The photo above has a note attached saying "They were having a cute gallery shop, so we popped in". (dated March 12th) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/orignauxmoose/5545080034/)
The church's new leadership has been sending out notices about rummage sales (including one that was planned for March 5th), but then some church members got a message promoting an art show for Donald Schwartz. The note posted by the tourists seems to indicate that what they saw was not an art show but a "gallery shop". That sounds like a storefront, not an event. (Note also that nowhere in the promotion for the art show, or even the rummage sales, is there an indication of any proceeds going to the church as a fund-raiser)
Before the Friends of Chapel took over, Chapel of Awareness had set up a store, but it was for parishioners with all proceeds going to the church as a fundraiser. It was not a storefront for the public.
What steps has the new Chapel leadership taken to make sure that they are operating a storefront properly under the auspices of a non-profit church? As usual, who knows?
Given the Friends' placement of Chapel of Awareness under a large number of online "business" listings (not religious), and now with the creation of this "store" and a book without showing how Rev. Gene Larr's church is benefiting, the appearance is that the new church leadership is moving Chapel of Awareness towards a for-profit business, in Chapel Guardian view.
There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, as long as it is done legally and transparently to the congregation. No matter what, as of now the focus is becoming confusing.
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