Rob has served in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church for over 30 years, most recently as the Director of Church Development for the Conference. In that role, he supported new church plants, coached pastors and congregations, and helped guide churches toward greater vitality and Spirit-led visioning. Rob has also served as a local church pastor in a variety of settings across the conference and brings a deep love for helping churches imagine new ways of being the Church in a changing world.
Rob is married to Susan, his wife of 33 years. Susan holds a Master of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and is currently completing her Master of Education in Reading. She has been teaching for 12 years, most recently serving as a Multilingual Learner teacher in a K–8 language immersion school with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. This summer, she will begin a new role teaching 4th grade at Stoney Creek Elementary.
Rob is passionate about cultivating Christ-centered communities that listen deeply, love boldly, and lead with hope. He is looking forward to joining the Harrisburg UMC family and partnering with us to discover all that God has in store for this next chapter in ministry. Rob’s first day in the office will be July 7 and his first day in worship will be July 13.
Pastor Bowman will retire effective June 30, 2025, after 3 years of faithful service to Harrisburg United Methodist and over 30 years of service to the United Methodist Church. HUMC and the United Methodist Church are grateful for his spiritual leadership and dedication during his ministry.
On Sunday, June 29, 2025, HUMC will celebrate his ministry with a reception at 9 a.m. and a special worship service at 10 a.m. We wish to honor Pastor Bowman with a donation to Hood Theological Seminary, where he serves on the Board of Trustees and mentors young pastors. Contributions can be made as follows:
Using the donation link on the church website and choosing the drop down for the Hood Theological Seminary,
Placing your check in the offering plate, or
Mailing your contribution to the church at P.O. Box 970, Harrisburg, NC 28075.
If writing a check, please be sure to note Hood Theological Seminary on the memo line.
There will be no Sunday School and only one worship service on June 29.
Please be in prayer for Pastor Bowman and Kim as he transitions to retirement after many years of faithful service to the United Methodist Church.
Date: July 15-18Time: 9 am-11:30 am. Ages 3-5th grade
A summer family event called Egypt will be hosted at Harrisburg United Methodist from July 15th – 18th .
Kids step back in time at Egypt, exploring the life of Joseph. Kids participate in a memorable Bible-times marketplace, sing
catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, dig into Egyptian eats, visit Joseph in
prison and then in his palace home, and everyone learns to look for evidence of God all around them through
something called God Sightings. Each day concludes at Celebration—a time of upbeat
worship that gets everyone involved.
You Are Invited… As we enter the sacred days of Holy Week, we invite you to walk with us through the story of love, sacrifice, and resurrection. Whether you are a regular part of our church family or someone who joins us from time to time, this is a season for everyone.
Come as you are—bring your questions, your hopes, your burdens—and discover again the power and promise of Easter. There is something deeply moving about worshiping together during these days, and your presence would make the celebration more complete.
Let this be the year you say yes to the journey. We’d be honored to have you with us.
Holy Week Worship Opportunities
Palm Sunday – The Story in Music Sunday, April 13th, 9:00 a.m. & 11 am
Join us as the story of Jesus’ final week is told through powerful music and narration. A moving and reflective service to begin our journey toward Easter.
Holy Thursday – Tenebrae Service Thursday, April 17th, 6:30 pm A solemn service of shadows as we remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ path to the cross. The Tenebrae (Latin for “darkness”) leads us into quiet reflection and awe.
Easter Sunrise Service Sunday, April 20th 6:45 a.m. in the grove
Experience the wonder of the resurrection in the beauty of nature. As the sun rises, we proclaim that Christ is risen!
Easter Worship Sunday, April 20th,9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Celebrate the joy of Easter morning with music, message, and community. Come rejoice in the good news of new life and endless hope.
Holy Thursday marks the Thursday before Easter, and it’s a time to remember the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. The service will include communion, the stripping of the Sanctuary and a tenebrea.Tenebrae is the Latin word “darkness.The tenebrea is a a gradual extinguishing of candles to total darkness.
“Experiencing the solemnity of Holy Thursday deepens our understanding of the sacrifice Christ made for us. Walking through the Last Supper, the stripping of the sanctuary, and the darkness of Tenebrae allows us to feel the weight of Good Friday, making the joy of Easter morning even more profound. Join us for this meaningful service as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.”
