New Church--New Life

Nineteenth Monday after Pentecost

Monday is Faith Journey narrative on the blog.

 

In early December of 2004 I got a call from Frank Stith, my District Superintendent, telling me that my new appointment would be as Pastor of First United Methodist Church, North Wilkesboro, NC. I was delighted. I would start on January 5. 

Marianne and I went to a couple of days later to get a sneak peak. I later found out that I wasn't supposed to do this. The church was beautiful on the outside, brick, 1950's design with a large recently finished addition that was seamlessly architecturally coherent with the older part of the church. I should note for you readers who are UUMC members that it had a large parking lot, front, side, and back, that could accommodate all the cars except on Easter and large funerals. There was also plenty of overflow free parking on the adjacent streets. 

The main entrance to the church was in the new part of the building. When I went in, I was stunned. It was a large, open Atrium with a huge quilted wall hanging (Marianne says that technically it is not a tapestry). At the center was a multi-dimensional, almost cubist, Cross and Flame, the United Methodist symbol. The hanging was rectangular, the longer sides going top to bottom. On each of the sides was woven one of these four words, Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral. 

As I stood before this magnificent work of art in this glorious setting, tears flooded my eyes. I was home. I knew instantly that this church was home. I knew instantly that I fit perfectly in this church. It was a feeling I would have for the next six years, the best years of my two career life, a feeling I had never had in my eighteen years at Elon.

Off the second floor of the Atrium were the church offices. The Administrative Assistant, Helen, showed me the pastors office. He was away. The office was beautifully appointed with a large desk and office chair, a closet, many book shelves, a table, three other chairs, and--my own bathroom.

We went out the back door and looked across the street at the parsonage. It was huge, 3800 sq. feet, four bedrooms,  with two car garage and large screened in porch. It was built in the early 1960's. The grounds were beautifully landscaped and immaculately kept by a local company the church had hired. 

 

We went back home to Greensboro tremendously excited and eager to start. I would soon find out that the people were as goo as the place.  

Faithfully,

Christian