GRAVETTE — The Gravette and Sulphur Springs United Methodist Churches welcomed their new pastor, Phil Sturdy, and his wife Susan, after his appointment to the two charges.

Sturdy had served as pastor of the church in Magazine, in Logan County, before his appointment to northwest Arkansas.

A native of Little Rock, he and his wife - a native of Lamar - both taught school at Lamar. She retired with 31 years of service, mostly in kindergarten. He quit after 19 years as a school counselor and fifth grade reading teacher to attend Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, where he completed the program last December.

The Sturdys, who have no children, moved into the church parsonage in Gravette several days ago.

The Gravette churchservice is at 11 a.m. each Sunday, following the service in Sulphur Springs at 9:45.

The congregations invite area residents to attend and meet their new pastor and his wife.

News, Pages 2 on 11/17/2010