Dear St. Paul’s Family,
“I arrived at Cherokee August 18, 1858, crossed the river on a small ferry boat near the old white mill accompanied by my wife and 18 month old daughter. My wife, one of a Methodist family several of whom are noted for their deep Christian character: brave, kind, and true, endowed with energy and pluck, with her good judgment and common sense, helped me through many hard places.”
And so begins the journal of the Rev. O.S. Wight, the Methodist Circuit Rider who first preached the good news of Jesus Christ to the fledgling community of twenty residents living in Cherokee 150 years ago. O.S. Wight was a mere seven generations removed from Thomas Wight, one of the original pilgrims who lived in Massachusetts in 1635. I’ve spent some time reading through pages of his journal, and have been amazed at the stories of faith, courage, and determination that marked this early pioneer of the faith.
“My education being much limited I felt my inability to fulfill my calling. Out of my scanty means I bought books and devoted my spare time to study but made slow progress as life was a constant struggle for existence….”
“Peterson and Spirit Lake were included in my charge. I had nothing to make these trips with except an ox team. I sometimes walked the entire distance, there being no bridges. I often encountered bad mud holes and swollen streams….My wife remained at home, surrounded by all the danger, loneliness, and disadvantage of pioneer life….”
The “disadvantage of pioneer life” would ultimately claim the life of their young daughter, who died suddenly after a two-day battle with a mystery illness. She was buried “on the high bluff near the south bank of Mill Creek,” and he supposed that she was likely the first burial to ever take place in this area.
Yet despite the pain and hardship of living and serving on the frontier, Wight pressed on to fulfill the call that God had placed in his life. During his first year he preached about 50 sermons to the people of Cherokee and the surrounding area, and made it through the first year on $57.50 of support. He faithfully made visits to families throughout Cherokee, Peterson, and Spirit Lake, organized class meetings, and held prayer meetings. Among those he organized was a small class in 1866, just 4 miles northeast of Cherokee. This group would eventually become the church of which we are a part today.
Toward the end of his life, having witnessed the population of this area bloom to a bustling community of a few thousand, Wight reflected on the impact of the gospel on the people that he served throughout his years:
“(There are people here) by the thousands who are among the most prosperous, industrious, and intelligent people the world has ever known. What makes them what they are? I answer ‘the gospel of Christ.’ I said to a friend a short time ago, I have lived here so long there has been so much done, and I have done so little. He said you held the ground and we will not know until the time of (reckoning) comes who has done the most so we do what we can.”
Of all the statements in Wight’s journal, that last sentence may be the most profound for us. At times it may seem that our efforts and sacrifices pale in comparison to those made by our spiritual ancestors. We have not paid with our lives as the first century martyrs once did. We have not formulated the church’s doctrine as the early theologians have for us. We have not had to survive persecutions, inquisitions, or even harsh pioneer living. “There has been so much done, and we have done so little.”
But our efforts do make a difference. Mother Theresa once said, “God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful.” And it is for his faithfulness that we remember O.S. Wight, as well as the countless pastors and lay people who forged a faith that we have inherited. And may that be the simple standard to which we ascribe today.
This Sunday, we mark the 150th Anniversary of the birth of this congregation. May we approach this day with solemnity and reverence, as well as joyous celebration for the work that God has done. And may we be inspired to face a bright future with great hope and faith!
See you Sunday!
Magrey
MAYORAL PROCLAMATION
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, August 13, at 1pm in the sanctuary, as Mayor Pam Pierce offers an official proclamation declaring August 18, 2008 as “St. Paul’s United Methodist Day.” The Cherokee Chronicle will be here to cover the event, and it would be good to have a number of congregation members here.
SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
This Sunday’s special worship service is followed by a celebration luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. We give great thanks to Lee and Jan Nelson for donating the hams, and we invite those whose last names begin with A-M to bring desserts, and N-Z to bring salads. The sign up sheet is downstairs outside the church office.
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