Hawley United Methodist Church

Dear Hawley United Methodist Church, May the peace of Christ be with you! In case we have not yet had the chance to meet in person, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Rev. Rebecca L. Holland and the Bishops of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church have appointed me to serve as the new pastor of Hawley United Methodist Church. My first official day serving as pastor here at Hawley is July 1, 2023. As an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, I am called to Word, Order, Sacrament, and Service. I have also taken a vow of itinerary. This means I listen when the Holy Spirit says, “Go!” I served my previous appointment for almost ten years, and I am honored to now have the opportunity to serve you. I earned my Bachelor’s in the Science of English Education at Millersville University of Pennsylvania and my Master’s of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. While in seminary, I had the opportunity to gain experience working with both small and large congregations while interning at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, a multi-point parish. I also served as a pastoral intern at the General Board of Church and Society where one of my main focuses was the Imagine No Malaria Project. I began serving full-time in the Altoona District in 2014 and was ordained as an elder in 2018. My husband, Jeff, and I were married in 2017. We were saddened to discover that we could not have children because of some of my health issues, but we have two fur babies (Wesley the Dog and Zeus the Cat) that we love dearly. My Jeff also began serving a new appointment this year. On July 1, he became the pastor of Daleville and Maple Lake United Methodist Church. Jeff and I enjoy trains, exploring antique shops, and trying new restaurants. We also both love history. I enjoy reading, writing, running, and taking our furry baby, Wesley the Dog, for long walks. Besides Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, two of my great loves in this life are books and music. I love music (I play flute as well as a little piano and guitar) and I feel incredibly blessed to be serving here at Hawley because I am so impressed by your music ministry. In the short time that I have been here, I have been deeply moved by the musical gifts of our Chancel Choir and our Bell Choir. I am a voracious reader and I also enjoy writing. I am currently working on a book that explores Disability Theology through a Wesleyan lens. I have written three books and feel particularly called to write this next book because of my passion for Disability Ministries. I serve as the chair of the Disability Ministries Task Force of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church and am also the chair of communications for the Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church. I hope to do my small part to help make the church a safe place for anyone and everyone who wishes to come and encounter Christ. One of the reasons I am so passionate about Disability Ministry is because I am visually impaired. Please allow me to assure you that I am more than capable of fulfilling all my duties as a pastor-- I simply do things a little differently. For example, you may see me reading large print from my iPad or walking to and from the church since I don’t drive. If you see me out and about and I don’t wave to you, please know that I am not ignoring you. I am just very nearsighted! I am an extrovert and a people person. Please stop by my office hours if you would like to chat! I would love to hear from you and get to know you! My office hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 AM-3 PM. You can also reach me on my cell phone at 570-854- 8006 or through email at RHolland@susumc.org. As an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, I never know what the future will hold. I don’t know how long God will see fit to allow me to remain here at Hawley, but while I am here, please know that I am committed to serving our church family. My door is always open if you wish to talk. May God bless the time we have together. May it be fruitful, and may we spread the love of Jesus Christ together throughout our community and the world. I am praying for you, dear Church Family. Sincerely, --Rev. Rebecca —-----------------------------------