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History of Christ United Methodist Church
During the Pastorate of Rev. E. Lee Brehm (1952-1953), some of the farsighted members of Mountaintop & Albert Churches, realizing there was to be a rapid increase in the area population due to the prospect of new industries, etc. talked about the possibilities of a new, combined, church somewhere between their respective locations. Nothing developed at this time beyond the discussion, but in 1954, the subject of unification was again discussed, Rev. Thos. C. Davis now being the Pastor. On November 6th, 1955, a Quarterly Conference was held and a vote taken to unite the two congregations. The vote was affirmative. A committee was then appointed to seek a new location, centrally located as possible.
Rev. David R. Morgan became Pastor in November, 1956. A new name was requested for the United Church. Many names were suggested. The name "Christ Methodist Church" suggested by Mr. R. J. Gillman and Mrs. Natalie Russell was accepted, as the new name. At this time the Weiss family dairy farm was finally purchased, comprising 13 ¼ acres, price $12,000.00. The property is located exactly on the dividing line between Fairview and Wright Townships. This was important in helping to assure unity in the combined congregation, half of which worshiped in Fairview Township and the other half worshiped in Wright Township.
The Congregations became enthused and at a Special Quarterly Conference held December 21, 1956, by Dr. Harold C. Buckingham, District Superintendent, appointed a Building Committee composed of: Carroll Hansen, chairman; Raymond C. Kehrli, vice-chairman; L. Russell Shupp, James H. Walters, Russell F. Thomas, Edwin Bossert, Wilbur Gillman, Kenneth E. Hawk, Albert D. Sachs, and Raymond Shrader. Things progressed rapidly. A Church Architect, A. Hensel Fink of Philadelphia, PA was hired to draw up the plans and specifications. These plans called for three units: A Sanctuary, an Educational unit and a recreational unit. It was decided to build the Educational unit first, consisting of a small Sanctuary or auditorium for the present and classrooms for the Church School. A parsonage was to be built later. The Joint Trustee Board at this time was: Wilbur Gillman, Edwin Bossert, Albert Ayre, Russell Shupp, Joseph Slapinski and Ray Shrader.
Rev. William H. Matthews, The Crusade Director, Department of Finance of the Methodist Church, was employed to head up a drive for $60,000.00 to be pledged for a period of three years. The amount pledged at this time was $58,000.00 This drive was made in June, 1957. With the money in the building fund and the receipt of $19,750.00 from the Conference (Rev. Dr. Leon W. Bouton, District Supt.) arrangements were made to proceed with the building. Bids were advertised for construction, and the contract was awarded to The Somerville Construction Co. on August 28, 1959 in the amount of $147,974.00
Ground was broken on September 27, 1959. Participating in the ground breaking were Rev. Bouton, Dist. Supt.; Rev. D. R. Morgan, Pastor; Mr. Gillman and Mrs. Russell (co-namers of the church). Work started shortly after under the supervision of Mr. Charles E. Handschuh, Associate Architect and Mr. Ray Shrader, Work Supt. for the Somerville Construction Co. With construction about half completed, the cornerstone was laid on June 26, 1960. The completed building was consecrated on Sunday, December 4th, 1960 by Bishop Frederick Buckley Newell of New York and others.
Important steps were taken to assure the unity of the combined congregation. For example, the stained glass windows in each of the former churches were left in the old buildings and not incorporated into the new building despite the fact that they were memorial windows with a huge sentimental value. Steps such as these along with the geographic location helped assure a successful merger.
The success of any church merger can clearly demonstrated by the number from each congregation that do not remain to become part of the combined congregation. It is not uncommon to lose 25% membership in a merger of two congregations. In the case of the merger of Mountaintop Church with Albert Church to form Christ Methodist Church all of the members of each congregation stayed to become members of the combined congregation with the exception of a single family. This family left in a dispute over the fuel used in the heating system of the new building. The family wanted coal to be used and an oil system was installed. (The church presently uses natural gas.)
The minister was housed for a short time in Fairview Park, but that arrangement was not satisfactory. Soon a parsonage committee was formed, plans approved and ground broken for the present parsonage, following Sunday morning service March 21, 1963. Pastor Highfield and his wife moved in shortly after.
The church building was expanded in 1981. A second expansion for additional space for the Sunday School was undertaken in 1993. The pastor at the time was Rev. Bruce Gallup and the chair-person of the building committee was Robert Marsh, Esq. The cost of this expansion was $492,000.
- 1955 A Quarterly Conference was held on November 6. A motion to unite the Mountaintop & Albert Church congregations was passed.
- 1956 Weiss family dairy farm purchased as site for new combined church. The 13 ¼ acres were purchased for $12,000.
