Meet the Pastor

Not too long ago, I received an e-mail from a young woman named Lisa who many years ago attended a summer camp I directed for Senior High Youth. The e-mail was from Facebook. I only knew of Facebook by reputation, but the e-mail said that Lisa wanted to be my friend. As a pastor, how could I say “no”? So, I opened the E-mail and clicked on the link. A picture of Lisa came up and I was asked either to “confirm” or “ignore” Lisa as my friend. Once again, to “ignore” Lisa would be blatantly un-Christian, so I clicked “confirm”. What happened next was simply amazing. Over the course of the next several weeks, I received nearly one hundred requests to be friends from dozens of people that I knew from previous churches I served, camps and retreats that I led, places that I worked, and even from my two children! Even though the technology of Facebook still baffles me (my kids are going to give me remedial training), I have been excited to re-connect with so many friends from my past and to hear their many stories. 

The Facebook experience has heightened my strong belief in the importance of relationships. I believe that the relationships we have with ourselves, the relationships that we have with others and with God are what provide us the ultimate meaning for our lives. As pastor, my primary mission is to build and nourish Christian intergenerational community in this little corner of God’s world. Of course, I do this through teaching and preaching, but my hope is that whatever I preach or teach will lead those who are part of this community to “confirm” both God and those who gather here as friends. 

Last, but not least, is that I believe that my job is to be interrupted. There is nothing more important than to be available to you. The people of this community are my first priority. For those who attend here, drop in and see me. If you do not attend here, drop in and see us, and when you do, please be sure to “interrupt” me. I am looking forward to meeting you.

Pastor John’s Biography

Pastor John was born in southwestern Pennsylvania. Like all those born in that part of the world, he has the “black and gold” blood of the Pittsburgh Steelers coursing through his veins. His father worked in the steel industry and his mother was an elementary school teacher. After high school and college, he, like his father, spent 11 years in sales and marketing. In 1985, he left industry and enrolled at Colgate Rochester Divinity School and for the next 14 years he served parishes throughout upstate New York. In 1999, he left parish ministry and during the course of the next 8 years worked in non-profit leadership and as Executive Minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. In 2008, he was appointed as pastor of Osterville United Methodist Church.
 
Pastor John is married to Karin Liiv who is studying for her doctorate in education. His daughter, Julie works in Washington, DC and his son, Theodore, is a law student. Over the course of his ministry, Pastor John has been honored as guest Chaplain of the United States Senate, received a community service award from the Rhode Island NAACP, was appointed to the Rhode Island Advisory Committee of United States Civil Rights Commission, chaired the Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund and has served on many public and private boards and commissions. In his free time, Pastor John loves to write, play guitar, bike and work in his yard.
 
If you would like to contact Pastor John, you can e-mail him at revholt@gmail.com or call him at the church office at 508-428-2811.  And...you can always become a Facebook friend!
 
 
The Rev. John E. Holt , Pastor
Phone: 508-428-2811
E-Mail: revholt@gmail.com              
Office Hours: 9 AM – 12 PM Monday-Thursday