By Al Benson –
Two Aurora Methodist churches will come together Sunday to begin services and serving as one church: Flowing Forth United Methodist Church!
Flowing Forth UMC was created in a union of historic Fourth Street UMC, 551 S. Fourth Street in Aurora, and Flowing Grace UMC, at Aurora Christian School, 2255 Sullivan Road. The merger was approved in April by separate votes of each congregation. The new name was approved in votes by the congregations in May.
North Aurora resident Reverend Derek Rogers has been named Flowing Forth UMC pastor. He will lead the church’s initial worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, at Aurora Christian School.
The public is invited. Parking is free. A celebratory luncheon will follow the service.
Until a new location is found to serve both congregations, Flowing Forth will operate a two-campus structure at the former churches’ locations, except on the first Sunday of each month. On the first Sundays, a joint service will be held alternately at the two campuses. Starting July 8, Reverend Rodgers will lead worship services at 9 a.m. at Fourth Street UMC and at 11 a.m. at ACS until a unified location is found.
His family includes his wife, Breann, an elementary-school teacher.
Rev. Rogers succeeds Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, Fourth St. UMC pastor since 2008 who will retire Saturday, and Rev. Jeffry Bross, Flowing Grace pastor since 2007 who was named UMC Aurora District superintendent effective July 1. Rev. Bross said, “I look forward to seeing where this wonderful and audacious adventure takes the now combined church.”
