The
following is the program from Zion Lutheran Church’s 90th
anniversary celebration held on October 13, 2002.
Courtesy of Mr. David Hawk.
ZION EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH
1912-2002
NINETIETH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
Service of Holy Communion
4:00 p.m.
Fellowship Dinner
5:30 p.m.
Mission
Statement: As part of the people of God baptized into Christ,
the mission of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is to proclaim in word
and deed throughout the Nesquehoning area and the wider world, the Good
News of God’s love shown by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Church
Staff:
Ladies Auxiliary:
The
Rev. Ben Ehrets, Pastor
Mrs. Helen Angst
Miss Ruth E. Pecha, Organist
Mrs. Verna Barnhart
Mrs. Barbara Pecha, Sexton
Mrs. Betty Higgins
Mr. Robert Pecha, Custodian
Mrs. Connie Kravelk, President
Ms. Judy Moon, Vice President
Mrs. Helen Morgans
Church
Council:
Mrs. Barbara Pecha, Treasurer
Mr. Roy “Mickey” Angst
Miss Ruth E. Pecha, Secretary
Mr. David A. Hawk
Mrs. Betty Ricciardi
Mrs. Connie Kravelk
Mrs. Frances Watto
Mr. John McGowen
Mrs. Betty Winton
Mrs. Susan Miller
Mrs. Rose Winton
Ms. Judy Moon
Mrs. Barbara Pecha, Secretary
Mrs. Frances Watto, Vice President
Congregational Offices:
Mrs. Vera Yaniga
Mr. David A. Hawk, Treasurer
Mr. Stephen Higgins, Financial Secretary
ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Summit Hill-Nesquehoning Lutheran Parish
Nesquehoning Pennsylvania
Ninetieth Anniversary Celebration
October 13, 2002
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PROCESSION
OF THE PASCHAL LIGHT
May
the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts
and minds.
The
light of Christ. THANKS
BE TO GOD!
The
light of Christ. THANKS
BE TO GOD!
The
light of Christ. THANKS
BE TO GOD!
Christ
is risen!
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise
to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
All ye who hear, Now to his temple draw near;
Joining in glad adoration.
Praise
to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth:
Hast thou not seen? All that is needful hath been
Granted in what he ordaineth.
Praise
to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew What the Almighty can do,
If with his love he befriend thee!
Praise
to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore him;
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen Sound from his people again;
Gladly for aye we adore him. Amen.
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
Sisters and brothers, the Apostle teaches
us that by baptism we were buried with Christ and lay dead in order that
as Christ was raised from the dead in the splendor of the Father, so we
should set our feet on the new path of light. Therefore, let us renew
the promises made at our baptism. I therefore ask you, do you renounce
the devil, and all his works, and all his ways?
WE RENOUNCE
THEM!
Do you believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth?
WE BELIEVE!
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only
Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin
Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried:
Descended into hell; The third day rose again from the dead; Ascended
into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
Whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead?
WE BELIEVE!
Do you believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy
Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The
Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting?
WE BELIEVE!
The Lord be with you.
AND ALSO WITH
YOU.
Let us pray:
ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD, WHOSE WILL IT IS TO RESTORE ALL THINGS TO
YOUR BELOVED SON, WHOM YOU ANOINTED PRIEST FOREVER AND KING OF ALL
CREATION: GRANT THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, NOW DIVIDED BY THE
POWER OF SIN, MAY BE UNITED UNDER THE GLORIOUS AND GENTLE RULE OF YOUR
SON, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT, ONE GOD, NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.
O GOD, YOU HAVE
PROMISED THROUGH YOUR SON TO BE WITH YOUR CHURCH FOREVER. WE GIVE YOU
THANKS FOR THOSE WHO FOUNDED THIS COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS AND FOR THE
SIGNS OF YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR CONGREGATION. INCREASE IN US THE SPIRIT OF
FAITH AND LOVE, AND MAKE OUR FELLOWSHIP AN EXAMPLE TO ALL BELIEVERS AND
TO ALL NATIONS. WE PRAY THROUGH YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
First
Lesson - Isaiah 40: 1 –11
St.
