During the Fall of 2018, my partner, Jon Parlier, suggested we go to Ashville, NC, to visit the Biltmore, the eight-thousand-acre estate of George Vanderbilt, son of shipping and railroad magnate, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Jon had gone to school in Ashville but had never visited the estate. We decided to drive down on Christmas Eve, tour the home on Christmas Day, and drive back the next day.
On Christmas Eve, we left early, arrived at noon, and toured the village. Before going to dinner, we decided to attend the Christmas Eve service at Biltmore United Methodist Church. The service was beautiful, but by the time it ended, we were famished! The restaurants we had planned on visiting had closed, but there in the distance was a brightly lit McDonald’s sign! As we pulled into the parking lot, the sign went dark! McDonald’s had closed, and because it was Christmas Eve, almost everything else had closed, too.
We found one open gas station. There we grabbed two gas station frozen burritos, some chips, and two Cokes. That food, zapped in a microwave, would be our Christmas Eve feast! The next day, we toured the beautiful Biltmore and drove home. We had enjoyed a wonderful trip!
Recently I ran across the bulletin from that Christmas Eve service. I wondered if Biltmore UMC had fared well during Tropical Storm Helene. When I Googled it, a posting informed me that the church was permanently closed. As I researched further, I found that Helene was not the cause.
A newspaper article from 2021 said that the church was selling its building and moving to a building which housed a mortuary and crematorium. Their Facebook page said they became a Reconciling Ministry in 2022. Somewhere along the way, they joined forces with Wellspring Congregation and became Biltmore Village Cooperative Parish. Lucy B. Robbins is still their pastor and her on-line sermons continue to be filled with joy.
I am writing about this so that churches in similar circumstances can learn to be less fearful. Biltmore UMC gave up their big building because they decided that the people were the church, not the building. Then they decided God’s grace was for everyone. In addition, they have loved and have been loved by their female pastor who did not forsake her congregation.
I am thankful that Jon and I spent that Christmas Eve with such a loving congregation. I am thankful that we were not there to see the beginning of the end of Biltmore United Methodist Church but the advent of a congregation that continues to evolve.
Prayer:
Dear God, your church continues to evolve just as this race of humans does the same. Ease our fears as we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. Let us look to congregations such as Biltmore UMC for guidance. Bless them and keep them safe as they traverse a different path. Amen
Becky Wright Warren
On Christmas Eve, we left early, arrived at noon, and toured the village. Before going to dinner, we decided to attend the Christmas Eve service at Biltmore United Methodist Church. The service was beautiful, but by the time it ended, we were famished! The restaurants we had planned on visiting had closed, but there in the distance was a brightly lit McDonald’s sign! As we pulled into the parking lot, the sign went dark! McDonald’s had closed, and because it was Christmas Eve, almost everything else had closed, too.
We found one open gas station. There we grabbed two gas station frozen burritos, some chips, and two Cokes. That food, zapped in a microwave, would be our Christmas Eve feast! The next day, we toured the beautiful Biltmore and drove home. We had enjoyed a wonderful trip!
Recently I ran across the bulletin from that Christmas Eve service. I wondered if Biltmore UMC had fared well during Tropical Storm Helene. When I Googled it, a posting informed me that the church was permanently closed. As I researched further, I found that Helene was not the cause.
A newspaper article from 2021 said that the church was selling its building and moving to a building which housed a mortuary and crematorium. Their Facebook page said they became a Reconciling Ministry in 2022. Somewhere along the way, they joined forces with Wellspring Congregation and became Biltmore Village Cooperative Parish. Lucy B. Robbins is still their pastor and her on-line sermons continue to be filled with joy.
I am writing about this so that churches in similar circumstances can learn to be less fearful. Biltmore UMC gave up their big building because they decided that the people were the church, not the building. Then they decided God’s grace was for everyone. In addition, they have loved and have been loved by their female pastor who did not forsake her congregation.
I am thankful that Jon and I spent that Christmas Eve with such a loving congregation. I am thankful that we were not there to see the beginning of the end of Biltmore United Methodist Church but the advent of a congregation that continues to evolve.
Prayer:
Dear God, your church continues to evolve just as this race of humans does the same. Ease our fears as we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. Let us look to congregations such as Biltmore UMC for guidance. Bless them and keep them safe as they traverse a different path. Amen
Becky Wright Warren
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