Irvington United Methodist Church will offer “Crown Him,” a signed original painting by Jim Haynie of Irvington, at silent auction Saturday, October 7, at the Distinctive Bazaar. The bazaar will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Irvington UMC, 26 King Carter Drive, Irvington. The bidding will end at 2 p.m.
This painting shows Haynie’s hands in position on his piano playing the first three notes of the popular hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” It comes with a certificate of authenticity and is mounted in a rustic frame constructed by the artist.
A pen and ink rendering of the first line of the hymn appears above the keyboard and it fades into a bland background representing the universe beyond human perspective.
“Conceptually, the music carries us to the presence of God, where we may worship him,” said Haynie. “We use his gifts to make music which we joyously give back to him, but it is in giving that we receive and our own sprits soar as we render our praise to him.”
Haynie gives the painting to God through Irvington UMC and hopes its new owner will be blessed as much as he was painting it and that the money raised in the bazaar will help accomplish God’s purposes on Earth, he said. A photograph was used for developing the painting.
Haynie is a great-great grandson of Rev. William Henry Clay Long, the first Methodist minister here, who founded Irvington Methodist Church in 1889. He now serves as music director and organist, following the footsteps of his grandmother, Pauline Long Haynie, who played organ here for many years.
He was born in Irvington and grew up in Hampton. He cherished his visits to see “PaPa,” the first mayor of Irvington and president of Lancaster National Bank (now Chesapeake Bank). Following a career as a teacher and professor, Haynie has retired “back home” to Irvington.