John’s Choir
Prayer of St. Francis
Sebastian Temple
Second
Lesson - I Peter 2:1-9
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God,
… A bulwark never
failing;
Our helper he amid the flood …
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did
we in our own strength confide …
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
… The man of
God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his Name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.
Gospel
Procession
John 14:1-6
And
though this world, with devils filled,
… Should threaten
to undo us;
We will not fear, for God hath willed
… His truth to
triumph through us:
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That
word above all earthly powers, …
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours …
Through him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
Homily
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
Anniversary
Offering
St.
John’s Choir
Loving
God
Dave and Jean Perry
Offertory
Procession
Old Hundredth
All
people that on earth, do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before him, and rejoice.
Know
that the Lord is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.
O
enter then his gates with praise;
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For
why? the Lord our God is good:
His mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
To
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel-host
Be praise and glory evermore. Amen.
THE COMMUNION
The Lord be with you.
AND WITH THY
SPIRIT.
Lift up your hearts.
WE LIFT THEM UP
UNTO THE LORD.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
IT IS MEET AND
RIGHT SO TO DO.
It is truly meet, right and salutary,
that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O
Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God: But chiefly are we bound
to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and
hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed
death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting
life. Therefore with Angels, and Archangels, and with all the company of
heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee,
and saying:
HOLY, HOLY,
HOLY, LORD GOD OF SABAOTH;
HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF THY GLORY;
HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.
BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
The
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed
be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into
temptation, But deliver us from evil.
FOR THINE IS
THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
AND WITH THY
SPIRIT.
Agnus Dei
O Christ, thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world,
have mercy upon us. O Christ, thou Lamb of God, That takest away the sin
of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, thou Lamb of God, that
takest away the sin of the world, grant us thy peace. Amen.
The Distribution of the Sacrament of the Altar
HYMNS DURING THE DISTRIBUTION
St.
John’s Choir
This
Do In Remembrance of Me
Judy Hunnicutt
O Living Bread from Heaven
O
living Bread from heaven, How hast thou fed thy guest!
The gifts thou now hast given Have filled my heart with rest.
O wondrous food of blessing, O cup that heals our woes,
My heart, this gift possessing, In thankful song o’erflows!
My
Lord, thou here hast led me Within thy holiest place,
And there thyself hast fed me With treasures of thy grace;
And thou hast freely given What earth could never buy,
The Bread of Life from heaven, That now I shall not die.
Thou
givest all I wanted, The food can death destroy;
And thou hast freely granted The cup of endless joy.
Ah, Lord, I do not merit The favor thou hast shown,
And all my soul and spirit Bow down before thy throne.
Lord,
grant me that, thus strengthened With heavenly food, while here
My course on earth is lengthened, I serve with holy fear;
And when thou call’st my spirit To leave this world below,
I enter, through thy merit, Where joys unmingled flow. Amen.
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Joyful,
joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts
unfold like flow’rs before thee, Praising thee, their Sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.
All
thy works with joy surround thee, Earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee, Center of unbroken praise:
Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird, and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou
art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean‑depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine!
Nunc Dimitis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; According to thy
word; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation: Which thou hast prepared
before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles: and the
glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is
good.
AND HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.
Pour forth upon us, O Lord, the spirit of
thy love, that by thy mercy thou mayest make of one will those whom thou
hast fed with one heavenly food; through thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, World
without end.
AMEN
The Lord be with you.
AND WITH THY SPIRIT.
Bless we the Lord.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The
Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord
lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace: In the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!
St.
