Members of Woodlawn Presbyterian church congregation, friends, and guests attended a worship service to begin a celebration of their rich history. This year the church celebrates 155 years of worship, praise, faith, and service to our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the year. With an unforgotten history, a strengthened community and a sense of faith was remembered as the guest speaker for the morning worship was the former pastor of Woodlawn, the Honorably Retired, Rev. J. W. Rigsby whose sermon highlighted the experiences and struggles of 13 individuals who banded together to establish what became the Third Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville. Rigsby made the congregation aware of the move in 1875 to a location at Laura and State streets where the church was renamed Laura Street Presbyterian Church and later relocated in 1961 to Woodlawn Road, where it was finally renamed Woodlawn Presbyterian Church.
The congregation was reminded that there are still struggles today, including racial injustice, political issues, and gun violence, but we must continue to have faith and remain focused. “We have members who are walking by faith and not by sight into the future and trusting God to continuously bless this church,” said Rev. Don Johnson, the current pastor of Woodlawn. “By doing this we can continue to be a light in the city of Jacksonville and bring justice, love and hope into our community.” Woodlawn Presbyterian Church was organized as the first African-American church in Jacksonville, and remains an African-American church among approximately 50 other churches in the St. Augustine Presbyter.
For more info visit: woodlawnjax
Be the first to comment