COURTESY PHOTO | UMC FULTON
Reverend Smith Lilley, pastor for United Methodist Church in Fulton, ministers to his congregation’ s children during a service at Christ the King Catholic Church.
things in common with other churches that are trying to do that too.”
Going forward, Lilley and Shells both expressed their hope that the arrangement between the churches would be a tool to further the spread of the Gospel by exemplifying the idea of one body of Christ as opposed to a fractured series of individual churches.
“ It’ s an encouragement to see the bigger Christian community around this,” Lilley said.“ I preach, but we all have a part in sharing the Gospel together.”
The local angle
Perhaps as important to the success of the arrangement as the churches’ similarities is the sense of community between members of the two churches. Many of them are neighbors, colleagues, friends and even family outside of church.
“ It’ s people who have known each other and have had relationships outside the church,” Lilley said.
The community relationships help bridge the religious gap, allowing members of the churches to connect and relate to one another people and fellow
COURTESY PHOTO | UMC FULTON
The altar in Christ the King Catholic Church, arranged for a Methodist worship service on Sunday. These elements will be cleared following that service in preparation for the Catholic mass to be held in the same sanctuary the following Saturday.
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