VIENNA — As the month of July began, the congregation of the Vienna United Methodist Church welcomed a new pastor.

Larry Sorrells, 65, and his family are now Vienna residents and living in the Methodist parsonage.

Sorrells is a native of Willow Springs, Missouri, and says the Vienna area is very similar to his hometown in South Central Missouri. “It’s cattle country and it looks a lot like home.”

Moving to Vienna with him are his wife, Ronda, son Brendan, who will be attending State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, and a daughter, Hannah, who is a student at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg.

Sorrells replaces Pastor Lynn Quist, who was assigned as the new Methodist pastor for the Montgomery City church.

Vienna’s new pastor’s last posting was in Appleton City. He is pleased to come to work in Vienna and said he has driven through the town many times. He’s looking forward to being here and thinks the church and the home for his family are “wonderful” and all of the people he has met are “more than gracious and helpful.”

Sorrells holds several degrees. He said no matter what he studied or the work that he was doing, he always really knew he possessed the calling to be a minister of God in some form. “If you feel that way, it makes no difference what you do,” he said.

He’s a Christian who “truly tries to do what is right” and he looks for the love of God in the hearts of others.

He’s a graduate of St. Louis Christian College as he was a member of the Christian Church at the time. He holds a bachelor degree in unified science teaching and administration from Harris-Stowe State University in mid-town St. Louis. He earned a master of arts degree in education administration from Missouri State University and a degree in educational specialist from William Woods University.

As an educator, he worked as a high school principal at Washburn and Ellsinore high schools. Sorrels also worked as a sales manager of Nabisco Brands.

He currently continues to work on a doctorate degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Kan. He is working on completing the paperwork to get his dissertation accepted.

The first church service he had in Vienna was Sunday, July 4 and he thought it was good and well attended. He looks forward to getting involved in the community and already has enjoyed Tackett Trail at the park. He plans to volunteer at the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in Vienna.

“I’m pretty confident I want to get out in the community and get involved,” he said.

He’s willing to help where he can.

In the past he’s been involved with community theater, loves music and likes to sing. He trying to learn how to play ukulele and guitar. He reads quite a bit.

He is a St. Louis Cardinals fans who remembers the pivotal call by umpire Don Denkinger at first base in the 1985 World Series Game 6 between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals.

He and his family received a warm welcome to the church and to Vienna. As the new pastor of the Vienna United Methodist Church, Sorrels welcomes and invites people to come to the church.

“You will be welcomed with open hearts, doors, and minds.”