Archives > Celina Record > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Prosper Methodist Church celebrates 110 years
Penny Rathbun/Staff photo
Two bishops and the district superintendent were on hand to celebrate Prosper Methodist's 110th anniversary on Sunday. From left, Rev. Dr. W. Earl Bledsoe, Bishop of North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Scott Jones, Bishop of Kansas Episcopal area of the United Methodist Church and North Central District Superintendent of the North Texas Conference Frank Alegria.
Congregation ready to adapt to new ideas
By Penny Rathbun
prathbun@starlocalnews.com
Last Sunday the congregation celebrated its 110th anniversary with the presence of the district superintendent and two bishops.
After the Rev. Chris Schoolcraft, pastor at the church since last July, welcomed everyone the bishops spoke.
“Everybody needs a church home. We began doing things that were going to reach people and build a community where people could raise their families,” Rev. Dr. Scott Jones said. He is the bishop of Kansas. He began his career as a clergyman as the pastor of Prosper United Methodist Church in the 1980s.
He said at the time of his first pastorate the congregation was concentrating on keeping the building open for weddings and funerals. He thought the church should be doing more than that and was delighted when a woman in the congregation came to him with a request to form a mother's day out.
“Simply repeating what previous generations did isn't going to prepare for a modern world,” Jones said.
The Rev. Dr. W. Earl Bledsoe, Bishop of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church gave worshipers a lesson in how to respond to the preacher in the tradition of the black church, the tradition in which he grew up.
He said, “You have to say amen once in awhile or I'll just go on and on and on.”
It took the Methodists a while to warm up to the concept but they eventually got the hang of it.
“You must continue to be open to the spirit of God in your life and the life of your church,” Bledsoe said.
Prosper residents Judy Rucker and Connie Layman were instrumental in organizing the event and putting together a history of the church.
For information on Easter services visit the church website at prosperunitedmethodist.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
