“You give them something to eat.” – Mark 6:37
And all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces. – Mark 6:42-43
The year was 1995. The southern Chapel Hill area was growing rapidly, and developers were planning for and beginning to build neighborhoods along the 15-501 corridor. More specifically, developer D.R. Bryan was laying the groundwork for Southern Village, a neighborhood that would replicate the kind of market square that lies at the heart of so many villages and small towns across Europe. In and around this same time, Rev. Steve Compton was doing demographic research on behalf of The NC Conference and concluded that the 15-501 corridor was ripe for a new church plant.
What happened next? Two worlds collided! D.R. Bryan was put in touch with Rev. Steve Compton, holy conversations were had, and when all was said and done, Bryan generously and miraculously agreed to donate 1.3 acres of land in the center of Southern Village for a future United Methodist Church. Soon thereafter, Bishop Marion Edwards appointed Rev. Regan May to begin the work of establishing a new community on this holy ground.
Immediately, Rev. May, his wife, Lee, and their children Emily, Abby, and Megan, along with a handful of faithful pilgrims from University UMC, began dreaming, discerning, and planning. They hosted a gathering for dessert at Southern Village Market, launched a “Phones for You” campaign, knocked on doors, and explained to everyone who would listen that they were part of a team seeking to build a church that would be “a potent force in the cause of our Lord and a rich blessing to us, our children, and our community.”
On November 5th, 1995, on All Saints Sunday, Christ Church held its first worship service in the auditorium of Culbreth Middle School. Worshipers sang “This Is A Day of New Beginnings,” and Rev. May preached a sermon entitled, “A Family Filled with Strangers” based on Mark 6:30-44. Perhaps 5,000 didn’t gather to hear it, but it was a great multitude nonetheless. All ate, were fed, and incredibly, there was still more to go around.
Over time as more were drawn to Christ through Christ Church, the faithful didn’t try to send them away; instead, they took Jesus at his word, “You give them something to eat,” and began to look for ways to multiply. Since its founding in 1995, Christ Church has assisted in launching two other communities of faith: All Saints UMC and The Local Church. Twenty-eight years later, CUMC remains a potent force feeding hungry souls.
Generous God, we give thanks for all of those who participated in the birthing of Christ Church; those who dreamed dreams, those who gave land, those who made phone calls, those who knocked on doors, and those who set the table. We give thanks for all, who through CUMC, have eaten and been filled. Help us now to take what you have blessed, given, and multiplied and to keep sharing it until all are fed. Amen.
Rev. Ben Williams serves as the pastor of Christ UMC in Chapel Hill, NC.
Our theme for this year’s Lenten reflections is Graceful Hospitality. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ten Dollar Club, now known as the New Room Society. We give thanks for our Conference’s ongoing commitment to co-creating new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ and extending graceful hospitality to all of God’s children.