'Miraculous' Murals

When the director of Christian education at Trinity Lutheran Church asked twin sisters Brenda Gerler and Saundra Flanagan to paint scenes of Bethlehem along the Sunday school hallway, no one imagined the two would create works of art that would totally alter the appearance of the area and create great excitement among the children.

"The murals began when she asked us to come up with some drawings or a sketch that we could submit to the board for them to approve," Saundra said. "I did a thumbnail sketch of what I thought you might find in a town in Bethlehem."

Once the original work was approved, she created a "bigger drawing of bigger scenes."

The result is what friend and church member Wanda Steffens called "miraculous." She added, "When you see it, you'll know what I mean." Brenda and Saundra were tasked with "dressing up the hallway," but their talent created much more. "Beautiful" and "gorgeous" are Wanda's words to describe the artwork.

Asked what aspect of the project makes her most proud, Brenda said, "It is the receptiveness of the congregation, especially the children, "because that's who we painted it for in the first place."

Saundra Flanagan, left, and her sister Brenda Gerler talk with each other in the hallway they painted at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2014. (Glenn Landberg)

Brenda related the story of the day a teacher told her, "My kids have been asking me if I came down here to see these paintings." When she said she had not, the children said, "You have to because they're so cool!" When children affix the "cool" label on something, all the hard work is worth it, Brenda asserted.

And it certainly took intense work to complete the murals. Brenda and Saundra worked on the project for nine months, one night per week. When it was finished, they had taken a hallway and turned it into Bethlehem.

Saundra said, "We made the scenes depicting the towns of Bethlehem, like it would be during Jesus' times." It includes Bethlehem from a distance, tombs and crosses representing Easter, a stable, a rugmaker's or rugweaver's shop and a pottery shop.

These are all individual paintings.

Basically, the hallways portray "what you would see walking down the street of Bethlehem." There are also scenes of the Garden of Gethsemane, lanterns and the Luther Seal -- the widely recognized symbol for Lutheranism.

Brenda Gerler, left, and her sister Saundra Flanagan pose for a photo in front of a mural they painted lining the halls of the basement at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2014. (Glenn Landberg)

So where does one even begin with such a vast project? Saundra said she and Brenda picked a wall and just started.

"It kind of evolved from there over the months." And after nine months of "working four or five hours one night a week, on the average," they had completed the artwork that has garnered the praise of those who have seen it.

The sisters have been drawing since before they were school age, and they have perfected their gift over time. Several years ago, Brenda painted Jesus and lambs in the preschool Sunday school classroom, called the Little Lambs room, and Saundra painted numbers one through seven in the Creation Station room, each number a depiction of Creation. "The last day is the day of rest, of course," she said.

Not much rest from art seems forthcoming for Saundra and Brenda, however. The two continue to use their talent to paint portraits for individuals, children's scenes for businesses, Christmas decorations and other projects. Already the twins have plans for a couple more murals they want to paint at the church "so each room has something special in it."

Concerning the time required to paint the murals, Brenda is quick to praise family for their patience throughout the lengthy labor of love: "We couldn't have done it without the blessings and support of our families."

Though the sisters have not conducted formal tours of the Sunday school hallway showcasing the murals, anyone who would like to see the artwork is welcome. Brenda works at the church and said that people dropping by could be buzzed in and welcomed to see the art she and her sister, Saundra, have created.

Trinity Lutheran Church is at 100 N. Frederick St. in Cape Girardeau.