Since 1974, I have been serving as an Ordained Minister of the United Methodist Church. My journey has taken me many places, including a sixteen year stay in Chicago as I finished my last degree and taught seminary students in several different ways. The most relevant ways I taught was as a professor in pastoral care and the administrator of the Women, Ministry and the City program for five years. This prepared me for a church in the Heart of Hamilton.
What is clear to me is that all of God's people are welcome at God's church. We have no qualifications needed because Jesus has already paid the price. This gift of grace that God has given us calls us to be better people than we are. Thus, in the tradition of John Wesley, I believe that Christians need to be on-the-way to perfection.
Note the word, on-the-way. We never reach perfection because only God is perfect, but each and every day we are called to be better. Some days we achieve that goal and some days we fall far short of it. Luckily, our God is a God of grace.
To achieve perfection or at least to be better, we need frequent interaction with others who are on the faith journey. These fellow pilgrims help us deepen our lives and correct our living. It is too easy to fall into actions that alienate or hurt other people.
Worship is one of the ways that we are called back to the task of becoming better people. Thus, everyone needs worship - those of us who profess the faith and those who have yet to embrace the faith.
Worship is the place to start, but then we need other ways to learn about God's calling in our lives. This happens in study and mission. As we study we open our hearts and our minds to God's word. We need to be in mission to open our hearts and our minds to God's people. Both feed our faith.
I invite you to join us in this journey with God. You do not need special clothes or special attitudes. You need only a heart open to God's leading and a need for God's love.
You came to this website to find out something about First and its people. I have found the people at First are dedicated to their faith which is reflected in their active participation in mission. They would welcome you with open arms. In that act, they reflect the love of God in Jesus Christ in a real way.
If you want more of my story or my credentials, click on this link. Every week I write a message to those who are mostly at home. It is called HomeTouch. Here is a link to those articles (coming soon).
Rev. Garrison can be reached as follows:
Cell Phone: 513-490-6047
E-mail: pastor@firstumc-ham.org
