St. Matthew United Methodist Church

Special Word from Bishop Johnson

June 9, 2010 | 0 Comments

Following is a letter sent from the Bishop recognizing our 59th church anniversary celebration:

Dear Pastor Holston and the St Matthew United Methodist Church:

I bid you grace and peace in the name of our God and Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

I lift to God a prayer of thanksgiving for you and your fifty-nine years of worship, nurture and ministry and I extend to you congratulations on your celebration of your meaningful anniversary as a church and your half century in your present building. I only regret that my schedule prevents me from attending.

An event of such historical significance as the 59th year observance of the founding of your congregation quite naturally calls to mind both the spiritually sensitive heritage of the past and the dynamic faith in the adventuresome future God is opening for all of you as you strive to expand your ministries leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

You have been obedient to the call from God to be the Body of Christ as you witness for Him in this broken world. Whenever and where ever persons are in bondage to ignorance, poverty, fear or prejudice, the Church is called to strive for truth, justice, freedom, dignity and peace. Your theme “Let’s Reconcile” brings to mind that whenever and wherever barriers of hostility and distrust separate people, the Church is charged to be ministers of God’s reconciling and transforming love.

I praise God that you have been faithful to this vocation in the past. I rejoice, moreover that you are rededicating yourselves to be a faithful church in the future as you march forward with Christ into the twenty-first century of witness and service to God and God’s children.

Please be assured of my best hopes and prayers on your behalf.
Grace and Peace,
Peggy A. Johnson,
Resident Bishop

Categories: Word from the Pastor