John’s Choir
Choral
Benediction
Don Besig
Lift High the Cross
Lift
high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
Come
Christians, follow where our captain trod,
Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
Led
on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conqu’ring ranks combine.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
All
newborn soldiers of the Crucified
Bear on their brows the seal of him who died.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
O
Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As thou hast promised, draw us all to thee.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
So
shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
THANKS BE TO GOD!
Today's Worship Leaders:
Celebrant
The Rev. David R. Rowe, Pastor,
Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oley
Homilist The Rev. Kurt E. Garbe, Associate of the Bishop,
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
Assisting Ministers
The Rev. Carl A. Borger, Retired
The Rev. Ben Ehrets, Pastor,
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nesquehoning and
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Summit Hill
The Rev. Warren S. Harding, Retired
Organist
Miss Ruth E. Pecha, Organist,
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nesquehoning
Offertory Presenters
Mr. & Mrs. Roy Angst
Ushers
Mr.
Donald Harakal
Mr. David A. Hawk
Mr. John McGowen
Mr. Karl Pecha
Greeters
Mr. Stephen Higgins
Ms. Judy Moon
Announcements:
The
Anniversary Offering, together with other gifts, will be used to purchase new front doors for
Zion, except for a tithe, which will be given to the St. Luke’s Manor
and Pavilion of Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
The
present front doors, opening into the narthex off of Catawissa Street,
are uninsulated and drafty, prone to sweating and icing in the winter.
New, insulated doors with improved weather sealing will afford improved
heating efficiency and less maintenance.
Today’s
Anniversary Booklets are given to the glory of God in memory of the Rev. Robert H. Williams
and his daughter Rachael, by Mrs. Frances Watto.
The
Altar Flowers
are given to the glory of God by St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Summit Hill.
The
Dinner Floral Arrangements are given to the glory of God by Bob, Barbara and Ruth Pecha in memory
of loved ones.
Today’s
Anniversary Favors are presented by the Zion Ladies Auxiliary in memory of our deceased
Pastors and The Rev. Kenneth W. Hawk II, Son of the Congregation.
Thank
You
to all who helped plan the service, and contributed their time and
effort to complete the many chores great and small for our celebration!
A
Gracious Thanks to Eleanor Perry and the choir of St. John’s Lutheran Church
(Heights), Jim Thorpe for providing special music.
Special
Thanks
to the Zion Ladies Auxiliary for preparing and serving the dinner; and
to Mrs. Barbara Cerimele and Mr. David A. Hawk for designing and
printing the Anniversary Booklets.
Acknowledgements:
-Portions of the liturgy are reprinted from Service
Book and Hymnal copyright ©1958,
by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
-Portions of the liturgy are reprinted from Lutheran
Book of Worship copyright ©1978,
by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
-Portions of the liturgy are adapted and
reprinted from Manual on the Liturgy – LBW copyright ©1979.
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
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ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Blessing
of the Meal
The
Rev. Ben Ehrets
Food and Fellowship
Turkey, Ham and Cake & Ice Cream
Introduction
of Honored Guests
The Rev. Ben Ehrets
Remembrances
Former Pastors and Friends of the Congregation
Remembrances
Congregants
Honored Guests:
The Rev. Sara Ehrets
Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church (Heights), Jim Thorpe
The Rev Walter W. Breiner, Jr.
Pastor, Zion Lutheran Church, Weatherly
The Rev. Fred Crawford
Pastor, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tamaqua
The Rev. John Keider
Pastor, Trinity
Lutheran and St. John’s Slovak Lutheran
Churches,Lansford
Mrs. Marjorie Keider
Seminarian, Field Education Student,
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nesquehoning
Mrs. Eleanor Brown
Wife of The Rev. Donald L. Brown (deceased),
Past Pastor of Zion
Mrs. Sue Swavely
Wife of The Rev. John Swavely (deceased),
Pastor Emeritus, St. John’s Lutheran, Jim Thorpe (East), and
Past Interim Pastor of Zion during pastoral transition
The Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Shook
Retired
SINCE 1912 ....
