By MARJORIE LIERMAN

BUHL — As Christmas nears, we see them on cards, calendars and pictures — churches of all kinds — large cathedrals in cities, smaller churches in little towns, and country churches in quiet settings with tall spires rising into the sky.

Most of them are white and are shown against a glistening background of starlit nights with candle glow through their windows reflected on the snowy ground. Sometimes people are shown going into the church and quite often there are also birds and wild animals in the picture.

The Lutheran church at Clover could well be a model for these charming scenes. We don’t see these country churches very often as many congregations formerly attending them have moved into town where more people live. But this small church, which will observe its 75th birthday in 1990, remains strong and growing and is the center of the community. Its pews are still filled every Sunday with worshippers, its bell peals forth to call them for Sunday worship and other services. Its gothic spire rises above the bell tower and high on the top is a blue-lighted memorial cross visible at night for miles.

The two entrances to the church face the east and the schoolhouse which is across the road. The interior of the church has been remodeled and was repainted last year in tones Of soft blue. At this Advent and Christmas season the altar has a gold and blue cloth with the words "Rejoice." The large Advent wreath with its three dark blue candles, one pink and one pure white in the center, is lighted during the Advent season.

This summer the congregation made a large stained glass window on the south side of the church. Designed by artist Gail Meyer, a member of that congregation and art instructor in the vicinity, members met at the Homestead in Twin Falls every Thursday evening for the cutting, leading, soldering, washing and putting together the small pieces to form the large picture. The completed picture shows a farmer with his irrigating shovel, against a background of hills and fields and the morning sun shining in the blue sky. The window was finished and completed in time for Easter.

The early Clover settlers arrived in 1914. Many of them stayed at the Clover hotel until they could get houses built and the hotel also served as a house of worship until a schoolhouse was built in 1915. The church was completed and the cornerstone laid in April, 1918. Rev. J.A. Schlicting of Twin Falls served as temporary pastor until the late Rev. Walter F. Dannenfeldt was installed in 1916 and served until his death in 1951. He was succeeded by R. Winkelman, Carl Losser, Thomas D. Johnston, Andrew Loessel and the present pastor, Bryon Sunderman.

The schoolhouse was moved from its previous location to one across the road from the church. There is a parsonage and a teacherage and the school has a principal and teachers for its eight grades and kindergarten. Peace Lutheran Church in Filer, a mission. church of Clover, was formed in 1962.

The life of the community surrounding the church centers in the church and school. Besides church services each Sunday, special services include weddings, baptisms, confirmations and funerals. The original metal squares of the ceiling were painted and the stained glass windows put in last summer. The group is now working on a stained glass window for the north side.

The lovely little cemetery west of the church is well kept and most graves have headstones. The blue-lighted cross at the top of the church tower was placed in memory of a small child who drowned in the canal.

A visiting minister from a large city once remarked, upon seeing Clover, "It looks just exactly like a country church should." This poem by Edward Cunningham must express the sentiments of many people who have, or still, attend this church.

Among my favorite memories each year on Christmas Day

Is that old-fashioned country church where once I went to pray.

Families came from far and near,

Despite the wintery weather,

To fill the little country church and worship there together.

Though I have journeyed far along the road of life since then,

How often I have longed to be in that old church again.

To share with all my loved ones

The joy of Christmas Day

In that old-fashioned country church

Where once I went to pray.

Magic Valley Farm Lines