Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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FEBRUARY 13-19, 2019 UCW 23 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Hope Mills News & Views When Dr. Bob Kretzu leaves Hope Mills United Methodist Church in June, the town of Hope Mills will be losing more than a pastor. At least that's the opinion of Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner, who's a member of Kretzu's con - gregation at the church. "He has been an asset to the town of Hope Mills,'' Warner said. "He went out and helped organize events during the lake festival. He was very involved not only at the church but in the arts and cultural events. "That was the other plus, his willingness to serve. He will be sorely missed.'' Kretzu, 66, is planning to retire from congregational ministry and relocate his family to the Asheville area. This did not come about suddenly, he said, adding he has been thinking about it as far as 10 years back. A father of four, with children ranging in age from 43 to 33, Kretzu said he's ready to spend more time with his extended family while still being active in the United Methodist Church in the Asheville area. From his earliest days at Hope Mills, Kretzu felt the need to follow in the footsteps of his prede - cessor, Rev. Dennis Sheppard, who followed the teachings of Methodism's founders by stressing something called social holiness. "I think most Methodist ministers feel responsible for relating to the other Christian churches in the area and being involved in the community,'' Kretzu said. "Dennis had done a great job of that, being involved in the community, reaching out to other pastors. He headed the clergy association and asked if I wanted to continue that, and I said absolutely.'' Kretzu took things a few steps further by getting involved in the Lake Festival Committee and help - ing organize activities, including Church at the Lake and Jazz and Art at the Lake. "Because of my art background, they invited me to provide leadership in Jazz and Art at the Lake,'' Kretzu said. "I had been involved in arts councils before in different communities. I really enjoyed that.'' Kretzu said he will miss the small-town atmo - sphere in Hope Mills and its trademark events like the annual Fourth of July and Christmas parades. "That's wonderful,'' he said. "That's wholesome North Carolina.'' Something else he said he will miss is the area's large military presence, the largest he'd ever minis - tered to as a pastor. He encourages whoever follows him at Hope Mills to get involved with community leadership and the lives of other pastors in the community. "This church has been involved in the ALMSHOUSE from the beginning,'' he said. "That's a wonderful local cooperative ministry. "You need to be intentional about blocking time for devotions and getting out in the community, getting to know the neighbors, serving the commu - nity. I see a lot of pastors who don't seem to have time for that.'' As for his retirement plans, Kretzu said he loves being a pastor and there are specific areas of min - istry he'd like to focus on. Those include disciple- ship, small group work, evangelism, mission work and teaching. "The bishop in the western conference is a for- mer district superintendent of mine,'' Kretzu said. "I feel like I've got connections there. We'll see what doors the Lord opens up.'' Meetings For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center. • Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, Feb. 13, Parks and Recre- ation Center • Board of Commissioners Monday, Feb. 18, Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall • Board of Commissioners Tuesday, Feb. 19, Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall. Special meeting to discuss proposed Donut Hole annexations and recom- mendations from Town of Hope Mills Plan Review Committee. • Parks and Recreation Committee Monday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center Activities • Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at the Parks and Recre- ation Center. e Senior programs for people ages 55-plus who are residents of Cumberland County have resumed. e rec center was closed in mid-Septem- ber after Hurricane Florence. Various activities are now back and are scheduled Monday through Friday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at www.townofhopemills.com, call the rec center at 910-426- 4109, or email Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com. • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio's, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240. Promote yourself Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com. CALENDAR Pastor, civic leader Kretzu retiring by EARL VAUGHAN JR. NEWS Bob Kretzu Kretzu, far left, has been an active member of the Lake Festival Committee.