- 1959 A contract was awarded to The Somerville Construction Co. on August 28, 1959 to construct the church building.
- 1959 Ground breaking for the present Christ Church was held on September 27.
- 1960 The completed building was consecrated on Sunday, December 4th, 1960 by Bishop Frederick Buckley Newell of New York.
- 1961 Largely through the efforts of Raymond Kehrli, the wonderful Schulmerich Carillon system was installed and dedicated on October 1, 1961. The lovely "bell music", was part of each Worship service, and was also sent out over the community regularly each day.
- 1962 The Triple S (Social, Study, Service) Class of the church had 2500 record albums made, featuring the music of our carillon, which they named "Bells on the Mountain." Proceeds from the sale of these records was used to pay off the balance due on the carillon and to set up a fund to maintain them.
- 1962 The landscaping of the church grounds was greatly improved thanks to the generosity of Percy Smith and Russell Shupp.
- 1963 A new parsonage was built at a cost of $ 29,000. The structure was a suitable companion to the new church and provided an excellent home for our pastor and his family. The second floor was left unfinished until 1965 when a gift of $ 2500 from the Methodist Progress Crusade was made by the Conference, enabling us to complete the work.
- 1966 A portion of the church grounds was made into a ball field, largely through the efforts of Thomas Lawson.
- 1966 New hymnals (311 for the Church, 18 for personal use, plus pulpit and organist's copies) were purchased through the gifts of our members.
- 1966 The cross window was refurbished and fitted with storm glass panes.
- 1967 The parking lot was paved at a cost of $ 4235.
- 1967 A picnic shelter was constructed on the church grounds, largely through efforts of the Triple S Class (Study, Service, Social).
- 1968 The name Christ Methodist Church became Christ United Methodist Church.
- 1971 Carpeting was installed in the sanctuary and pews were installed to replace the chairs that had been used.
- 1974 The mortgages for both the church and the parsonage were burned (several years ahead of schedule) Sunday, December 8, 1974 with Bishop James M. Ault, along with all the ministers that have served Christ Church, in attendance for the burning and dedication.
- 1976 A Rodgers electronic organ was purchased (used) and installed in the sanctuary.
- 1977 A building program was launched. A pastor's office and adjoining secretary's office were added.
- 1979 The Bell Choir was started as a result of the donation of a set of bells from the Koons family. The first Bell Choir director was David Lear.
- 1980 The Samuel Kiefer Award was established to honor senior students who display exemplary Christian service.
- 1982 The present offices were added to the church.
1984
Pew bibles were purchased by Luther Kaiser for the sanctuary.- 1989 A building committee was formed. This committee developed a long term three phase plan for expansion of the church building. Phase 1 was an addition for the Sunday School.
- 1993 The church was expanded to make additional space for the Sunday School. This was the first of a planned three phases consisting of an educational wing and two additional rooms at the end of the office wing. The cost of the expansion was $ 492,000.
- 1993 Grief classes were started mostly through the efforts of the Rev. James Shillabeer.
- 1994 Starting in 1994 and continuing to the present several members of the congregation performed missionary work in Haiti including: Paula Koscelnick, the Rev. James Wert, Linda Cheatum, Jan Tiebert, Jim Kells, Jacquelyn & Jason Trost.
- 1995 A third octave of Malmark hand bells were added to the church's bell set.
- 1996 Christ UMC receivet a visit from Rev. Frank Eibisch from Germany for a new world mission.
- 1997 The annual choir presentation of "A Bit of Broadway" started.
- 1997 The David Davis award was established to honor a student church member who exhibits outstanding participation in the life and service of the church.
- 1998 The choir presented "Lessons and Carols." This has become an annual event.
- 1998 The ARC Christian day school opened in the church.
- 1999 The Friendship Circle purchased new carpeting for the sanctuary and narthex at a cost of $10,000.
- 2000 The church parking lot was repaved by Rick Welles. In addition, the gravel lot for the athletic fields (that has been used for overflow parking) was also paved. The cost was $ 27,000.
- 2000 In November, a new Yamaha baby grand piano was purchased for the sanctuary from the Yurish Music Center. The cost was approximately $ 11,000
- 2000 500 Hymnal supplements were purchased at a cost of $9 each to give the congregation additional music for worship.
- 2000 Scott & Sherry Eshleman traveled to Honduras on missionary work.
- 2000 John Dado traveled to Guatemala on missionary work.
- 2000 Windows were replaced in the parsonage.
- 2001 A building committee was formed to explore the facility needs of the church. The first meeting took place January 13, 2001
- 2001 Starting in 2001 and continuing on a yearly basis to the present Dr. Joe Chacko and his family perform missionary work in the form of eye surgery and related care for inhabitants of West Africa. This is carried out under the auspices of Physicians in Mission.
