We have been blessed by the visit of 32 people from Morpeth, England, to Knoxville and Fountain City United Methodist Church. They will be returning to their home on Friday, October 31. We will miss them greatly and are grateful for the new friendships that have been formed with these sisters and brothers in Christ. On Sunday, October 19, as they worshiped with us in our traditional services, they presented us with a Celtic Cross, which was made by one of their members, Mike Donaldson, who has been a part of the group visiting with us.
He designed it and crafted it from English Oak, and a replica in Pine Wood has been made by Mike for the church in Morpeth. The Celtic Cross is symbolic of early Christian Roots in Northumberland, England. The Celtic People and indigenous population of Northern and Western Britain in the early centuries of Roman and post Roman times became Christians but practiced their faith in different ways as practiced by the Roman Empire. There are many fine examples of early Christian art work and Crosses in Britain to this day.
We are most appreciative of this beautiful gift and will hang it in a prominent place in our building as a reminder of Christ’s love for us all and of the friendships we share.
