Throughout his 26-year career as a pastor, the Rev. David Ryan has dreamed of an art gallery at his church.

Finally, his dream has come true.

Hopeland United Methodist Church, 295 N. Clay Road, Lititz, will host its first art exhibit, focusing on verses from the Book of Psalms, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Refreshments will be served.

The opening will feature 18 nature and landscape photographs by Hopeland member Travis Fisher, 28, of Stevens.

His color photograph of clouds opening up to the sky illustrates Psalm 78:23, "But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven."

A black-and-white shock of corn cobs depicts Psalm 67:6, "Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us."

"Art has a place in church, but it's been neglected," said Ryan, 51, pastor of the rural church for three years.

"Churches focus on music. Some have a dance group," he said. "Having an outlet for creative expression is something I want to be able to offer our community.

"It's very important in all aspects of the life of the church to have visual ways of connecting with God.

"Our hope is that this art gallery will provide an opportunity for that," he said. "We hope to have ongoing installations."

It's taken so long for Ryan's dream to come true because until now, he was never at a church that had space for a gallery.

The Hopeland gallery, previously a classroom, has plain walls and a two-story-high ceiling.

"All we had to do was clear it out," he said.

Ryan envisions exhibits of children's art and hopes art students from area middle and high schools will exhibit there, too.

"We're open to all media, as long as it's on somewhat of a theological nature that connects people to God," Ryan said.

"I hope to inspire people," said the pastor, who is somewhat of an artist himself.

"I'm a creative person. I'm not into fine details. I paint with big strokes, (such as) setting up worship spaces."

Hopeland, founded in 1847, has  about 275 members, with 175 attending on an average Sunday.

Sunday school meets at 9 a.m., with worship at 10:10 a.m. and Bible study at 6:30 Wednesday nights. The gallery will open at those times. Other hours are available by appointment, by calling 738-1444.

The exhibit will continue through Easter.

Fisher, who has resided his entire life in a nearby farmhouse that he purchased from his parents, grew up in Hopeland UMC.

A 2002 Ephrata Area High School graduate, he received an agriculture engineering degree from Penn State in 2007 and works for Rigidply Rafters, in Richland, Lebanon County.

"Ever since I could hold a pencil, I've been drawing," he said. "I took some art classes in high school and at Penn State.

"I've always enjoyed drawing, but life got too busy. Then two years ago I bought a better camera. I take pictures for the fun of it. It's a hobby."

He said about a third of the photos in the exhibit are from Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, which he drives through to work. There are photos of the ocean, forests, dew drops, rocks, a waterfalls and a rowboat at Nantucket, Mass.

One of his favorites is a black-and-white close-up of a fern in the woods.

"I like the stillness, the quietness. It's so delicate and still," he said.

Fisher took some photos precisely for the exhibit, but many were taken earlier.

"It was fun to dive into the Psalms and find verses that went with pictures. I found lots of them. The problem was to narrow them down," he said.

"It gave me a new appreciation for my photos and an opportunity to read some of the Psalms I haven't read in a long time."

And he's thrilled to be featured in the gallery's first exhibit.

"I'm very excited. It took me by surprise. (Ryan's) vision is a lot bigger than I expected. It's exciting to have my photographs recognized."

Fisher is an active member of Hopeland, where he chairs the cemetery committee and helps with the youth group.

"That's one of the reasons I'm impressed with Hopeland," Ryan said. "We have a lot of young people in leadership rolls. That's unusual."