New pastor for two local churches invites community to worship and barbecue event

IDAHO FALLS – Elizabeth McVicker recovered religion erstwhile she immigrated to nan U.S. pinch her parents arsenic a child. She’s now a pastor successful Idaho Falls, and she’s inviting nan organization to a believe work and barbecue later this month.

As of March 1, nan 55-year-old Oklahoma female is nan caller reverend astatine Trinity United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church successful Idaho Falls. She’s hosting nan organization arena connected June 30 to “foster unity and stock God’s love.”

“It’s really to fto group cognize that Methodism is simply a spot wherever each group are welcome,” McVicker tells EastIdahoNews.com. “Anyone who is looking for a organization of group who are authentic, we’re hosting this believe and barbecue.”

The believe work will statesman astatine 10 a.m. wrong St. Paul’s astatine 1730 St. Clair Road. Communion will beryllium fixed to those successful attendance.

Hamburgers, basking dogs, Farr’s crystal pick and different desserts will beryllium served extracurricular nan religion pursuing nan service. There will besides beryllium activities and unrecorded entertainment. It’s free and unfastened to anyone who wants to attend.

A believe work astatine St. Paul’s Methodist Church | Courtesy Dan Ginosaur

After nan caller departure of nan 2 church’s pastors, some congregations will beryllium sharing nan aforesaid reverend. Trinity United has had an interim pastor since July erstwhile its erstwhile reverend, Ruth Marsh, took a ministry duty successful Oregon. Similarly, St. Paul’s had been without a pastor 4 astir 2 years.

McVicker was assigned by nan bishop, an ordained elder assigned to preside complete nan religion successful a location area, to travel to Idaho Falls.

McVicker antecedently served successful Salt Lake City, and she’s enjoyed getting acclimated successful eastbound Idaho and serving nan community.

“Idaho Falls is simply a singular community,” says McVicker. “I’m enjoying nan precocious caliber of performing arts present and nan astonishing outdoors. When I drove astir downtown, I conscionable felt very astatine home.”

Trinity United’s ministry to nan bum organization is different point that appeals to her astir this assignment. That was a main attraction of her ministry successful Salt Lake and she’s gladsome to proceed that tradition.

RELATED | Finding Faith arsenic an addict: How a erstwhile Latter-day Saint recovered emotion and acceptance arsenic a Methodist

McVicker was calved successful Rangoon, Burma, a state successful southeast Asia. She is “full-blooded Chinese” and her parents came to America seeking flight from a Socialist government.

She grew up attending nan Methodist Church pinch her parents successful Tulsa, Oklahoma. She participated successful nan choir and Sunday school. She gained a heavy emotion for nan group and nan faith.

After graduating from Yale, she was readying to get a doctorate astatine nan University of California, Berkeley but decided to return a break.

“I enrolled successful seminary successful Berkeley. That first semester is erstwhile I really felt called into ministry,” McVicker explains.

She was ordained successful 1997.

Her first ministerial duty was successful Phoenix, Arizona.

She served successful Cheyenne, Wyoming, for 7 years earlier being called to Salt Lake successful 2016.

“Idaho Falls feels a batch for illustration Cheyenne — akin size population,” McVicker says.

RELATED | United Methodists repeal longstanding prohibition connected LGBTQ clergy

Last month, nan Methodist Church repealed its longstanding prohibition connected LGBTQ clergy. McVicker says they besides clasp group of each identities successful their congregation.

“We’re unfastened to group of each quality sexualities and gender identities. There’s nary requirement, nary criteria group person to meet successful bid to person Holy Communion successful nan Methodist Church. I deliberation that is very unsocial successful nan world of Christendom, and we want group to cognize that we’re here,” she says.

She invites nan organization to believe and be nan arena connected June 30.

Rev. Elizabeth McVicker, center, and Lynn Seymour, right, serving communion during a believe service. | Courtesy Tommy Lew