MONROE - Don and Marilyn Rutsch, Monroe, wanted to look at something a little more colorful in their backyard than a drab gray wall.
Teens at Peace United Church of Christ in Browntown, where Don and Marilyn are members, wanted to do some volunteer work.
The result is a backyard wall that features pictures of butterflies, bears, raccoons, cows and ducks, drawn by Caroline Sowersby and painted by the teens in the church's youth group.
"We call it, 'All God's Critters Got to Sing in the Choir,'" Caroline smiled.
The Rutsches have lived in their home on 17th Avenue for 48 years, and they've both enjoyed spending time outside. Don doesn't get out as much as he used to, Marilyn said. It was her idea to have the wall painted. She wanted her husband to be able to look into the back yard and see something colorful.
Sowersby, wife of the Rev. Ray Sowersby, pastor of the church, spent about a week drawing all of the pictures on the wall. Once the drawings were completed, it was up to the youth group to help her paint them. They painted some of the pictures Tuesday and planned to finish the rest of them today.
This wasn't the first time the youth group has done some volunteer work. It made banners for the church and also made bird feeders, Sowersby said.
It wasn't just the young people who picked up a brush. Even Rev. Sowersby helped paint, he said.
"I painted the bear," he joked.
His main job is to spray a varnish over the finished wall to protect it from the weather.
Teens at Peace United Church of Christ in Browntown, where Don and Marilyn are members, wanted to do some volunteer work.
The result is a backyard wall that features pictures of butterflies, bears, raccoons, cows and ducks, drawn by Caroline Sowersby and painted by the teens in the church's youth group.
"We call it, 'All God's Critters Got to Sing in the Choir,'" Caroline smiled.
The Rutsches have lived in their home on 17th Avenue for 48 years, and they've both enjoyed spending time outside. Don doesn't get out as much as he used to, Marilyn said. It was her idea to have the wall painted. She wanted her husband to be able to look into the back yard and see something colorful.
Sowersby, wife of the Rev. Ray Sowersby, pastor of the church, spent about a week drawing all of the pictures on the wall. Once the drawings were completed, it was up to the youth group to help her paint them. They painted some of the pictures Tuesday and planned to finish the rest of them today.
This wasn't the first time the youth group has done some volunteer work. It made banners for the church and also made bird feeders, Sowersby said.
It wasn't just the young people who picked up a brush. Even Rev. Sowersby helped paint, he said.
"I painted the bear," he joked.
His main job is to spray a varnish over the finished wall to protect it from the weather.