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Dear friends of Faith,
I haven't told you about Evelyn Smith. She was my mother's best friend growing up. In 2000, my parents lived for a time in Lometa, Texas near where Evelyn and her husband Desmond had a ranch in what is called the Bend community. They would get together every Thursday in Bend for catfish at the cafe and catch up each week remembering old times. If you look hard enough in the sanctuary you will find a hymnal dedicated by my mother and me to Evelyn and Desmond.
Why this makes any sense bringing up is that Evelyn and Desmond were members of Faith Presbyterian Church in 1963 when the building we now know as the Wright Fellowship Hall was dedicated. Desmond was on the building committee. It's a small world.
The church where I was baptized and confirmed, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Denton, Texas and where my sister still belongs, was pastored the last 25 years by Rev. Steve Plunkett. Steve told me that when he was at Austin Seminary, he attended Faith and even sang in the choir here. It's a small world.
My own pastor in Canyon, Texas, Rev. Stephen Smith-Cobbs, who is now pastor in Herndon, Virginia told me he interviewed to be your first Associate Pastor back in the 1980s. It's a small world.
Just a couple of weeks ago we were approved for our parking lot loan by a committee of Mission Presbytery chaired by Allison Harris, a child of our church, who is now working with Presbyterian Homes and Services. She was so thrilled to see the church and know of our plans. It's a small world.
You have more influence and connections as a church out into the world than you know. You have been formative for more people than you know. You have been impactful in this context in more ways than you know.
Sunday we celebrate God's faithfulness and your calling as a church which has continued for 60 years. We celebrate our continuing call into the future. Joining us will be friends of our church. You may see those from presbytery, the seminary, or churches that helped us get off the ground 60 years ago. Westminster Church is giving the flowers this Sunday since conversation about establishing our church originated in a meeting of presbytery in their facility. Rev. Sallie Watson, General Presbyter of Mission Presbytery will deliver the sermon.
As a special treat, Kathy and the choir will bring forth the hymns by Bill Hornbuckle and Mona Wright, both former music directors at Faith.
Afterwards, there will be stone soup resulting from your generosity and birthday cake. Thank you to Anne Wingler for making sure this day would be festive for all involved.
See you Sunday. Bring a friend to celebrate with us! All are welcome.
Kyle
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