America is known for being a melting pot of cultures, religions, philosophies, languages and peoples. Today, over four centuries later, many religions are practiced in America, and various structures have been built as houses of faith and worship.

A number of these buildings recall earlier religious architectural styles, and this is definitely true regarding Gothic cathedrals. Anyone who has had the opportunity to walk through one of these structures constructed in medieval Europe can’t help but be spellbound by the immensity of their size, the powerful appearance of their facades, or the stunning beauty of their stained glass windows.

These cathedrals are symbols of faith, built without the modern construction equipment of today. And how did those huge, heavy stone structures have walls of glass?

Initially, chunks of stone needed to be quarried and a mason would work to shape those into smaller piece. Medieval manuscripts show depictions of cathedral construction, and from them we get to know that a pulley system was used to get heavy stones up multiple stories. Creators would employ a big wooden wheel that a person would walk within to put the wheel moving. The wheel was connected to rope, which was rigged to a wooden platform that they would stuff with stones. As a person stepped inside the wheel, it would put tension on the rope, take advantage of the stones higher and higher. Once the stones were arranged, it was essential that each layer of rock was level to create the necessary balance for the overall structure.

In earlier times, the only method to build a tall construction was to build it with thick walls. How were people living in the Middle Ages able to build these towers of stone that had relatively thin walls filled with gorgeous glass? The answer lies in three components of their architectural design: the pointed arch, flying buttresses, and vaulted ceilings which mimic the same engineering behind a Gothic arch.

In a pivoted arch, the weight of the stonework distributes in a more lateral fashion, putting stress on the walls of the structure. The brilliance of the Gothic (pointed) arch, however, is that this engineering development directed the weight down the arch to the ground. With all of the weight being moved to the ground, the walls were then able to be created largely of beautifully colored windows.

At the same time, medieval architects designed flying buttresses, which essentially function as huge stone arms placed at the greatest stress points in the arches to support the weight of the heavy stone. Vaulted ceilings have the same pointed design of the Gothic arch, driving the weight of the whole structure to the ground, as an alternative to distributing the weight through the walls.

Once they had figured out how to drive the weight to the ground, it opened up the chance of allowing light to stream into the church by creating walls of colorful glass. In medieval times, glass makers would add metals to the liquid glass mixture to create several colors in the glass. They would shape that glass into discs and then once they had achieved a desired hue
it could be cut, with other colored glass discs, into the various pieces that would come together to make vibrantly colored windows.

There’s no question about it; these structures exemplify a huge architectural feat, and they’re still astonishing when you walk inside them today. And while the Gothic style cathedrals constructed on American soil aren’t as old as the ones built in the Middle Ages, they have something in common, apart from their design: they were built as sacred structures to house worshippers.

As a motorcoach company, Bedore Tours love partnering with church groups. Please don’t hesitate to call if we can help transport your cathedral choir to a benefit performance or help in shuttling at a church sponsored event. Bedore Tours motorcoaches are created to ensure transportation on a larger scale. Whether it’s for worship or service, we’re on hand for all of your congregational needs! (And, if you loved reading this and want to discover more about Gothic cathedral construction in the Middle Ages, browse through this documentary by PBS that we watched to get the information for this article: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gFxNFxjV4IA).

When you look back on your church years of experience as a youth, what do you recall? Were you that young girl that looked forward to turning 12, because that was interchangeable with leaving the group of younger children on Sundays and moving on to take part in the girls ages 12-18 for the trip with maid of the mist of your adolescent years? This was perhaps amazing for numerous reasons: you thought that you weren’t a child anymore, you unexpectedly seemed so matured, you were beginning to make “big” choices in your life, and there were numerous exciting events on the horizon: learning to drive, getting asked out on your first date, high school football games and dances, and deciding on which college you were going to attend.

However did turning 12 also indicate going to summer camp? Were you that girl that met up with your church group ahead of time in the morning on the day you were leaving, explored by maid of the mist for a few hours, and remained in sparse wood A-frame cabins on a lake surrounded by pines and aspens for 5 days? And did you find out safety and first aid skills, sing camp songs, hike, canoe on the water, share in religious devotionals, and roast s’mores around the campfire?