Congregational
archives indicate the first efforts to establish a Lutheran witness in
Nesquehoning began in 1895 through the visitation of the Rev. Dr. L.
Lindenstruth. Later, in 1911, the Rev. C. K. Fegley visited the town
with the Rev. Dr. Rehrig and the Rev. J. H. Kuder, President of the
Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States.
The
record of Zion’s birth is described in two places in the Minutes of
the Ministerium:
Nesquehoning, Pa. - This
is another field in the Wilkes-Barre Conference. The work here was also
called attention to by President Kuder. Field Missionary Fegley was sent
to canvass the field and regular services are now being conducted [1911,
Fourth Session, p. 89].
Our two field
missionaries, Rev. Chas. K. Fegley, and the Rev. U. S. Bertolet have
been busy looking after the missions committed to their care .... Rev.
Fegley has labored at Nesquehoning and Palmerton, recently giving
Nesquehoning over into the care of the missionary at Packerton, and
giving his undivided attention to Palmerton; thence he will go to the
work which has been mapped out in the city of Allentown [1912, Fourth
Session, p. 59].
The first Lutheran
service was conducted by Pastor Fegley on February 12, 1911, in
Corby’s Hall. On Easter of that year, the first service of Holy
Communion was held, with twelve persons receiving the sacrament. A
Catechism Class was promptly organized, and four adults were
subsequently confirmed on July 30. Sunday School was organized on
October 8, with an enrollment of forty-five.
The first congregational meeting was held on February 3, 1912,
and the proposal of the Home Mission Board of the Ministerium was
accepted, yoking Zion, Nesquehoning with Zion, Packerton. The Rev. F. E.
Reichard, pastor of the Packerton Mission was elected the first pastor,
beginning May 1912. Congregational organization was completed by June
27.
Land for a church was
purchased at the corner of Catawissa and Douglass (now Mermon) Streets
in September 1913, and a building plan was prepared by Mr. Morris G.
Prutzman of East Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe). Ground was broken
following Sunday School on October 4, 1914, with the cornerstone being
laid by Pastor Reichard, who was assisted by the Rev. W. H. C. Lauer of
Summit Hill. Pastors Rehrig and Fegley addressed the gathering. Services
were first held in the building on December 5, 1915.
Mr. Assman painted the
church interior including the picture of the Ascension in the chancel
above the altar in 1926. The pipe organ was donated by St. John’s
Episcopal Church of East Mauch Chunk in 1928.
Pastor Reichard served
Zion until 1945, and was succeeded by the Revs. Warren S. Harding, Carl
A. Borger, and Edward O. Lukens. During these years, the many broad,
cultural changes following World War II, especially the decline of the
coal industry, reshaped Nesquehoning and the wider Panther Valley. The
yoke with Zion Packerton, which for some years also included the
Lutheran Church at Long Run, was dissolved following the Rev. Henry C.
Kraft’s pastorate. In 1963, the Rev. Donald L. Brown, pastor of Saint
Paul’s Lutheran, Summit Hill, agreed to preach at Zion. Then, the Rev.
Richard J. Bonser served as Vice Pastor, while Zion and Saint Paul’s
began to explore a yoked arrangement. After initially serving as the
Vice Pastor to both congregations, the Rev. Robert H. Richards was
jointly called by Zion and Saint Paul’s in 1975, formally establishing
a new parish. The Rev. Robert H. Williams, the Rev. David R. Rowe, and
currently the Rev. Ben Ehrets have in their turn served the Summit
Hill‑Nesquehoning Lutheran Parish.
More recently, Joan
Katchmur of Hazleton restored the painting of the Ascension in 1980.
Through a generous donation by Helen and David Hawk in memory of The
Rev. Kenneth W. Hawk II, the altar furniture was refinished in 1999 to
match the pews. The Ladies Auxiliary’s untiring efforts realized a new
kitchen in 2000. And in 2001, the aging coal stoker was replaced with a
new oil burner.
