Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
April 2002 |
Country
Church:
Erie UMC: serving a full meal every Sunday
By Matt Oates
- Erie UMC, Kokomo District
- Pastor: The Rev. Warrell Law
- Members: 60
- Average attendance: 35
- Location: Half a mile south of U.S. 24 on Paw Paw Pike
ERIE - If you ever find yourself driving through Erie, you are either lost or are coming back home to celebrate at Erie UMC.
To be honest, there's not much in Erie. They talk about what used to be here - an orchard, a store or two and even a post office. There's a community center that feeds a breaded tenderloin dinner to the greater Miami County area twice a year.
But there's also Erie UMC, which continues to feed this community as it has been doing since 1849.
"A group of farmers got together and decided they needed a church in their community," says the Rev. Warrell Law. "It's thrived ever since."
The reason it's thrived: the church is faithful to telling their community about God.
You could say that Erie happens to be in the right place at the right time. Decades ago, people left Erie. With the trend of people moving out to the country and commuting to work in Peru or elsewhere, people are moving into Erie's backyard.
"They (congregation) are committed to reaching out to our community. We've made a commitment to introduce ourselves to every one of them (new residents)," says Warrell. "That's the vision we have for Erie."
The building that the 60 members call home was built around 1900. It's a stately red-bricked building with swooping stained glass windows found throughout the building. It is accented by its three-story tall bell tower, which is marked by ornamental pinnacles that continue to point steeple-gazers towards the heavens.
The old blends in with the new at Erie. The octagonal sanctuary with stadium-style semi-circle seating recently celebrated the addition of a new wing of classrooms and renovations.
They didn't have to build until the people came; but they needed it. "One Sunday school class was meeting in the kitchen," explains Warrell.
"It's a comfortable atmosphere," says Warrell. "You can feel that everyone is right there."
Warrell has served at Erie since 1993. He was attending lay speakers' school and then wanted to explore being a lay pastor. After communicating with the district superintendent's office, the next thing he knew he was being invited to serve at Erie. "They're my family. They are so much a part of me," says Warrell, who served in the United States Air Force for 30 years before retiring and working for the USAF Reserves at Grissom Air Reserve Base.
The family theme is truly intertwined among the members. Marilyn Sischo, a 16-year member, views Erie as a place of comfort where all people are friends. "It's like my home now," says Marilyn. "It's just been a wonderful, wonderful experience to me."
Marilyn felt the family help her when her husband died 16 years ago. And the bonds of friendship still ring true today, as members frequently get together outside church.
Erie UMC celebrates Sundays with a 9:30 a.m. service and Sunday school at 10:45 a.m. There is an active UMW, and a nine-month Bible study that explores various books and topics.
Last updated on 01/14/2004