Service on Sunday morning at the Congregational Church of Manhasset was not just a regular day of worship on May 18, it was dedicated to the celebration of Reverend James Only’s 20 years of love and service to his church family.
The guest speaker at the service was Rev. Chase Peeples, who is Only’s lifelong friend and former Associate Minister from 2001 to 2007. Peeples has been friends with Only for nearly 25 years. They met at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee, where Peeples was a freshman and Only was the new Assistant Campus Minister/Director of Appalachian Outreach. Peeples currently holds the position of the Pastor of Country Club Congregational Church in Kansas City, Mo.
Immediately after the service, members gathered in Parish Hall for a special luncheon celebration for Only. The luncheon was presented by the Board of Trustees on behalf of the church.
Church Moderator Randall Eng welcomed everyone to the event and spoke on behalf of the congregation. “Jimmy has inspired us through our services and our messages and has always been timely, relevant, spiritually and socially uplifting.”
“He has spent countless hours, both day and night, with us in our homes, on the phone, in the office, healthcare facilities, and during times of personal and medical crisis,” said Eng. “He was our beacon of inspiration during the dark days following 9-11 where our community lost dozens of fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Jimmy has been with us through countless board meetings. He has been with us through all of it.”
The luncheon included a performance featuring the church’s bass soloist, Michael Douglas Jones, who was joined by the Director of Music Craig Tocher on piano.
Presenting a plaque to Only for his 20 years of faithful service was the Chair of Trustees Robert Horowitz.
“It’s wonderful to be in a church that loves you as much as you love them,” commented Only.
A slideshow presentation reflected upon the 20 years of Only’s service at the church. Only and Peeples also improvised a drum performance to entertain the guests. He and Peeples have played the drums for many years. Only had attended college on a drum scholarship and once drummed with the Mississippi State Stage Band at the inaugural ball for former Mississippi Governor William Allain.
At the celebration, Only was accompanied by his wife Colleen, his children Matthew, 17, and Alina, 12, as well as his parents, Jack and Betty Only, who traveled from Tennessee for the occasion.
“You are one of the warmest and most affirming and kind congregations,” said Only.
When asked how he felt about the congregation he replied, “It’s been my honor to accompany them in the bad times and in the good times. I am so appreciative of this 20th anniversary celebration, and I look forward to another 20 years.”
In his two decades of service, Only has performed 97 weddings, and 149 baptisms and gathered 220 new members to the church.