While the world witnessed
a great deal of change during the past nine decades, ranging from the
advent of the industrial age to the advent of the technological age, the
congregation also changed. The church that began with twelve people
receiving the Sacrament of the Altar, grew to 129 communing members in
1942, and currently has just over 100 members. The Sunday School that
first enrolled forty-five students, soon had over 130 in 1916, and
then eventually disbanded in 1985. The Sunday School reorganized for a
brief resurgence in the early 1990’s, to serve not only as a nurturing
ministry for Zion’s young people, but also a mission to the unchurched,
as in Zion’s early years.
Many of Zion’s members
from years past moved to other parts of the country and became leaders
in churches in their new communities. Two of these members were ordained
into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament: John W. Harding, son of the
Rev. and Mrs. Warren S. Harding; and the Son of the Congregation,
Kenneth W. Hawk II, son of Mrs. Helen Hawk and the late Kenneth W. Hawk,
who was ordained by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod in 1983.
Many members, however,
have remained in the Nesquehoning area and continue to be faithful
partners in the congregation’s ministry. Most significantly, however,
some of Zion’s members are not originally from the town, have no
earlier family ties to the congregation, and have become full partners
and leaders in Zion’s life in recent years. This is an important sign
for a congregation that not only remembers and honors the past, but also
lives in the present, and looks forward to the future!
Zion’s
most significant ministry since 1912, regardless of whether it has
sought to address hard times or good times, abundance or scarcity,
old-timers or new members, old neighbors or some of our many new
neighbors, is the same ministry that the one true church has always
claimed as its eternal call and mission - to declare and proclaim
the crucified and risen Christ through God’s Word and Sacraments, not
only for the sake of the congregation, but for the sake of the world!
PASTORS PAST
AND PRESENT
Former Pastors:
The Rev. Francis E. Reichard: Served 1912 to 1945.
The Rev. Warren S. Harding: Served 1945 to 1948. He then served
churches in Millcreek; Coopersburg; Phillipsburg, NJ; New Brunswick,
NJ.; and St. Michael’s, Allentown. In retirement he served as interim
pastor for 10 parishes, and is quite often a supply pastor, all along
with having authored a book of prayers, earned his Master of Sacred
Theology, and learned to swim and oil paint.
Ruth, his wife, served as
organist-choir director for St. Michael’s, Allentown until her
recent “retirement”. Their daughter Vicki, and her husband, Ken,
have two boys. Their son, John, and daughter-in-law,
Deborah, were co-pastors of St. Matthew’s, North Weissport. John
now serves as Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Craigs Meadow
(near East Stroudsburg) and Deborah serves as Pastor of Salem-St.
Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville. John and Deborah have five
children – Jonathan, Michael, Whitney, and the twins Alison and
Christian.
The Rev. Carl A. Borger: Served 1949 to 1950. He later served
Trinity, Lansford (1950-1954); Zion Lehigh, Alburtis and St.
Paul’s Trexlertown (1954-1967); and the Port
Carbon-Middleport Parish (1967-1991). Upon retirement, he
served as Visitation Pastor of Trinity, Pottsville, and Interim Pastor
of Salem Bellemans, Mohrsville. He continues to serve as supply pastor,
and is presently Visitation Pastor of Alsace Church, Reading and St.
John’s Church, Hamburg, and Interim Pastor of Jerusalem “Red”
Lutheran Church, Kempton, all in his 53rd year of ministry.
He and his wife, Cora,
have two children. Son Mark Charles, a graduate of Penn State
University, lives in Mechanicsburg and is Director of Workforce
Development for Harrisburg Area Community College. Daughter Susan Diane
DeCarlo, a graduate of Coombs College, was a Senior Vice-President
for American Express, and presently lives in Atlantic Highlands, New
Jersey where she is a real estate agent.
The Rev. Edward O. Lukens: Served 1951 to 1956.
The Rev. Henry C. Kraft: Served 1957 to 1963.
