From a tiny room in the belfry in a corner of the balcony of Noel Memorial United Methodist Church to missions around the world, the Upper Room has been an active, moving force for Christ.

Though the class first met in that tiny room with leaders, Art and Dorothy Gammill, and four members in February of 1958, it began to take on the shape and form of a Christ driven force when Al Trickett became the teacher in the fall of 1960. Al knocked on doors and “beat the bushes” for those young adults who had grown up in the church and married and young couples new to the church or community. Once he had a small group together, he preached “each one reach one” and gave members names of couples to visit and encourage to attend the class. He was a tireless force when it came to reluctant prospects eventually winning the cause in most cases.

Once a prospect became a member, they began the journey as part of the Upper Room Family. Al’s good lessons from the International Lesson Series were made more colorful by references to the “gospel according to Peanuts” as it applied to the current lesson. Perhaps the most important lessons that were learned, however, were those he and Elizabeth, his wife, taught by example – love one another, care about your neighbor, and let others see Christ in you. When the class grew so large that it was difficult to give every member the same level of care, Al instituted the parish system that is still used today . It was designed so each couple was part of a group small enough to know everyone and take care of each other. Members were encouraged to pray for each other every day.

Though Al and Elizabeth were with us as leaders for only seven of our 50 years, the Upper Room Class is what it is today because of their influence. “Beulah Land” was first sung in 1961 following Al’s lesson about Beulah Land. Early on Elizabeth suggested the benediction we still use today. When they left the class it was for Al to enter the ministry and successfully use his experience with the Upper Room Class to nurture congregations large and small throughout Louisiana.

When the Fellowship Hall Building was completed in 1962, the class journeyed to a large room in the basement of that building from a small room in the basement of the Activities building where it had moved after the belfry. After only four years, however, the class had grown to over 60 couples and outgrown this room. At that time the Upper Room moved to the basement under the sanctuary where it has remained. The room has been remodeled several times, most recently as a memorial to Larry Beadles who died in 2004.

Renovations over the years have made the room a lovely, comfortable meeting place but the true Upper Room abides in the hearts and spirits of its members. Though most of the members never knew the founding teachers, they are aware of the caring spirit, the call to missions, the outreach to others and the power of prayer of the combined class that was learned in those early days and passed on to member after member over the years. On this journey we have made together, members have shared their joys and sorrows, prayed with each other and held the hands of those who were sick, grieving or in need of comfort. Members of the class who have weathered a crisis can attest to the strength of the support of the class and the power of prayer as its members prayed ceaselessly for God’s peace and mercies and the healing of bodies and families.

Prayers and more have been offered for Noel Church. It would definitely have been a different church over the last 50 years but for the willingness of Upper Roomers to roll up their sleeves to do whatever job needed to be done in the church, the neighborhood and in missions. We still sing songs, run meetings, teach classes, cook and serve meals, donate blood, serve on committees, unload food trucks and build houses from Shreveport to Mexico. Our journey continues as members of the Upper Room can be seen working with joy in just about anything the church takes on as well as reaching out into the community and world to serve others.

Some of us have been on this journey with the Upper Room from our 20’s into our 70’s, our whole adult lives, some for 20 to 30 years and others only for a short time, but the spirit is the same for those who wish to be involved with a group that acts as God’s hands and feet. Those weekends we shared at Caney Lake, Christmas parties - old and new, work projects, fishing trips, cooking at 5:00 a.m. and mission trips have served and some continue to serve as experiences which bind us to each other, making us stronger and more effective than any of us could be alone.

The Upper Room has been active for half of the life of Noel. The journey continues as the class still strives to do good works and be that light shining to glorify our Father in heaven just as it has from the beginning.

Teachers over the years: