Online Archives

BY CHRISTINE KUMAR
UMCONNECTION STAFF

The quiet sanctuary of Memorial UMC in Silver Spring, which drew less than 30 people on Sundays, was filled July 1 for the first time in years when members of First India UMC in Takoma Park joined them for worship.

As the sanctuary came to life with multicultural songs, praise and worship, the two congregations, representing two diverse cultures, joined to form Memorial/First India Cooperative Parish.

'This is the answer to our prayer,' said Paul Hanreeder, an usher at Memorial UMC in Silver Spring. 'We had concerns about this, it was not promising for years and we needed a dramatic change.'

The Rev. David Argo, district superintendent of the Washington Columbia District, was instrumental in the process, 'I am excited about the Pentecost possibility that this shared ministry brings. The Memorial and First India congregations have said to each other, ?Your people are my people, your residence is my residence and your resting place is my resting place,?' he said.

In 1998, the Indian fellowship was chartered as First India UMC. More than 140 members worshiped in the small fellowship hall of Grace UMC in Takoma Park under the leadership of the Rev. Samuel Honnappa.

The fellowship enabled people of Indian heritage to share their culture while far away from their homeland. The women wore their traditional Indian dress - bright, colorful saris and salwar kameezes. They sang songs in their native language with the accompaniment of live music including the thabala (Indian drum).

Many times, the overflowing hall was so crowded that many did not have seats. Worship became a standing-room-only event. Later, the overflow of people poured into a Sunday school room where they could view the worship service on TV.

'We have more space and it?s all exciting and a new experience,' said 16-year-old Noel Bezawada of First India.

The new space includes a sanctuary that can seat 400 people, six Sunday school classrooms, a chapel for Bible study, a parlor, two offices and a large kitchen.

The church also has room for two other groups that worship there - an African fellowship called Salvation Camp and a Hispanic Seventh Day Adventist fellowship.

On his first Sunday at the pulpit, Honnappa, pastor of the joint parish, preached about his excitement at being in the new church.

He also spoke about building God?s kingdom with prayer and obedience to God. 'We are called to build the house of God, let us be prepared to embrace the future, our souls should become a house of prayer,' he said.

Choirs from both churches celebrated the union and sang inspirational songs in their native languages - Telegu and English. The liturgy was and will continue to be in English.

Katharine Richardson, a member of Memorial UMC for 53 years, is optimistic about the future. 'It?s going to be a little different but it will be great with the two different cultures. I?m sure we will mesh well together,' she said.

The official merger between the two churches is expected to take place next year. 'We are preparing a merger statement that will be acceptable to both churches by February 2007,' said Sherman Harris, United Methodist Men president for the Baltimore- Washington Conference and one of the consultants in the process.