The Rev. Donald L. Brown (1963-1967): Served as Stated Supply Pastor
1964 to 1967 while at St. Paul’s, Summit Hill. He then served Zion,
Spies, Alsace Township (1967-1976); Zion, Minersville (1976-1984); and
Jordan, Orefield (1984-1996). He was serving as Interim Pastor of Grace,
Lehighton, St. Paul’s, Weissport and Zion, Packerton at the time of
his death.
Pastor Brown and his
wife, Eleanor, had three sons born in the Panther Valley, and a daughter
born in Reading. David is a University of Pennsylvania graduate, and is
currently doing campus ministry and attending seminary. He lives in
Allentown with his wife and eight-year-old son. Philip served in the
military, and is currently building pipe organs in Akron, Ohio. He is
married with three-year-old and one-year-old daughters. Kenneth
graduated from Allen High School and lives at home. Barbara is a
Muhlenberg College graduate, and is employed by St. Luke’s Hospital in
Bethlehem. She and her husband have a three-year-old daughter and a
newborn son.
Eleanor is living in
Allentown, doing volunteer work and enjoying her grandchildren.
The
Rev. Richard J. Bonser: Served as Vice Pastor 1970 to 1973. He later
served St. Matthew's, Allentown (1973-1982); St. Paul’s,
Bethlehem (1982-1996); and Christ Lutheran, Easton (1996-1998). Since
1999 he is serving as Visitation Pastor of St. John’s Windish Lutheran
Church, Bethlehem
Pastor Bonser and his
wife, Carolyn, have been married 34 years. Carolyn continues to teach in
the Jim Thorpe School District since 1983. They have two children.
Stacy, a Penn State University graduate, lives in Wilkes-Barre with her
husband Richard. Mark, a Lock Haven University graduate, lives and works
in Baltimore.
The Rev. Robert H. Richards: Served as Vice Pastor 1973 to 1975; and
as Pastor to 1978.
The Rev. Robert H. Williams: Served 1979 to 1985.
The Rev. David R. Rowe: Served 1987 to 1994. Since leaving Zion, he
is serving as Pastor of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oley. He
also continues to be active in synodical and churchwide expressions of
the Lutheran church.
Since settling into Oley,
Mary, his wife, taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten at an inner
city preschool in Reading. More recently, Mary has become the director
of a child care facility at a nearby Lutheran church.
Pastor Rowe and Mary have
two children. Becky, a sophomore at Susquehanna University majoring in
English with a minor in Religion, has an avid interest in literature,
vocal music, and church activities. Andrew is a sophomore in high
school. Like Becky before him, he sings in the Berks Classical
Children’s Chorus. In addition to singing, he plays the tuba, enjoys
sports, and is looking forward to attending the churchwide youth
gathering next year in Atlanta.
Present Pastor:
The Rev. Ben Ehrets: Serving since 1996.
Pastor Ben grew up
attending St. Michael’s and Christ Lutheran Churches in Allentown. He
is a 1985 graduate of Lehigh County Community College, and a 1987
graduate of Muhlenberg College with a degree in sociology. He attended
Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary where he graduated in 1992.
Ordained in 1993, he
served his first call as Pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in
Birdsboro until 1995, before coming to Zion, Nesquehoning and St.
Paul’s, Summit Hill.
Pastor Ben met his wife,
Sara, at seminary, and she now serves as Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran
Church (Heights), Jim Thorpe. Pastors Ben and Sara have a son, Odin
Kristoffer, who was born in May 2001, and their cats Isaac and Aerielle.
Son of the Congregation:
The
Rev. Kenneth W. Hawk II: Son of Mrs. Helen Hawk and the late Kenneth
W. Hawk, was baptized and confirmed at Zion. He was ordained by the
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod in 1983 after graduating from the
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.
