USA > Pennsylvania > Change and challenge: a history of the Church of the Brethren in the southern district of Pennsylvania, 1940-1972 > Part 25
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In 1964 the congregation observed its fiftieth anniversary. Between April 10-12, 1964, the Church met in a series of services to remember its beginnings. Harper M. Snavely, Arthur M. Smith, David J. Markey and Warren S. Kissinger were present to share in the celebrations. Dr. Henry Bucher, Superintendent of the Manheim Central School, spoke to the Sunday audience. The Saturday evening service and the Sunday evening service were devoted to musical programs. The Brethren Aires were guests in an old-fashioned Hymnfest on Saturday, and the Palmyra Church Choir was present on Sunday evening. At the Sunday afternoon service, the church burned its mortage in a special ceremony.
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When Kenneth L. Miller resigned in 1967, Robert A. Byerly served the congregation as an interim-pastor (1967- 1968). In 1968, Newton L. Poling, former pastor at the Scalp Level congregation in Western Pennsylvania, accepted the call to serve the Carlisle Church (1968- ). The congregation entered into a yoked pastoral program with the Boiling Springs congregation in 1970, and Bro. Poling be- gan to minister to both congregations.
Newton L. Poling
The Carlisle Church requested the District Conference of 1971 to undertake a study of ways to conserve and to extend the ministries of the churches within the district. The specific request was for a study of cooperative ministries among the churches, similar to the yoked arrange- ment between Carlisle and Boiling Springs. The request was granted by the confer- ence.
THE CHAMBERSBURG CONGREGATION
The Chambersburg Church has long held the designation "Fourth Street Church" by reason of its location at Fourth and Liberty Streets. This active congregation has experienced growth and has provided leader- ship for district affairs over the past three decades.
Charles E. Grapes (1932-1941) concluded nine years of pastoral work at the congregation in March, 1941. During much of this time he was the moderator of the church and a leader in district affairs. The church received legal title to the church property from the Southern District during this period. In 1938, the congregation purchased a double dwelling to the south of the church building. This purchase served as a parsonage and as a Sunday School unit for the church.
In February, 1941, the church council voted to employ Ralph G. Rarick as the pastor. The Raricks arrived to assume their pastoral re- sponsibilities on June 15, 1941. Both Ralph and Vinna Rarick have been involved in nationwide evangelistic efforts prior to their arrival in Chambersburg and were commonly known as "traveling evangelists". The years from 1941 to 1946 were marked by successful meetings in the Chambersburg Church. On occasions, the Mennonites and the Brethren in Christ would cooperate in these evangelistic efforts.
In 1941, the Chambersburg Church acted to purchase the Salem meetinghouse. The United States Government had purchased 25,000 acres of land close to Chambersburg to establish the Letterkenny Depot. The Salem house was located adjacent to this purchase. For a period of time, the Chambersburg congregation used the restored meetinghouse for auxiliary meetings for the Chambersburg membership. A week of special services was conducted to mark the occasion of the church's dedication. Edward K. Ziegler, J. Irwin Thomas, Harry T. Fox, H. Mitchell Stover and Charles E. Grapes were guest speakers for the occasion. When the Men- nonites of the area were compelled to surrender their meetinghouse to the Letterkenny development, the Chambersburg congregation granted them the use of the Salem Church (1942-1949).1
The Salem house, dating from 1869, was one of four meeting-houses established by the Church of the Brethren in the region.2 Old records
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indicate that a business meeting conducted here in 1896 decided to erect a meetinghouse at Shippensburg. On March 14, 1956, the Salem property was deeded to the trustees of the Chambersburg congregation.
The Chambersburg Church deepened its church basement and con- structed a baptistry. On November 29, 1942, a service of dedication and a mortage-burning ceremony were conducted for the improvements. On the afternoon of the same day the congregation observed an open house for the celebration of the Raricks' twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. G. A. W. Stouffer presented the pastoral family with twenty-five silver dollars as a token of remembrance.
This was a period in which an active Men's Work Organization began. The church entered the new Brotherhood Pension Plan for Ministers (1943). On September 14, 1944, the church council voted to improve its parsonage and church building.
