In case you missed it (which I actually did until today), Pastor Paul shared an awesome sermon on Sunday with a little local church history.
He talked about some of the early settlers in Flint who came here back in the 1830s, leaving behind the comforts of home in New York to live in what was then considered by many to be uninhabitably wild territory.
He talked about Henry Horatio Northrup (pictured on the right), one of our church’s first pastors (you can find his name on the plaque in the back of the sanctuary). You can also visit his grave in Glenwood Cemetery off Court Street just west of downtown.
He became pastor of First Prez in 1852, long before Halo Burger and Paul’s Pipe Shop.
He spoke about how families met together for years before forming a proper congregation that eventually came to be known as First Prez. This congregration actually pre-dates the birth of Flint as a proper city, and Michigan as a state.
In the earliest days, the faithful actually met in the home of the county sheriff.
What you would recognize as our current church building, at least the main sanctuary, didn’t come along until 1885.
Maybe it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Knowing the history of our church, how, when and by whom it was founded, is a way to pay tribute to those who came before us. Generations of people made great sacrifices to not only plant the seeds of our congregation, but also erect the beautiful place that has been the home of our community of faith for over 130 years. (If you are really interested, here’s a must-read.)
Our church has an incredibly rich history, and we are so fortunate to be a part of its future.
Please take a moment to listen to Pastor Paul as he offers us a window into the history of our church, a place where the promises of God and the faithful works of his people are on full display. Thanks be to God!
The Pipe 