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MEET PASTOR SUSIE !
July 26, 2015
The Cedar Key News staff had the pleasure of interviewing the island’s newest United Methodist Church Pastor…Pastor Sandra (Susie) Horner this past week. She would like to be called Pastor Susie.
Much is interesting about Pastor Susie. Among the first is that she is animated, lively, smiling, and consummately open. Also among the first is that she is delighted to be in Cedar Key. She loves this place!
Another thing about Pastor Susie is that she welcomes everyone, all people, all creeds, to United Methodist and believes that “worship is joyful.”
Another item of interest is that Pastor Susie says, “Come as you are to church!” No one has to be dressed up to worship and/or enjoy the community of fellows, says she.
“We’re here to have fun and worship God,” says she. “Worship is joyful!”
BROAD BACKGROUND
Sandra Horner grew up in the Panhandle where her father was a park ranger. After graduating from Fort Walton Beach High School, Horner studied at Stetson University in Deland where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance.
In the years to follow, Horner spent time in the music arena and decided that “that would not work” for her. She worked with Blue Cross, Blue Shield, AvMed, and Shands. She spent meaningful time in Gainesville caring for her mother while “getting to know her as a friend as well a daughter.”
During the years from 2004 until 2011, Horner enrolled in courses at Asbury Theological Seminary and Candler School of Theology and became licensed by the Florida United Methodist Conference.
CHALLENGES
Pastor Susie spent an extended period of time away from the church. Then, “Fourteen years ago, God placed a call on my life,” Horner wrote in a letter introducing herself to the congregation in Cedar Key not long ago. No one was more surprised than she, Horner told the Cedar Key News staff. One day she received a call while working at Shands from her district supervisor offering her a pastoral position. She had until the next morning to make up her mind. And make up her mind she did.
Two weeks later, Horner became pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Lawtey, Florida. She was called to three other churches and most recently left Wakulla United Methodist Church in Crawfordville to come to Cedar Key. “I like challenges,” says Horner.
One such challenge embraced by Horner happened one Sunday morning in December of 2014 when Ku Klux Klan graffiti was marked on the marquee of the nearby predominately black New Bridge Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Instead of allowing that message to divide a community, Horner and her flock cancelled their Sunday service and arrived at New Bridge Hope about five miles away. The two congregations prayed together.
Horner’s letter to Cedar Keyans went on to promise the Cedar Key community two things: that she “will make mistakes” and that she will “love each of you in Jesus Christ.”
Horner wants everyone to know that she is consummately proud of the Cedar Key Food Pantry. She also asks her parishioners, if able, to drop off jars of peanut butter because the Pantry finds that a hard item to acquire.
Horner also wants everyone to know they are welcomed at United Methodist, that they are loved, and that God is there for them. That is so if they wish to pray, meet fellows, or simply wish to meditate quietly.
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