When Bro. Rarick concluded his services in 1946, Trostle P. Dick (1946-1948) was called to serve as the new pastor. He began his services on July 1, 1946. Improvements were made in the church sanctuary and appropriate services of dedication were held for these alterations. Ralph G. Rarick returned to join in the celebration.
Moderators Glenn M. Stouffer, G. A. W. Stouffer, E. Glenn Koons
Bro. Dick spoke with pride and satisfaction of his family. Of his three sons, Wayne and Jacob entered the ministry of the Church of the Brethren. His daughter, Velva Jane, served as a missionary in British West Africa. In August, 1948, Tristle P. Dick died suddenly. The Chambersburg congregation voted to create a memorial missionary fund in order to support the work of Velva Jane Dick on the mission field.
Wayne A. Nicarry, a member of the Falling Spring congregation, began to serve the congregation as interim-pastor. On June 1, 1949,
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he and his family moved into the Chambersburg Church parsonage. An installation service was conducted for Bro. Nicarry on June 26, 1949. Robert L. Cocklin, secretary of the District Ministerial Board and modera- tor of the congregation, was in charge of the service of installation.3 The church made improvements in the parsonage to acquire more Sunday School space and purchased more parking lot space. Wayne A. Nicarry (1949-1953) resigned in 1952, but agreed to continue in the work until a successor could be found.
In January, 1953, the congregation called Joseph M. Long to the work of the church. A recent graduate of Bethany Biblical Seminary, Joseph M. Long began to minister on June 1, 1953. By the fall of 1953, the council appointed a Church Planning Committee to suggest changes in the church and Sunday School structures. Forrest U. Groff, archi- tectural advisor from the brotherhood, was secured to assist the congre- gation in drafting the changes. By May, 1955, ground was broken and excavation was begun. On September 30, 1956 the new church structure was dedicated. The total cost for the new building, including the furnish- ings and a new pipe organ, was $143,623.
Dr. Calvert N. Ellis, a former pastor of the church and president of Juniata College, returned to celebrate with the congregation in its build- ing dedication. In preparation for this event, the church conducted an Every-Member Canvass to renew the life of the membership. Carl Myers, pastor of the Roaring Springs congregation, was the guest minister during an evangelistic crusade. As part of the dedication emphasis, the church worshiped in a candlelight service on the occasion of the baptism of new members. The entire congregation was asked to renew their baptismal vows. 4
In 1957, the Chambersburg Church appealed to the District Board to approve the action the congregation had taken in electing a layman as the official head of the church. Action on granting laymen the right to be ruling heads of congregations had been taken by the 1949 Annual Con- ference. The District Board approved the action of the congregation in electing G. A. W. Stouffer as the moderator (1957-1963), the first lay moderator of a congregation in the Southern District.
The Chambersburg Church
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The Chambersburg Church observed its fiftieth anniversary in the same year the brotherhood was observing its 250th anniversary. On Octo- ber 12, 1958, Norman J. Baugher, the Executive of the brotherhood board, was the guest speaker. An afternoon service of reminiscences by former pastors and ministers marked the occasion. Various congregational choirs presented an evening of music. At this anniversary service, Bro. Long tried to visualize for the congregation the nature of the church fifty years into the future.
The church continued its numerical and spiritual growth during Bro. Long's pastorate. The Men's Work Organization farmed idle land to support the financial life of the chucrh. The congregation voted to be ruled by a board of administration under the commission plan and inaug- urated the Undershepherd Program for deacons. It also transferred to a unified budget system of church stewardship. In addition, the weekly bulletin became a regular feature of congregational life.
The church cooperated with the brotherhood Anniversary Call pro- gram and appointed C. W. Foust to direct the local emphasis. Mrs. Albert Kline of the congregation had been privileged to attend the 250th Anni- versary Convocation of the Brethren at Schwarzenau, Germany. She shared her experiences by lecture and slides.
When Joseph M. Long accepted the call of the brotherhood to become National Youth Director, the church called Ervin F. Block (1959-1962) to serve as pastor. The new pastor was a Minnesotan who had been ordained to the ministry in Virginia. He was installed as pastor in September, 1959.
