Jesus would worship at Union UMC

By Matthew Oates

Union Chapel UMC, Rushville District
Pastor: Ethan Maple
Members: 75
Average attendance: 50

ST. PAUL, Ind. -- Union Chapel United Methodist Church sits on a hill, adjacent to Union Chapel Cemetery, overlooking the intersection of Decatur County roads 450 North and 700 West, making sure all is right in this part of God's kingdom.

This yellow-bricked house of worship, refuge and strength is not just all of those things to this community; it's also a family that has fun on Sunday mornings.

Built in 1924 and serving the area since the 1820s, the members have experienced growth, both spiritually and numerically.

Donn Hurst has experienced both while attending Union Chapel for more than 50 years. His wife, Marty, and her family have always attended Union Chapel.

There have been sermons, people, friends and fellowship activities that have helped him grow in his faith. He's now a Sunday school teacher, but has served in numerous other capacities as well. "I've experienced quite a bit," says Donn of his years at the church.

As part of helping people to grow spiritually, Donn teaches Sunday school twice -- before and after the service. "It's very important to the community."

Another thing important to this community, explains Hurst, is the way church members interact with people. "It's a close church. Everybody enjoys everybody else's company."

They enjoy the company at church, prepping a carry-in dinner in the remodeled kitchen or at another church event or while selling lemonade at the church's booth at the Decatur County Fair. "It's fun being a member of the church out here," Donn says.

Pastor Ethan Maple has experienced the fun and the neighborly welcome since he started serving the church in 2000. Ethan -- who could be some member's son or grandson -- graduates from the University of Indianapolis in May.

Ethan says that his appointment and the experience he has gained at Union Chapel and his love of Christ could be compared to electrical apparatuses. "It gets brighter and brighter each week."

One of the things the congregation looked at throughout Lent was how to be brighter each week for Christ by exploring each member's personal relationship with Christ. And the members have continued to grow by the spirit and open up to the community.

"No matter who comes in, they open up," says Ethan. "I love that about this church."

Numerous members in phone interviews continually said that if one member hurts, the others hurt. And when one is healed, the whole community celebrates and praises God. "If Jesus was here, what church would he go to? He'd go to one that cares about the people -- that's here," says Ethan.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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