswego, N.Y. At one time or another, each of the three buildings had a vacancy, and they waited to see who would fill them.

One tine day, while wandering through the deep, dark city, the Reformed Presbyterian congregation pastored by Kit “Goldilocks” Swartz happened upon each of these three buildings.

First, the elders led worship at the American Legion building. ‘The singing here isn’t too hot,” they said. “The lack of acoustics deadens the music.”

Later they led worship at the Methodist Church. “The singing here isn’t too cool,” they said. “The building is too big and swallows the sound up.”

Finally they tried worshiping in the Wesleyan building. “The singing here is just Right!” they exclaimed. “The music resounds off the ceiling!”

Then the congregation tried to park their cars.

“The parking here isn’t too hot,” complained people about the American Legion. “Being right here on the main street leaves few places to park. People have to walk for miles after parking their cars.”

“The parking here isn’t too cool,” observed the congregation about the Meth odist church. “The Methodist service starts before ours, and they get all the good parking spots before we arrive,”

“The parking here is just right!” the congregation said at the Wesleyan build ing. “Having our own building and plenty of land means we can all park our cars in our own lot, and even have room for handicapped spaces!”

Then the congregation tried to attract visitors.

No one knew the church existed as long as it was nestled in the back of the American Legion. That wasn’t too hot. No visitors could find it. Anyway, even if visitors could find the building, they still couldn’t find a place to park.

Any visitor that wandered into the Methodist building was usually looking for a Methodist church, and that wasn’t too cool. At least not for Presbyterians.

Should they buy the Wesleyan build ing, put up their own sign, and have their own parking lot, visitors could find them on a regular basis. They could even advertise! That would be just right.

Then the RP congregation tried to hold Sunday school.

At the American Legion they were cramped and crowded. “This isn’t too hot of an educational experience,” they mused. The rooms are small, few, and scattered about the building.”

They tried Sunday school at the Meth odist Church. The rooms were clean, roomy, had chalkboards and video facilities. There was a carpeted, well-lit room for every class. There was even a fellow ship area in the foyer. Unfortunately, the Methodists wanted to use the rooms too, and that wasn’t too cool.

They tried to imagine a Sunday school program at the Wesleyan church. The rooms were small and few, but clean and well-lit. Plus, there was plenty of room for expansion in the future. The building committee drew up plans. This could one day be just right.

Suddenly the three buildings returned to find the RP congregation using their facilities.

“Hey!” roared the American Legion building, “Someone has been worship ing in my fellowship hall, and I’m going to raise the rent!”

“Ho!” growled the Methodist building, “Someone has been worshiping in my sanctuary, but now I need my Sunday school rooms back!”

“Hi!” said the Wesleyan building, brightly, “Someone has been worshiping in my abandoned room, and wouldn’t you know, it’s for sale!”

And so, after wandering in the city of Oswego for years and years, the RP congregation stood face to face with the three buildings. The Poppa Building wasn’t too hot. The Mamma Building wasn’t too cool. The Baby Building was just right. They darted from the American Legion building, and spent a couple of years at the Methodist Building. Then they borrowed a big sack of gold and bought the Wesleyan building. The con gregation moved in during October 2000. The building is located on City Line Road—and there they are now!