- 2001 Kathy Harris and Ken Brown received training as Lay Speakers.
- 2002 A new Allen organ was purchased from and installed by the Robert M. Sides Music Company in November at a cost of $ 69,400. The model purchased was voiced by and named after internationally know organist Diane Bish.
- 2002 The architectural firm of Facility Design & Development, Ltd. was hired to design a new sanctuary and adult wing.
- 2002 A new crystal communion chalice was purchased.
- 2002 Lay speaker Ken Brown from our congregation began ministerial duties by serving as Assistant Pastor for Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston, PA.
- 2002 Jan Tiebert from our congregation completed her studies at Drew University and was commissioned a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. She was appointed to the Bethany and White Mills congregations.
- 2002 Priscilla Jenkins traveled to China for missionary work.
- 2003 Bruce Gallup requests a leave of absence from ministry effectively resigning as Pastor of CUMC on 4/24/03.
- 2003 Rev. Sarah Miller appointed interim Pastor of Christ UM Church on 4/30/03.
- 2003 Priscilla Jenkins returns home from China as a precaution due to an outbreak of Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China.
- 2003 Rev. Larry Michael-Rush & Rev. Peggy Michael Rush appointed Co-Pastors of Christ UM Church.
- 2004 Rev. Robert J. Herrala appointed Pastor of Christ UM Church.
- 2004 Christ UM Youth Group traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for mission work.
- 2005 Christ UM Youth Group traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for missionary work.
- 2006 Christ UM Youth Group traveled to Harlan, Kentucky for missionary work
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Pastors of Christ U. M. Church |
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1961 |
1967 |
Rev. William A. Highfield |
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1967 |
1970 |
Rev. Wesley R. Crompton |
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1970 |
1975 |
Rev. F. Lee Brehm |
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1975 |
1985 |
Rev. John L. Toplewski |
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1980 |
1980 |
Rev. Edgar F. Singer (Interim Pastor) |
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1985 |
2003 |
Rev. Bruce Gallup |
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2003 |
2003 |
Rev. Sarah Miller (Interim Pastor) |
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2003 |
2004 |
Revs. Larry & Peggy Michael-Rush |
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2004 |
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Rev. Robert J. Herrala |
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Assistant Pastors of Christ U. M. Church |
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1993 |
1996 |
Rev. James Shillabeer |
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1997 |
2002 |
Rev. James A. Wert |
- Gathering Music
- Lighting of the Candles
- Prelude
- Call to Worship
- Uniting Prayer
- Hymn
- Responsive Reading
- Passing of the Peace
- Children's Message (10:45 am service only)
- The Scripture Readings
- The Morning Message
- Hymn
- Announcements, Joys, and Concerns
- The Pastoral Prayer
- The Lord's Prayer
- Presentation of our Gifts and Offerings
- Offertory
- Doxology and Prayer of Dedication
- Hymn
- Benediction
- Congregation Benediction
- Postlude
- District Superintendent..................................Greg Myers
- Pastor...........................................................Robert J. Herrala
- Church Secretary...........................................Peggy Jenkins
- Organist.........................................................Jack Manwaring
- Youth Director...............................................David Leverett
- Treasurer.......................................................Lisa Pinkowski
- Financial Secretary.........................................George Wilt
- Handbell Choir Director..................................David Lear
- Buildings and Grounds.....................................Don Brown
- Lay Leader......................................................Sue Strittmatter
- Administrative Council Chair............................David Lear
- Staff Parish Relations Chair..............................Tim Shearer
- Trustees Chair..................................................Joe Hersh
- Finance Chair...................................................Dan English
- Worship Chair..................................................Laura Cronin
- Education Chair................................................Michele Traficante
- United Methodist Women Chair........................Margaret Herrala
- United Methodist Men Chair............................ Tim Vickers
- United Methodist Youth Fellowship Chair.........Samantha Bases
- Church School Superintendent..........................Helen Bozak
- Acolyte Coordinator.........................................David and Loraine Coates
- Flower Coordinator..........................................Marilyn Carter
- Greeter Coordinator.........................................Judy DeLarche
- Assistant Greeter (second service)....................David Davis
- Usher Coordinator...........................................Gerald Calderone
- Membership Secretary.....................................Miriam Cappos
- Confirmation....................................................Tim Vickers and Margaret Herrala
- Friendship Circle President...............................Sally Free
- Nursery Coordinator........................................Wendy Fenwick
History, Timeline, and Pastors based on the work of:
Earl E. Richards
Robert J. Gillman
Kenneth E. Hawk
Russ Shupp
and others