Thank you Bluemont United Methodist Church

Native American Ministries Sunday
By René White (Feather), Lumbee Tribe

BLUEMONT, VA – Today is a special Sunday for Native Americans in the United States. We know, because of a beautiful church service held in the tiny village of Bluemont, Virginia.
     Call it “providence” that our neighbor Susan Freis Falknor invited us to this little stone Bluemont United Methodist Church (built in 1851) located on top of the Blue Ridge Mountain along Snickersville Pike.
     Being of Native American decent and custodians of a Paleo-Indian site just miles away, we were asked to simply make a few brief remarks about our May 7 presentation at the Bluemont Community Center. But what we did not know is, today is Native American appreciation day, for United Methodist Churches nationwide.
      On the third Sunday after Easter, Methodist churches across the nation celebrate Native American Indian contributions to churches and society.
     Today, with a couple of dozen people in attendance, (acting) Pastor Janice Coon greeted us wearing Native American-style dream catcher earrings. During the welcome, she and others recalled a myriad of Native Americans contributions that have made this great nation great.
     The first hymnal by the Resurrection Choir was, “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.” 
     Above the choir was a holy cross with a circle around its center. For us, this not only denotes the cross of Jesus Christ but also encompasses the four directions from Native American culture.
     During our introduction, we had an opportunity to speak to the small group of children in attendance. I shared the song,“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” I asked them if they could remember the colors in the song.
     “Yes,” they sang out, along with most of the adults.
     Everyone must know, “Jesus loves all the little children, red, yellow, black and white” – the human race. We were also blessed to share that these four colors embody the four colors of the Native American medicine wheel.
     The Bluemont United Methodist Church program had this verse on its cover, from the Bible book of Matthew 22:27-29, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul … and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
     What the Bluemont United Methodist Church did was recognize a people whom Jesus loves too -- Native Americans.
     We learned that our Bluemont community has been holding church services in this beautiful two-story stone building for more than 160 years.
     What we witnessed today reminds us, that as pretty as the building is, it is still just a building. The people are what make a church, a church.

      Thank you for showing love to your neighbor as yourself. We admired the devotion of your church’s people, beauty of your building and how much we are all similar to each other.
     Susan, you are truly our “Friend of Bluemont."

      Methodist churches approved this day in 1988 to observe Native American contributions. Many United Methodist Church’s use this day to partner with existing Native ministries and create programs on behalf of Native Americans. A collection supports seminary scholarships for United Methodist Native Americans.

Bluemont United Methodist Church (built in 1851)

Surely the presence of the Lord
Lyrics are by Janice Cowan

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
I can feel God's mighty power and God's grace.
I can hear the brush of angel's wings,
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

In the midst of His children
The Lord said He would be.
It doesn't take very many
It can be just two or three.
And I feel that same sweet spirit
That I felt oft times before.
Surely I can say
I've been with My Lord

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

I can feel God's mighty power and God's grace.
I can hear the brush of angel's wings,
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

There's a holy hush around us,
As God's glory fills this place.
I've touched the hem of God's garment,
I can almost see God's face.
And my heart is over flowing
With the fullness of God's joy.
And I know, without a doubt,
That I've been with the Lord.

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
I can feel God's mighty power and God's grace.
I can hear the brush of angel's wings,
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place

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"Surely the Presence of the Lord"
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Words and Music by Lanny Wolfe.

“For where two or three are gathered together
in My name, I am there in the midst of them," 
-- Matthew 18:20.