Rev. Owen Ross, Christ's Foundry, thanks God we are one
Rev. Owen K. Ross, pastor of Christ's Foundry Fellowship, Dallas, preaching at Lovers Lane UMC.
BY JOHN A. LOVELACE
Special Correspondent
Whether the word was thanks or gracias, the message was the same Sunday evening, Nov. 11, as Christ's Foundry UM Fellowship expressed its thanksgiving to the ten covenant churches whose prayers and support are helping create Christ' Foundry, one of the North Texas cnference’s ongoing success stories.
An estimated 350 people worshipped, received communion and shared a sumptuous potluck meal in a main dining hall of one covenant church, Lovers Lane UMC. Host Pastor Rev. Stan Copeland, welcoming the eager crowd, declared, "This is communion! This may be the best Thanksgiving meal all year."
Pastors from other covenant churches helped lead the worship service. Those churches are Walnut Hill, Schreiber Memorial, University Park, Cochran Chapel and Northaven UMCs, Dallas; Holy Covenant UMC, Carrollton; First UMC, Coppell; Argyle UMC and Christ UMC, Farmers Branch.
Christ's Foundry pastor Rev. Owen K. Ross, equally fluent in Spanish and English from his years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Latin America, preached on the theme, "Thank God We Are One." Referring to John Wesley's ministry based in a foundry in London, he said, "We are putting the pieces together, making something new... When we enter Christ, we are like Superman entering the telephone booth ... Our new identity with Christ is more important than our national identities... We are not called to be like others but to be like Christ . . . We know there are differences, but the powers to divide are not nearly so powerful as the powers at this [communion] table."
The University Park UMC handbell choir, Christ Foundry's children's choir and Christ's Foundry Band led by Rev. Ross on guitar provided special music. The printed bulletin expressed special thanks to the Covenant Board, made up of a representative from each covenant church. The bulletin also announced that Christ’s Foundry is one-fourth of the way toward its goal of $500,000 to build a ministry center at the corner of Webb Chapel and Park Lane in northwest Dallas. Several who had ordered commemorative bells at $500 picked them up that evening. Others placed orders.
For more information, please visit Website:www.ChristsFoundry.org.
