Meet the Pastor

Reverend Sharon Bullmer has been the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Harvard since July 1, 2002. Previously, she has served the United Methodist Churches of Northern Illinois Conference at Wyanet (1979-84); Aurora: Fourth Street (1984-87) as associate; Leaf River/German Valley (1987-92); Orangeville/Alfolkey (1992-2002). Her home church was First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove. Sharon was ordained as Deacon in 1978 and as Elder in 1983.

She graduated from Carthage College, Kenosha, WI and received her Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Seminary, Oakbrook, IL a Church of the Brethren Seminary.

Sharon is married to Rev. Dr. Steve Bullmer who currently serves Marengo United Methodist Church. They live in the Harvard Parsonage. Sharon has three step-daughters: Kayte (husband, Arron) Holman; Sarah Bullmer, age 21; and Kendra, age 19 and a Sophomore at North Central College, Naperville.

Personal interests include: nature, especially bird and moose watching, reading novels, walking, gardening, watching TV, garage sales and travel.

Just a few years ago, our family went on vacation to Yellowstone National Park. Part of our experience was to go on a chuck wagon dinner. On the way out to the dinner site, the wagon driver kept us entertained by telling us about our surroundings and asking us questions. Presently, he pointed to a stand of aspens and asked the group if anyone could tell him how many trees were there. As most of us began to frantically count, my husband, Steve, such a WISE guy) called out, "There is just one aspen tree there!" Of course he was right. When we think we are seeing several aspens because we see several trunks with branches and leaves, it is deceiving because they are all connected by only one root system. It is really one tree under the ground that emerges above ground in several places.

So it is with the Church of Jesus Christ. We all have our lives and faith "rooted" in Christ so that we are all connected as one people . Just as the aspen's root system is entwined, so are our lives entwined. Just as the root is able to supply nourishment to the tree, so it is our ministry to be instruments of Christ's love to others. As the scripture below tells us, what we do affects others, not just in our own congregation or even our denomination, but also God's people all over the world.

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ ...God has so arranged the body...that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it." (I Corinthians 12: 12, 24-26, selected)

Let us as a church, strive to be the aspen trees of Christ: joined together and rooted in Him that we may uphold one another and be the channels of God's nourishment to others.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Sharon