The North Carolina Annual Conference gathered to honor and remember pastors and their spouses who died in the past year on Friday morning of Annual Conference 2026.

Musicians from Centenary UMC in New Bern, NC, led by Paul Saik, opened worship with a delicate rendition of “Fairest Lord Jesus.” Abby Sabiston offered a choral response of “How Great Thou Art.” Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton called the congregation to worship with words that reflected the resurrection promise of Jesus Christ.

Cathy Thompson, Chair of the Clergy Spouse Association, offered a prayer reminding the congregation that these clergy and clergy spouses are beloved children of God.

Bishop Shelton introduced the morning’s preacher, Rev. Allen Bingham, pastor of Haymount UMC in Fayetteville. She shared that Rev. Bingham “leads with a confidence in Christ and the humility of Christ.”

Yohan Alvarez from Fiesta Cristiana UMC in Apex, led the congregation in a prayer for illumination and shared the scriptures: Philippians 2:1-12 and John 15:7-11.

Rev. Bingham offered a sermon entitled “May Our Joy Be Complete.” He shared a story from when he was the team leader of a Raleigh Wesley Foundation mission trip to Mexico. The team had been discussing the merits of North Carolina barbecue, which spurred one of their local hosts to take them to the best barbecue restaurant he knew. After a meal of barbecue goat, the team rode public transportation back to the worksite. Unfortunately, the bus did not have an operable starter, so several team members had to push the bus until the driver could pop the clutch and get it started. As they pushed from behind and the bus sprang to life, they experienced a moment of joy which Leonard Sweet calls “sober intoxication” — a high from doing something great and wonderful, without the hangover.

Rev. Bingham went on to say that you can plan things, but joy comes unexpectedly. Riffing off Frederick Buechner, he said that we receive “joy in service because it is a work of grace.” He went on to share that joy fuels us through the worst days of our lives and gives us resilience.

Rev. Bingham explained that the path to complete joy is to serve other people. He said, “These pastors and their spouses have lived lives of service to other people.”

In closing, Rev. Bingham had the congregation sing the first phrase of “Joy to the World” together — first loudly with gusto, then softly. He then had the congregation repeat the phrase even more quietly so that they could hear “everyone who ever sang ‘Joy to the World.’”

As the sermon echoed in the congregation’s ears, Sabiston, Saik, and the musicians offered “It is Well” as an anthem to God.

In a moving ceremony led by Rev. Albert Shuler, Elizabeth Collins, and Cathy Thompson, the congregation remembered the clergypersons and their spouses who died in the past year through the naming of each person and the tolling of a bell, followed by a prayer.

To close worship, the congregation stood to join their voices in singing “Forth in Thy Name, O Lord,” followed by a benediction from Bishop Shelton. The service concluded with a rousing version of “The Day of Resurrection,” led by Saik and the musicians from Centenary UMC.

Article written by Mary Frances McClure
Photo by Suzanne Cobb, Jennifer Dail