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Florence church to honor cowboys

Area cowboys are invited to attend a special church service in their honor Sunday at Florence United Methodist Church.

The service will begin at 11 a.m. Special music will be provided by Bennie Holtsclaw of Cedar Point, and cowboy poet Ray Davidson will speak. Pastor Mark Moore will deliver a sermon titled, "Tall in the Saddle for Jesus."

Every child will receive a free cowboy hat, and a lucky one will receive a free video: "I Want to be a Cowboy."

After the service, everyone will enjoy a flapjacks and sausage feed. The day's activities will conclude with a hayrack ride through the countryside.

At the beginning of the year, Pastor Moore and his congregation chose a theme: "Together We Make a Difference."

The goal was to bring more people into the church and to recognize, honor, and acknowledge various groups which contribute to the community.

Since then, each month the church has been celebrating a special group.

In previous months, EMS personnel, firefighters, and children have been highlighted. Plans are to recognize veterans, teachers, health care workers, city of Florence leaders and employees, youth, and others.

In March, children led the whole service, including ushering. Adam Cope presented the sermon. Attendance almost tripled to 128 people.

"That day absolutely galvanized our congregation," Moore said.

"When they saw all these people, they knew we could do it," he said.

The church has been getting positive feedback. One person said it was the first time to be honored in this way. Another sent a thank you card saying it's the acknowledgment that makes it worth it.

"This has done so much for the spirit of the congregation," Moore said, "but more importantly, it has done so much for the spirit of the community."

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