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Clair United Methodist Church | St. Joseph, Missouri |
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My relationship with Clair Church began in December of 1948, when I was born. It was only through the prayer of many people I survived through my younger years. At that time Clair was known as Clair Evangelical United Brethren. Like most people when I was 12 years old I was baptized and joined the church. I graduated from Central High School in 1966 and joined the Marine Corps in 1967. I served my time in Vietnam and came home to marry my wife, Teresa in 1970 at Clair Church. We didn't attend church, because I thought we didn't need to go to church. As long as you obeyed the 10 commandments and wasn't really a bad person you would go to heaven. In 1973 a neighbor told me how wrong I was and that I really did need to be part of a church family. Also, at this time Clair got a new pastor, Rev. E. L. Dierking, so Teresa and I thought we would go and check him out. Later that year I was born again and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. Clair UMC is not a big massive church, but a family church. Today under the leadership of Rev. Bill Wasson we would like to invite you to come and be a part of God's family.
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Pastor's Welcome
We hold with the traditional teaching of the United Methodist Church, that a changed heart, and a life centered on love and Christ are more important than what you believe. We are a Bible centered Church, but we will not ask you to abandon your rational thought. In fact we will encourage you to engage scripture with an exploring and open mind. If you are a thinking person who wants to engage scripture, social issues, and a Christian life with the excitement of an explorer you have found your church. If you want to be spoon fed what to believe you will not be happy here. That doesn't mean we do not hold to basic principles. We believe salvation comes through the grace of God when you have faith. We believe faith is an action word .Though we do not believe good works saves a soul, we do believe the absence of good works indicates the heart, and therefore the life, has not been changed by Christ. Like James, the brother of Jesus, we believe faith without works is dead and has no value. Therefore we will invite you to do good of every kind, not as a vehicle for salvation, but as witness to the changed heart you now have. About that changed heart; we believe when you invite Jesus into your life, confess your sins, and ask to be part of his covenant community (the Church), Jesus brings about a change in your life. That change is a noticeable transformation. We also believe the Holy Spirit enters the life and helps the person make the transformation from a self centered life to a Christ centered life. Learning how to live a Christ centered life does not happen in the twinkle of an eye. A Christ centered life is a work in progress and takes a lot of prayer, discipline, and help from God. About myself, I am a life long United Methodist growing up in the Savannah United Methodist Church in Savannah Missouri. I grew up on a farm just north of Savannah attending a small rural school called North Andrew. I received my B.S. from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg Missouri, and my Masters of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City Missouri. I am an ordained Elder in the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church and have pastored churches for nearly thirty years. My office hours are Monday through Thursday , 9:30-12:00, at the Clair church. I can be reached there by phone 233 0042, or just stop by. My e mail is wcwasson@earthlink.net. Bill |
I would like to welcome you to the Clair United Methodist Church. We are a very diverse congregation with people of all ages and from all walks of life. Clair is small enough to know everybody’s name and large enough to be involved in ministries that really make a difference in our community and in our world.