A sign welcomes people to Kenai United Methodist Church on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Coming into the light of God’

Kenai church debuts blue facade

The Kenai United Methodist Church in Kenai has a case of the blues — literally. The 63-year-old structure is getting a “Santorini blue” paint job that is mostly finished, said Kari Mohn, who works for the church. The church, which was chartered in April of 1954, was consecrated at its current location on Frontage Road and Bluff Street in Kenai in September of 1957.

Mohn said the previous color — a shade of brown — made walking into the church feel like walking into a “cave.” The choice to change the color came as the church worked to cut down beetle kill trees — about 34 of them. Mohn said felling the trees put the church on much more of a display considering its location along the Kenai Spur Highway.

“As you come into Kenai from the north and make that curve close to the chamber of commerce, the church is what you see — it’s just right there,” Mohn said.

The church launched a “paint committee” that drove around Kenai to gauge the colors of the town’s other large buildings and to see if they could match the shade of blue seen in places like Preferred Plumbing & Heating.

With help from an app by Sherwin-Williams Company, a paint and coating manufacturer, Mohn said the church was able to try on different colors. It came down to a vote between a “grape” purple color and “Santorini blue,” with the blue coming out on top. Mohn said purple was appealing because it’s a liturgical color, but that more people ended up choosing blue.

The church cross, which used to be white, will also be painted black so that it is more visible when mounted on the white entryway, Mohn said. Overall, she said she thinks the white entrance will give the area a lighter feel.

“It will be more coming into the light of God by coming in through that church door,” Mohn said. “We like that feeling of coming into the light.”

Painting is still underway at the parish, where workers could be seen painting the exterior on Monday. Between the food pantry, Alcoholics Anonymous and worship services offered at the church, Mohn said when completed she hopes the paint job will make the structure stand out more.

“We wanted to be the only blue church in town,” she said.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

A worker paints a steeple white at the Kenai United Methodist Church on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

A worker paints a steeple white at the Kenai United Methodist Church on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Evan Frisk calls for full-time staffing of the Central Emergency Services’ Kasilof station during a meeting of the CES Joint Operational Service Area Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kasilof residents ask for full staffing at fire station

Public testimony centered repeatedly on the possible wait times for an ambulance

The southbound lane of Homer Spit Road, which was damaged by the Nov. 16 storm surge, is temporarily repaired with gravel and reopened on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Homer’s Spit road reopened to 2 lanes

Repairs and reinforcement against erosion will continue through December

The under-construction Soldotna Field House stands in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We’re really moving along’

Officials give field house updates at Soldotna City Council meeting

Kenai Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elodi Frisk delivers Thanksgiving meals to seniors during the Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Kenai Senior Center banquet hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Giving thanks together

Seniors gather for annual Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point man indicted for 3 shootings at Homer family planning clinic, recovery center

The grand jury returned 12 counts total for the three shootings

The entrance to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is barricaded on Overland Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Citing dangerous drivers, Kenai closes one entrance to visitor’s center

The barricade will be removed temporarily on Friday for Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Food bank seeks turkey donations as Thanksgiving nears

The local food bank is calling for donations of $25 to “Adopt-A-Turkey” for a local family in need

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward budget hearing covers bed tax, wages, emergency medical services

The Seward City Council on Nov. 12 considered a series of legislative items connected to 2025 and 2026 budget

The results of ranked choice tabulation show Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, winning reelection in the race for Senate District D. (Screenshot/Gavel Alaska)
Bjorkman, Vance win reelection after tabulation of ranked choice ballots

An effort to repeal ranked choice voting and the open primary system was very narrowly defeated

Most Read