Under the leadership of Bro. Block, the church emphasized support for Brethren Service work. The church building became a Brethren Service collection center for the community. In 1961, the children of the Daily Vacation Bible School made toys and other useful articles for the Day Care Center for migrant children in Franklin County. The church was also active in assisting in the relocation of refugee families. The "Trick or Treat" program, sponsored by UNICEF, was introduced by the congregation and has continued each year since.
In 1962, the United Church Women of Chambersburg observed World Community Day in the Chambersburg Church. At this service, garments for children and schoolbags for pupils were contributed for use in Latin American countries. The congregation also joined with other churches of the community in forming the Chambersburg Council of Churches.
In 1962, Harvey S. Kline (1963-1971) conducted successful Lenten Evangelistic Services at the church. When the pastorate became vacant, the church council voted to employ him as the pastor. He was installed into the pastorate on February 3, 1963. When the Kline family arrived in Chambersburg, they brought with them Ellen Boon, an International Youth Exchange Student from Holland. The Kline daughter (Mrs. Richard Gunden was in Holland as part of the exchange agreement. In July, the Klines moved into the new parsonage at 931 Leidig Drive. The old parson- age was dismantled and additional lots were secured to provide parking space for the membership.
The church was saddened by the passing of S. Blaine Baer in September, 1964. He was helpful in organizing the congregation, served as a deacon of the congregation and was distinguished for his services in the field of music. Early in the life of the church, Mr. Baer organized the first choir and for many years served as its director.
The Chambersburg Church has been involved in three summer pastoral programs in cooperation with the brotherhood. In 1967, Timothy Rust, in
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1968, Craig Bailey, and in 1969, James Hollinger, all of Bethany Theological Seminary, served the church.
The interest and attendance in the life of the church has shown steady growth. The stewardship of the church has been notable both for its interest in local needs and outreach programs. The spacious facilities of the new church building make it a desirable location for district and brotherhood programs. In the summer of 1969, an Inter-district Leader- ship School was held at the church. Ten districts sent representatives to become acquainted with the new curriculum the brotherhood was intro- ducing. In this five-day conference, the group was led by Dr. A. G. Breiden- stine, Earle W. Fike, Ralph McFadden, Anna Warstler and Virginia S. Fisher. The group surveyed theology, participated in learning tasks, looked at curriculum trends and examined the new Encounter materials.5
Floyd H. Mitchell
In 1965, the congregation honored Harvey S. Kline with a surprise presenta- tion of "This Is Your Life" in observance of his twenty-fifth year in the Christian ministry. In 1968, the pastor was able to return to Bethany Theological Seminary for a ten-day Advanced Pastoral Seminar. Floyd H. Mitchell, the successor to Bro. Kline, was also a member of this seminar.
On May 1, 1971, Harvey S. Kline be- came the administrator of the Brethren Home at Cross Keys. The Chambersburg Church called Floyd H. Mitchell (1971- to serve as pastor. Bro. Mitchell was serving as a member of the General Board at the time of his arrival. On three separate occasions he had served as member of the Annual Conference a Standing Committee.
The Chambersburg congregation has been community-conscious, pro- gressive in outlook and interested in expanding its outreach programs. In recent decades it has given unusual support to The Brethren Home and has excelled in its outreach budgets. It continues to be a leading congregation of the Southern District.
THE CODORUS CONGREGATION
In 1949, The Codorus Church of the Brethren was one of the York County churches featured in a special issue of The Gazette and Daily news- paper. York County was observing its two hundredth anniversary and the Codorus congregation was singled out as one of the older churches in the county. The church was organized nine years after the county was formed. Located on route 214 east of Loganville, the church was formed by the German immigrants who came into "Dunker Valley" south of York. Soon after its organization in 1758, the Codorus congregation had forty families in its membership.
