William “Bill” Dougherty. (Submitted photo)

William “Bill” Dougherty, of Burnham, holds the whale he carved during a “Jonah Sermon Series” at Parkview Church of the Brethren during the Lenten season. When Pastor Teresa Fink asked Bill how he might use his wood-carving talents for the church, he didn’t try to “run away” from the task. After giving it some thought, he came up with “a whale of an idea.” Starting with a 32-inch piece of basswood, in front of the congregation, Bill carved away during four Sunday services, as the messages unfolded. Between services, he worked on the project at home, devoting more than 35 hours to the beautifully detailed finished project. Bill donated the whale to the church for future generations to expound upon and enjoy. Wood-carving is only one of Bill’s creative hobbies. He’s talented beyond measure, all to the Glory of God.