No matter what the occasion, church trips with the whole congregation can fast become a large group of people, and that means you have to find an appropriate form of transportation for everyone. The maid of the mist provide an ideal solution, combining functionality with comfort. Today’s motorcoach is a far cry from what you likely rode in as a kid. Today, one can choose a coach that comes with lots of extras: power and WiFi, a bathroom on board, entertainment alternatives, and features aimed to keep each passenger comfortable (such as individual airflow controls and reading lights).

If your church choir and orchestra is headed for a regional tour, reserve a coach! Each coach carries up to 57 passengers, and traveling together will make it possible to avoid individuals getting lost if they’re driving, and enables you to get around the problem of people staggering in late, too.

Reserve a coach if your youth group has summer camp or a community service event that requires transportation! Teenagers are notorious for being social and may need lots of time with friends. Letting them ride together will provide chances for talking and laughter while you’re on the road, and there’s also the solution of entertainment while you’re traveling, too.

If you have to find a way to pick up several members of your congregation that are unable to make it to services by themselves, reserve a coach! There’s enough room for anyone, and it’s an added benefit that, if parking is restricted, a coach won’t take up the space that individual cars do in a parking area.

In some cases after praying, singing, and reading together, you just want to get out and have a blast together, building up the bonds of friendship you share as a group. Whether you’re off to go skiing, enjoy a hike in the nearby mountains, or plan to participate in a play or other cultural event together, reserve a coach!

For whatever your congregational transportation needs are, maid of the mist are the answer. Years later, when you’re looking back on church outings, you’ll likely remember the time you spent on a bus– memories that evoke laughter, friendship, and warmth.

When you look at any establishment and assess it, you can likely pinpoint strengths that it has, as well as things that you like about it. In the motorcoach business, we keep in touch with lots of different people across many industries. Sometimes we transport military men and women, and other times we are transporting a group of high schoolers to prom thru our best Niagara falls tours. Sometimes we are getting an entire wedding party to a rehearsal dinner, and sometimes we are with a group of friends who are taking a wine tour. We interact with business men and women, families, youth groups, sports teams, hotels, and provide shuttle services, too. We appreciate different things from each of these sorts of experiences, and it’s a benefit to be a part of people’s lives.

When it goes to church members, we prefer to assist in several ways. Whether we have the chance to transport the choir to a singing engagement, be the wheels behind a service project, or help your youth reach a scouting jamboree, it is gratifying for us to provide our best Niagara falls tours! While there are lots of reasons one could appreciate and admire what church communities do, in this article are some of the many things we love.

For starters, church organizations often foster a sense of community and friendship. As people integrated regularly for worship and activities, strong bonds build as time go on. You often end up with a group of people that share a system of beliefs, but also deeply care for each other, too. This is a wonderful thing and something we have been honored to witness as we deal with various church congregations using our best Niagara falls tours.

Church groups are basically anxious to serve wherever they can. These people are serious about supporting each other out and doing a good turn. From volunteering in soup kitchens to visiting members of their parish that are sick, serving is a way that people extend love and kindness to each other, and it’s just another way that faith is manifest, too.

Being a member of a church organization opens up opportunities to review what you believe with others. One of the purposes we think this is a positive thing is because it makes moments where people are welcomed to think critically about why they do what they do and examine the purposes behind it. It triggers members to ask the big questions, involve with others, and talk about philosophies and ideas.

Churches get associated with their communities– something that benefits us all. Maybe you can try to remember attending a Bach passion in a cathedral that was put on by the cathedral choir for the public, or the way one other church organized a classical music festival every week for several months. Maybe you go to attend choir concerts that are open to the public, or other arts and cultural events that churches have sponsored and taken part in. These are just a few examples of many ways that churches try to reach out and engage with the community in meaningful ways.

We appreciate the humanitarian aid and assistance that is spearheaded by church organizations. Where there is a large group of people that are committed to a good cause, remarkable things can take place. It is motivating to watch how church groups rally and give assistance in circumstances where there is true need, and we love experiencing things like that.

