On May 17, Beacon UMC in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, held a celebration honoring two special groups of church members who have faithfully served the congregation for decades. Rev. Dr. Brandon Cho, the church’s pastor, presented 11 members with a certificate and a symbolic stone to signify 50 or more years of membership in the congregation! Another 22 were presented with certificates and stones recognizing at least 25 years of membership.
These members are the “living stones” of this church. Pastor Brandon also referred to them as “living saints.” They are the voices that have sung through every season – holidays and ordinary Sundays in between. They are the hands that have baked for events, delivered food to homebound members, served on committees, taught generations of Sunday School, and held each other up in prayer when the storms of life hit our congregation and community.
These living stones have shown us how to stay when things are hard, how to forgive when we disagree, and how to keep loving God’s people. They are the foundation that our future is built upon.
Because all good Methodist celebrations include food, the church service was followed by a time of fellowship over breakfast in the church’s Schoen Hall.