Celebrating Father's Day as Jesus would

The Dallas Post // News

June 15

By Rebecca Bria rbria@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

Dallas United Methodist Church members will observe Father’s Day at a place Jesus might visit if he were alive today.

The congregation will hold its Father’s Day service at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, in the parking lot of Dallas Centre Hardware on Main Street.

“We were talking about how we would celebrate Father’s Day and we thought about Jesus being a carpenter and his father being a carpenter and this stereotype of men loving their tools and we thought it would be a good connection to make and to spark some interest in our congregation and our community,” said the Rev. Earl W. Roberts III, pastor of Dallas United Methodist Church.

Church member Paul Donlin approached Gerard and Michele Geise, owners of Dallas Centre Hardware, about having the service in their lot. The husband and wife were open to the idea even though they belong to Back Mountain Harvest Assembly Church.

“We knew Rev. Lewis very well, the retired pastor,” Gerard Geise said. “Most of the parishioners from the church are good customers of ours.”

A service and breakfast were held in conjunction at the Dallas United Methodist Church in May to honor women on Mother’s Day.

The Rev. Roberts and his wife, Anne, are the parents to two sons: Scott, who died in 1998; and Stephen, 23. The Rev. Roberts says he is proud to be a father, which he says is not a defined role.

“There are many kinds of families,” the Rev. Roberts said. “There are fathers, there are stepfathers and there are adoptive fathers. There are folks who have no fathers that are fatherly to others. It’s not just mom and dad and two kids.”

The Geises have worked at Dallas Centre Hardware for many years, becoming the owners this year after purchasing the business form Michele’s parents, Jim and Carol Eason. The couple has three boys: Garrett, 13; Elijah, 10; and Judah, 7.

Gerard Geise said the church service is a first for Dallas Centre Hardware, which never had a parking lot large enough for such an event until the business acquired the back lot three years ago.

“We’re Christians so anything we can do for a church or help to that cause, we’re happy to do,” he said.

The Rev. Roberts says the church is working on getting a tent for the event.

He encourages people to bring lawn chairs.

The women of the congregation will hold a breakfast for the men back at the church following the service.

“This is not a stunt,” said the Rev. Roberts. “This is a witness to Christ and our faith and an invitation for people to join us. I’m very proud of my congregation for being willing to try it.”