AMERICUS — Jack Taylor, pastor, of the Morningside United Methodist Church, sits back in his chair in his study, and turns on Handel’s Messiah.

“I love to listen to classical music, especially this,” said Taylor, adding, “It is very soothing.”

“Our church is a sacrament church,” said Taylor, continuing to explain, “you know what a sacrament is, right? It is a rite in which God is involved. It is a sign of sorts, or a religious symbol like Holy Communion or baptism.”

Taylor continued, “In our church, we see it as a symbol which conveys grace. It can be tangible or intangible, like this music. It helps me get into a good frame of mind.”

“You and I talking could be a sacrament of sorts. I was having problems with my cell phone and got to talking to the operator in Alabama, who I had never seen before, and toward the end of the conversation, I was wondering if there was anything else I needed to do, and there was a pause at the end of the line and she said, ‘I need prayer.’” Taylor’s eyes widened.

“You never know when God might use something to touch us.”

Taylor is married to Sally and the father of two. He moved to Americus in 2006 after becoming semi-retired.

He has been a minister for thirty six years. Originally from Summerville, Georgia, he has pastored in a number of churches in south Georgia. “We love it here.”

A bookworm, hence his e-mail address, Taylor enjoys writing and reading. One of his current favorite books is Chuck Colson’s “How now shall we live.”

“When I first read it, I don’t think I made it all the way through, then I read it again and I finished it. It was a great book.” Taylor has a wide collection of books—many of which are theological in nature.

At the age of 65, Taylor admits to having some problems of short term memory loss. “Where I was preaching before, they didn’t know how to take that, but here at this church, we are all pretty much in that senior level, and they just kind of are more understanding.”

His age limitations have not kept him from serving the Lord, alongside his wife, who is the church choir director. “Everyone loves Sally. She is not working anywhere right now, so she is into volunteering and doing things at the Magnolia Manor. I was over there once, and saw a lady I hadn’t met yet, and I told her, excuse me, I don’t believe I know you.”

Taylor smiled, “And you know what, the lady said, ‘I know you, you belong to Sally.’ Everyone loves Sally.”

Their daughter, Barbara, 41, is a nurse and son, Kenneth, 36, is teaching history at Gainesville State part time.

A former Air Force man, Taylor remembers being stationed to Bermuda. “I remember I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, and on the flight over, it seemed like I zoned out and I remember as we were arriving, I saw all of the beauty and color, and it was like God was using that to get my mind right.”

Pausing, Taylor smiled, “Another sacrament.”

He concluded, “We had heard of Americus and never had been here, but we really like it.”

Taylor said, “I can’t put my finger on it, why, but I really do like it here.”

And Americus likes having the Taylors here.

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