Meet The Staff
Pastor
St Timothy is in a transition time as we look for a new pastor. During this time, we are blessed with Cumberland Presbyterian Ministers, or church lay leaders, who preach the message from God's word and encourage our walk of faith. This is an exciting time for St Timothy as we pray together and seek the pastor God has for us.
Sarah Holland: Director of Music
Sarah has been the Director of Music at St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church for nearly 20 years. She cherishes her church family and is deeply committed to its music programs. Sarah is also an ordained elder and serves on the Worship Committee. Sarah is married to Michael —her middle school choir classmate—and is a proud mom to Esperanza and Cruz Reyes, stepmom to Jacob Holland, and pet parent to a lively cat, Pumbaa. Sarah has taught Music and Choir in public education for 19 years and is in her second year at Indian Springs Middle School in Keller ISD and is lead Intermediate Choir Director for Keller ISD. Throughout her career, her programs have earned superior ratings, titles and specialty awards, as well as Teacher of the Year in 2015.
Kathy Hartwell: Accompanist
Kathy Hartwell, when she was a high school student, was the first accompanist St. Timothy ever had. She has continued to serve as the accompanist for the choir and worship services since that first service in 1970. As organist and pianist, Kathy helps lead worship services through playing a variety of musical styles. Familiar hymns find their way in her preludes as do contemporary songs and choruses. As well as her faithful service as an accompanist, Kathy has served faithfully as an elder and as a member of many different committees.
Darla Roper: Administrative Assistant
Darla serves as the Administrative Assistant at St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church where she supports the daily operations of the church office and helps the ministry efforts to run smoothly. Darla brings a welcoming and efficient presence to the heart of the church’s daily life. Darla strives to create an environment where members, staff, and visitors feel supported and informed. Married to her husband Jeff for 17 years, Darla is a proud mother of three sons and three stepchildren. Outside of work, Darla enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Teresa Goff: Nursery Teacher
Teresa loves working in the Nursery with the young children and sharing God’s word through songs, stories and activities She has worked in the Nursery for almost 3 years and has a background in working with infants and preschool children. Teresa and her husband, Ben, have been married for 27 years and have 2 sons. When the boys were young, Teresa spent many hours volunteering with Cub scouts, PTA, and the Suzuki Strings Programs. Now that the boys are grown, Teresa spends her free time knitting, crocheting, and attending concerts with her husband.
What We Believe
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16).
The full Cumberland Confession of Faith can be found HERE [PDF]
Our Beliefs
- The Trinity: We believe in God as Creator and Caretaker; in Jesus Christ as divine Savior and Lord; and in the Holy Spirit as God present and at work everywhere in creation.
- Sin and Salvation: Human beings disobey God, like Adam and Eve, and are in need of spiritual rebirth. God initiates salvation, sending the Holy Spirit to all persons, calling them to repentance and faith. They have a choice of acceptance or rejection. “Whoever believes” is redeemed. We are not, nor have we ever been, Predestinarian. Persons are set into right relations with God by faith, and not by works. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not something earned or merited.
- Christian Growth: Beginning Christians are like babes in Christ; they have only just been born. All Christians need to grow continually throughout their years in capacity to receive God’s grace, and in the ability to live the Christian life.
- The Bible: The holy scriptures are the 66 books contained in the Old and New Testaments. They tell the story of our faith in all its richness. As we read and study the scriptures through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves addressed by God and God’s purposes for us and the world. As such, the scriptures are the authoritative guide for Christian living. We do not limit ourselves to any one translation of the Bible but seek always for a deeper understanding of God’s word addressing us through the words of scripture.
- The Church: The Cumberland Presbyterian Church considers itself to be a part of the Holy Universal Church, consisting of all who have made covenant with God through Jesus Christ. We are not sectarian. We are one of the many communions who belong to God.
- The Sacraments: The Sacraments are celebrations of the covenant in which Christ mysteriously is present and active. We accept two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. Through God’s presence, work, and will, they are made effective. The elements of water, fruit of the vine, and bread are signs and symbols and remain what they are. The Sacraments are not essential to salvation but are necessary means of grace. The Sacraments are central to Christian worship.
- Death and Resurrection: We do not believe in the natural immortality of the soul. Eternal life is a gift from God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We are raised with him through our conversion. Eternal life is a living relation with God (John 17:3) which continues more completely after death when full redemption shall be ours in the resurrection of the body.
- End of Days: The Cumberland Presbyterian Church accepts what the Bible says about heaven and hell, though the Confession of Faith speaks but briefly about them. There is a divergence of opinions concerning these concepts. There is no full statement in the Confession of Faith about the Last Days and the Second Coming of Christ. No speculation is done about the time and manner of these events. However, Cumberland Presbyterians declare in the final words of the Confession of Faith, “in the consummation of history, at the coming of Jesus Christ, the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
What is Cumberland?
Whosoever Will May Come (John 3:16; Revelations 22:17)
Our History
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church denomination was founded in 1810 in Dickson County, Tennessee (near Nashville), by a group of Presbyterians who were heading west to settle the frontier. Born out of the early 1800’s Great Revival with a desire to go out and reach all that need Christ, the denomination has retained that “whosoever will come” approach to evangelism and outreach. The denomination has approximately 670 congregations worldwide, with ministries in 18 countries. The largest concentration of churches is in Tennessee, followed by Alabama, Texas, Kentucky and Arkansas.
St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church (CPC) was founded in 1970, at a time when Bedford was experiencing rapid residential growth. It was then a few people with a deep love for Christ and others stepped forward in faith, community and fellowship to establish St. Timothy CPC, bringing with them a wonderful spirit of worship, praise and fellowship. We lovingly follow in their footsteps of faith and fellowship, as we also continue to serve and support global and local ministries. Locally, this includes our St Timothy Preschool that was established as an outreach to the community, continuing for 40 years and still serving our Bedford and surrounding communities.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and will be opened to you. And the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7
What people are saying...
Have you ever stepped into a place and felt instantly at home? That’s the way it felt for me and my mom when we visited St. Timothy. I had just moved back to the mid-cities after many years away, found a house that became our home, and we began searching and praying for our new church family.
~Heather M
