Announcement

Beloveds,

For the past 80 years, there has been a worshipping presence on the corner of Furness Parkway and Sherwood Avenue. The building has changed several times, the pastors have changed, even the name of the church has changed, but God has remained faithful. For 80 years we have sung, "Jesus loves me, this I know," and we've invited others to know the same and to live as if it were true.

There's another change coming to the corner of Sherwood and Furness. We will be selling the building and closing the church. 2 Corinthians 6:10 says, "our hearts ache, but we always have joy." That verse describes where we are at as a community. We are celebrating 80 years of ministry, of healing, of friendships and hope. We are also grieving the loss of space, the loss of dreams, the loss of routine and regularity.

We have one member who has been worshipping in the building for the entire 80 years that we've been open, what she said in our meeting to announce the intention to sell has stayed with me. "The things God planted in us at The Beloved will go with us when we leave The Beloved." And it's true, this church has changed us, we've grown to love God, love one another, and even receive love for ourselves in ways we didn't before we were here. We believe that we carry the DNA of The Beloved with us wherever we end up next.

We are so grateful for the people who have called Epworth or The Beloved "home." We are grateful for our building partners, NE Seniors for Better Living, Iglesia Principe de Paz, The Mellow Fellows, East Side Ministries and McVay Youth Partnership. We ask you to join us in prayer for them and for us as we all look for new homes.

Our final Sunday worship service will be December 18, at 10:00 am. We will also have a Christmas Eve service on December 24 at 7:00 pm. Stay tuned to our facebook page for the most up to the moment updates.

With deep gratitude,

Pastor Katie Matson-Daley (she/her)