Congregations join for holiday weekend service

Five congregations gather for a joint worship service May 27 at Chester Park United Methodist Church. The service begins at 9 a.m.

Congregations include Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, Chester Park, Hillside and Hope United Methodist Churches, and United Baptist Church. The Rev. Sam Kautz of Chester Park will preach.

These congregations are meeting together on the “summer bookend holidays” as the Charlotte Frantz, pastor at Pilgrim, calls Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

“Church attendance tends to be low on those Sundays, and when our congregations meet together, we have the opportunity to be strengthened by the larger fellowship,” Frantz said.

For Chester Park, this service is one of a series of services celebrating the rich heritage and service of the congregation. In July, Chester Park will close its doors and merge with First United Methodist Church. “We’ve been neighbors all along, and this joint service is a chance for us to say thanks for the service Chester Park has rendered to the neighborhood,” said Frantz.

May 27 also is the Christian celebration of Pentecost when Christians believe the Holy Spirit was sent upon the first disciples and is often considered the birthday of the Christian church.

“What better day to be together?” said Kautz. “For all our differences, we have the same origin and are blessed by the same Spirit.”

The public is invited to join in the 9 a.m. service regardless of church affiliation.

Tags: community, religion, duluth