While in Seminary, Pastor
Hawk served his internship at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Kutztown. After ordination, Pastor Hawk served his first call as Pastor
of the St. James and Mount Zion Lutheran Churches of the Nescopeck
Parish from 1983 until 1992. In 1992, he served as Interim Pastor of
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tamaqua. He served as Pastor of Christ
Lutheran Church, Mahanoy City from 1993 until his death in 1998.
While at Christ Lutheran,
Pastor Hawk helped revitalize the Sunday School and started a
Children’s Choir. He was active in the Cooperative Area Ministries, a
Christian youth group for area children sponsored by the Mahanoy City
churches. He participated in the Mahanoy Area Ministerial Association,
an interdenominational group of area pastors, and gave of his time and
talents to other community efforts.
ZION’S
HOUSEHOLDS:
Roy & Helen Angst & Family; son Daniel
Paul & June Bales
Linda Barnhart
Verna Barnhart
Mary Ruth Blisard
Robert Blisard
Christine Bock & Family; daughter Shanna Kulick
Dennis Creitz
Gertrude L. Dawe
Anthony & Mary DeAngelis
Anthony & Olivia DeStephanis
Joseph & Connie Domines & Family; daughter Jennifer, son Joseph
Rev. Ben & Rev. Sara Ehrets & Family; son Odin
Eleanor Feane
Susan Feane
John Feane & Family; daughter Lisa Solt
Donald & Barbara Harakal
David Harvan
Helen Hawk & Family; son David
Mabel Hellwinkel
Stephen & Betty Higgins
Louis & Althea Higgins Jr.
Gary & Trish Higgins & Family; daughter Katylin, son Gary
Edward & Marie Kemmerle
Anna Kennedy
Connie & Michael “Nunny” Kravelk
Mary LaRizzio & Family; mother Annette
Madeline Leibensperger & Family; son Larry McDaniel
James Marouchoc
Dawn May, Lorrie May, Eileen May
Charles “Chas” & Helen McMichael
Robert McMichael
William & Mary Ellen McMichael
William McMichael II & Family; daughter Katelyn
John & Dorothy McGowen
Faith Miller
Joseph Miller
Susan Miller
Judy Moon
Helen Morgan
Lisa Nothstein & Family; son Matthew
Suzanne & Jack Nothstein Sr.
Jack Nothstein Jr.
William & Lynne Nothstein Jr.
Jeffrey Pecha
John & Rosanne Pecha
Karl & Betty Pecha
Robert & Barbara Pecha & Family; daughter Ruth, son Erik, son
Jason
Jonathan & Ariana Pecha & Family; daughter Abigail
Bettie Ricciardi & Family; mother Irene Whiteman
Steven & Linda Romankow & Family; daughter Kristen, son Brian,
son Jimmie
Cheri Skodacek
Paul Skodacek
Ray & Lori Spallone & Family; daughter Felicia Boretski, son
Brian Boretski, son Richard Boretski, son William Robinson
Donna Starosta & Family; son Jacob Miller, son Stephen Miller
Evelyn Stoffa
Keith & Anita Straubinger & Family; son Michael Atkinson
Walter & Marjorie Strohl & Family; daughter Pam, son Walter, son
Jeffrey
Richard & Joyce Swartz
Donna & Joseph Trimmel & Family; daughter Jillian, son Joseph
Todd Truskey & Family; son Ryan
Doris Ulshafer
Walter Ulshafer
Robert & Kim Walck & Family;
daughter Ashtin, son Jonathon Strohl
Frances Watto
Betty Winton
Donald & Rose Winton
Vera Yaniga
Paul Yaniga
Paul Zlock
Beverly & Robin Zurawa & Family; son Zachery
Within the
House of God
The
Church is always open
To worship and to pray,
And give you faith and guidance
To face each newborn day.
Within
this holy house of God
You will find strength anew,
And inner peace will find its way
In mind and soul of you.
Amidst
its walls of silence
You’ll find God always near,
To help you face each problem
And fill your heart with cheer.
Harold F. Mohn
