Another Anniversary

“Experience a new spirit of hope through worship
and caring for all generations.”

Sunday was the 5th Anniversary of the merging of two churches in our community. Woodland United Methodist Church, on Winona Street and University United Methodist Church on St. Marie Street by UMD. The two congregations merged together after much discussion at many meetings and a visioning study done by both congregations. My family and I were members of Woodland, just a block and a half from our home. I was employed as church secretary at University, so I knew both congregations. I was thrilled that we would become one. Both had their struggles and it was decided that the merger between the two would make one strong church to further its mission.

Rev. Sunny Kang and Rev. Elton Brown, Woodland and University ministers did a wonderful job in leading us to this decision, along with the help of Rev. Pam Barbour, who led our visioning process. We also credit our Northeastern District Superintendent Paul Bosshardt, and our Conference for their help.

The congregation of Woodland moved to the University building. Over the past 5 years, we had a major renovation of space, did maintenance projects, new roof and best of all, added an elevator. We have also added new members, and new programs and our Sunday School and youth programs and involvement have grown.

In order to become fully one, we changed our name. We have been Hope United Methodist for a few years now. (Our by line – where there is hope, all things are possible). Elton and Sunny told us that it would be in our best interests if they would leave and that we would get a new pastor to guide us, after their job of merging us was done. The conference also thought this would be best. A lot of members did not want to see either Elton or Sunny go, as we valued their leadership, where they brought us, and felt that it would be very hard to change.

Fortunately, conference gave us a wonderful, vital, energized leader when they sent Rev. Michelle Hargrave to us. Due to her leadership, we have continued to grow and be a vital church in our community. She has also had us grow in our outreach to the poor and homeless through her work with Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) in our city. Her message each Sunday is relevant to our lives in this world today, our worship experience has been enriched. She brings with her a young family of two boys and a wonderful husband. We are very blessed to have Michelle, Kelley, Zane and Theo with us.

Bob, the boys and I are very blessed to be a part of Hope UMC!

To read her sermon messages each week, click on my link "Michelle's Sermons". I also have a link to her blog “Michelle Hargrave’s Blog”, and to our Churches web site. (see left)(Sept. 10th's may not be posted yet - it was the best one ever,
though I've said that before!)