It is a true opportunity for us whenever we have an opportunity to engage with church groups. When you have a congregational transportation need, we’d love to take care of it with our best Niagara falls tours.

There are so many different faith groups, and different needs depending on each congregation. Some of these groups are large with millions of members, and some are quiet denominations with only a handful of folks that are involved.

Some of the strategies this takes place is through serving, as that naturally seems to set up bridges between us and others. Church groups have long been known for being involved in humanitarian efforts and lending financial aid and volunteers, among other things. It seems that, whatever where we look, there is no end to human need: individuals who are having a hard time, downtrodden, hopeless, and hungry.

When you gather as a group to carry out service, there is a lot that can be done in your own neighborhood and community. However, if you prefer to take your congregation hours away to join a greater effort or offer aid even more from home, we think a coach is the way to go. Not only can riding together create an opportunities to get to know each other better and enhance camaraderie, you can also discuss the impact of the experience that you’ve shared together when you’re on your way home.

Service has a trick, and this is it: so often we do an act planning to help another person– to lighten their suffering, to tend to their wants and needs, to be a listening ear when they feel broken. The surprising thing is that, in the very act, we find that what is broken in us seems to mend, too– our own struggles seem lighter, and our hearts are strengthened with new perspective to go forward in our own lives. That’s the real beauty of it.

Therefore… when your congregation is heading out for a service opportunity and needs a great way to get there, we’re only a call away! We’d love to come along for the ride with our gray line tours Niagara falls!

Among the benefits that incorporates being part of a church group is a sense of community. While it’s nice to gather on Sundays to worship, church groups often spend time doing fun things together to enhance friendships, too. Here are some seasonal activities that will bring everyone together for some fun if you’re the one that’s in charge of planning social events for your congregation.

WINTER
When white comes to cover the brown earth during the winter months, why not take the congregation on a group ski trip– for a day, an evening, or longer! And, when the holidays roll around, there’s nothing like caroling together as a group and getting together for hot chocolate and some Christmas cookies when the evening is over.

SPRING
Even though this may not be “fun,” managing a spring cleanup party can certainly be effective. Sometimes there are big projects that need doing (moving furniture, laying sod, or chopping a huge pile of wood, for example), and the old familiar proverb is certainly true: many hands make easy work. Or, there may be widows or single mothers in your members who could work with some help with yard work or points that need fixing around the house. No matter what the circumstance, cooperating can deepen your appreciation for each other and teach children the importance of service, too. Some other ideas? Plant a community garden. Prepare the earth in the spring, plant the seeds and starter plants, then work together so everybody can enjoy some of summer’s bounty. But for fun? What about going roller skating together or planning a themed St. Patrick’s Day get-together? All of these things will bring the group closer together and establish lasting memories.

SUMMER
Hiking together in the nearby canyon to see an impressive waterfall or visiting a local water park and enjoying the sun together are good opportunities, too. It’s super fun to canoe on the lake and make s’mores around the campfire when it gets dark. It’s a lovely thing to be moved by a sermon on Sunday, but it’s pretty awesome to watch that same preacher bust a gut when you’re out having fun together, and those memories will linger in your mind and heart long after they’ve taken place.

FALL
Awwwwwh … fall is really magical for so many reasons, and the activities available at this time of year don’t disappoint. Come October, throw a harvest festival to see who grew the biggest pumpkin, have a chili cook off, exchange favorite pumpkin recipes, and have a variety of activities for the kids (pumpkin carving, face painting, a spook alley and cake walk, etc.). Each of these activities are the perfect pairing for when the chill returns to the air and the holidays are around the corner.

It’s cool to plan activities that relate the different seasons. If you’re the lucky one who has the job of organizing events to bring everyone together, hopefully these ideas gave you some inspiration. And hey, if you require to find an effective way to transport the group, our Niagara Fall Tour might be the solution you’re searching for! It doesn’t matter the event; we know we have the room to transport all the gear, and our professional, friendly drivers can get you where you have to be in safety and comfort. Contact us today, and we’ll customize a quote just for you!