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The Story of Chapel Haven
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Chapel Haven's history is full of God's blessings!  Here's how, with those blessings, we came to be:
In the early 1960’s, the Adventist Churches were looking at Target-Town Evangelism. Colorado Conference goal was 30 new towns in 1962. This meant they would have to reach more than two towns per month.
Denver Central Church, now Denver First Church, caught the vision of this soul-winning endeavor and made Thornton, Colorado their Target-Town.


Through the efforts of the Brighton and Denver Central Sabbath Schools, a Branch Sabbath School was formed with the first Sabbath School being held on Sabbath, November, 1961 at the Thornton Nazarene Church located at 88th Avenue and York Street. The united efforts of the Seventh-day Adventists who lived in the Thornton area, but who had responsibilities in the churches of Brighton, Wheat Ridge, North Denver and Denver Central, was an inspiration to move forward and make a dream come true like the courageous missionaries, Paul of Carthage and Andrew of old.


Dr. Dalrie Berg and a nucleus of missionary-minded individuals spearheaded this endeavor. This dedicated and determined group was organized into a Company on January 6, 1962 by Elder R. S. Joyce, President of the Colorado Conference. These enthusiastic believers, just four months after becoming a Company, were organized into the Thornton Seventh-day Adventist Church on May 12, 1962. 

The first pastor was Earnest E. Lutz of the Denver Central Church. In early 1963, the district association was moved to Brighton with Elder Brent Border as District Pastor. Succeeding pastors and their wives have been Wayne and Linda Anderson, Stanley and Dora Pedersen, Byron and Myrtle Blecha, Robert and Judy Vandeman, Henry and Pansy Barron, Carrol and Alice Brauer, John and Arloene Goley, Barry and Judy Taylor and Denis and Teri Segebartt.

Though the church was small in number, the youth had a very active Pathfinder Club named Thornton Pinehawks. Dr. Don Dunkin was the leader of the group. 

Soon this enthusiastic and devoted group was determined to have their own building. Much searching was done for just the right location. Dave Hood, Sr. found our lot at 99th and Huron. After checking many locations in this north area, in 1966 this location was selected for the future site of the church. The hope was that this church on the hill would be a lighthouse to this community.
An architect was engaged in 1968 to formulate plans for this lighthouse for Christ. After much consideration, the congregation selected the unique diamond-shaped design for the future church building plan. It was in 1970 that Bob Buller was hired as the contractor and work was begun.

Plans had been laid and work had begun, but it was not without much prayer and determination by the founders of the Thornton SDA Church. Plans were submitted to the Colorado Conference. Elder H. V. Reed, then President of the Conference, wrote in a letter that the church’s attitude was very admirable and all qualifications had been submitted correctly. The plans for the church had been accepted by the Union and General Conference so they were clear to proceed with the church building. 

Thus the church proceeded with their plans. Members of the Thornton SDA Church Building Committee included the chairman, Dave Hood, and Dr. Lief Adams, Dr. Dalrie Berg, Opal Joseph, Dr. Don Dunkin, Dorothy Fillion, Dalmain Wood and Pastor Stanley Pedersen.

There was unusual dedication by the members of the church. This seemed to them to be a monumental and bold task to complete. Among the members, there was not only sacrificial financial giving but also many hours of untiring labor in laying block, painting and many other tasks. It was a joint effort by all the members to see this labor of love accomplished. These dedicated members, both adults and youngsters, worked every Sunday to complete the task. The ladies of the church, each week, furnished lunch and helped in other areas as well. The ladies were instrumental in caring for the making and installing of drapes in the Sabbath School rooms and helping to choose carpet and other furnishings.

Though the building was just a shell, services began to be held in January, 1971. Through the next several months, Don Wagner, along with help from other members, worked diligently erecting partitions downstairs. The official opening of the church was Sabbath, November 27, 1971. The Sanctuary was dedicated to God November 24, 1973.

The question of what to name the church arose since the church was not located in Thornton but in Northglenn. Many suggestions were tossed around and finally it was decided to present several names that had been suggested. These names were presented to the congregation and they were given the opportunity to vote on their choice. The official name of the church, as voted by the congregation, was Chapel Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church of Northglenn.
 
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
The colored glass windows in the Sanctuary are unique in that each one presents a story. They are floor to ceiling, inch-thick faceted glass which depicts belief and hope with their large arcs putting together the complete circle. 

The skylight is coordinated with the large windows by its crimson cross, which is the center and reason for our Christian faith. Shining over the baptistery are the Holy Spirit dove—God’s acceptance of each of us as His beloved child; the grapes—Christ’s blood cleansing from all stain and spot; and the ictus fish professing in I-Jesus X-Christ O-God’s U-Son as our -Savior - the first letter of each, spelling fish in Greek.

On the South window, symbolic of Belief portrays the large Christmas star beaming the advent of Christ to this world. The Trinity’s concern and work of man’s Salvation glows in 3 small stars. Starting from the top is the chalice and the 3 small loaves commemorating Christ’s sacrifice for man. God reaches down to man offering the crown of life in His nail-scarred hand, with cleansing drops of red and the flame of the Spirit all waiting for man to accept God’s message, the Word, is open to man offering salvation with its jewels of wisdom and crown of thorns. Beside the world is God’ law – man’s best left structure – that in sin has often been forgotten, but man’s breaking is covered by the Lamb of God. Man’s part is to have faith, depicted by the grains of mustard seed on the globe. For this belief God offers it all, His good and best will to men.

The North window, symbolic of Hope, heralds with shining rays from above the blessed hope of the soon coming Savior – the bright and morning star. The trumpets sound warning to prepare the living and call to raise the dead in Christ, as God thrusts in the sickle to reap the harvest of ripened wheat---His people---and will beat all swords into plowshares in the heaven of peace. The message of the three angels prepares a people to be anchored in Christ holding securely the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The pillar of fire, an Old Testament symbol of God’s presence, fulfills Christ’s promise to be with us even unto the end of the world.