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Immanuel UMC to mark 22nd founding anniversary
In celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the Immanuel United Methodist Church founding, Rev. Pastor Barbara Ripple, along with her husband, Rev. Samuel Cox, will be on Saipan from April 6 to 22. (Contributed photo)
On Palm Sunday, April 5, 1992, a group of 10 gathered in the sanctuary of the Immanuel Korean Methodist Church on Saipan for worship and fellowship, hosted by members of the Korean congregation and its pastor, the Rev. Myung Taek Lee. Barbara Ripple, an ordained United Methodist minister and new resident of Saipan, had accepted Rev. Lee’s suggestion to begin services in the English language, and had posted notices throughout Saipan and in the local newspaper announcing the beginning of worship services in the United Methodist tradition. Besides the Korean-speaking Methodists who hosted them, those who attended that first service came from the Philippines, Fiji, and the United States. The religious backgrounds of those who came, besides United Methodists, were Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Congregational, and United Church of Christ.
Rev. Ripple continued as pastor of Immanuel UMC since its inception until July 1998, when Bishop Roy Sano appointed her to be the District Superintendent of the Hawaii District (which includes Guam and Saipan). Others who have served as pastors of Immanuel UMC include David Corbin, Jaime Vergara, Norma Kehrberg, Ewing “Bud” Carroll, J.J. Matsumoto, and Mary “Millie” Carroll.
In celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the Immanuel United Methodist Church founding, Rev. Pastor Barbara Ripple along with her husband, Rev. Samuel Cox, will be on Saipan from April 6 to 22. Rev. Pastor Ripple will be preaching on April 6, 2014, at IUMC at 9am with several other services and activities leading up to Easter.
All former members and friends of Rev. Ripple are welcome to attend the celebration on April 6. The IUMC in Chalan Kanoa is on Chalan Kanoa Street and Barbara Avenue (east of Town House Center and Beach Road, near Mount Carmel Catholic Church.) For further information contact Sol Corpuz at 989-0955, or Pam Carhill at 287-4646 or an email can be sent to saipaniumc@gmail.com. (PR)