A recent memorial stone in the Ness cemetery of Dunker Valley honors Christian Meyer (1708-1779) and his wife Elizabeth Kaufmann, early Brethren settlers. Descendants of their eight children have spread to many parts of the nation. Their sons John (1748-1833) and Andrew (1753-1833) were both ministers in the German Baptist Church, as was their father before them. The Christian Meyer stone home, which con- tinues to be used, was a principal place of worship for early Brethren until
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a church house was erected in 1872. Christian Meyer preached in many dwellings of the valley in the eighteenth century.1
In the fall of 1958, the Codorus Church celebrated its own two hundredth anniversary. A series of services on successive evenings rec- ognized the Codorus congregation as the mother organization for the new Fairview, Shrewsbury, Pleasant View and York First Church congrega- tions. Ministers and choirs from each of these churches participated in a week of celebration at the Codorus house. Dr. William M. Beahm, dean of Bethany Biblical Seminary, was the guest for the week-end observances on October 4, 5, 1958. A two hundredth anniversary Lovefeast and Com- munion was celebrated as a climax to the meetings.
In this same anniversary year, the congregation met to dedicate a new parsonage. The men of the church built the parsonage on a plot of ground granted by the Alvin Dise family. Much of the labor and the material were donated. Howard A. Whitacre, chairman of the District Commission on Ministry and Evangelism, was present to assist in the services of celebration. This dedication occurred on September 14, 1958.
The Codorus Church, like many others in the district, was served for many years by the non-salaried ministry. Over a period of many years this system produced notable local and district leaders. The church produced such men as Samuel C. Godfrey, D. Y. Brillhart and Samuel B. Myers (1862-1949). Samuel Myers served the Codorus congregation as elder, organizer of the Sunday School and organizer and director of the Codorus mixed chorus. He was a member of the church for more than sixty-three years when he passed from this life on January 26, 1949. Dr. Ralph W. Schlosser, M. A. Jacobs and S. C. Godfrey conducted the memorial services at the Codorus Church house.2
In 1949, George N, Falkenstein (1859-1949) passed to his reward at the age of 90 years. He was a York County native and had been edu- cated at the York County Academy. As a youth he attended the Codorus Church. He became a teacher, a pastor and a historian for the Church of the Brethren. He passed from this life on August 17, 1949 and memorial services were conducted for him in the Bupp's Union Church close to Loganville. A. C. Baugher and S. C. Godfrey were in charge of the services.3
From its early years the congregation has had a mature music pro- gram. A "Singing School" was conducted here in 1900 by M. M. Snyder, a band leader of note in the York area. On August 18, 1931, Christian Myers was elected president, Lawrence Hartman secretary and M. Emore Lehman treasurer of the first organized choir. The congregation used a mixed chorus in its services in prior years. This mixed chorus was honored with an invitation to sing at the Hershey Annual Conference in 1927. The mixed chorus also sang in many United Brethren congregations throughout York County in the 1930s and the 1940s.
One of the first actions of the organized choir was to conduct a sing- ing school under the direction of H. A. Bailey. From 1943, Henry Gott- shall, a member of the congregation and an area teacher, led the church in many inspirational singing experiences. One member of the church explained the music emphasis in the Codorus Church by saying: "Henry Gottshall lived here."
Under the direction of such recent leaders as Stanley Godfrey, Sam Keeney and Evelyn Weaver, the music program has added new dimen- sions to the worship experience. Since 1953, the congregation has been involved in a radio ministry of music. Broadcasts were begun over radio station WGCB in Red Lion each Sunday afternoon. The Men's
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Chorus and the Church Choirs have united in presenting these recorded services. In 1971, the church began a quarter hour of broadcasts known as "Voices of Faith" each Sunday morning from station WSBA-FM. In each broadcast, the accompanying comments were prepared by members of the congregation and read by the pastor. In order to encourage the development of musical talent the church conducted a twelve-week school of music in 1958 as part of its 250th anniversary observance for the denomination. At the close of the school, the participants presented a concert.
The Codorus Church has an active outreach program. On December 20, 1941, some youth from the church visited Camp Kane to become acquainted with the Civilian Public Service work conducted at that loca- tion. These youth took with them some canned goods and three comforters which had been prepared by the women of the church.4 On January 31, 1942, Levi K. Ziegler and Mrs. Ziegler came to visit with the congrega- tion, bringing with them several Civilian Public Service workers. The church continued to can fruit and vegetables for the C. P. S. workers during the war years.
In 1945 the people met for a service of dedication for heifers. This service was directed by the regional field man, Galen C. Kilhefner. By the middle of 1945, the church had donated or purchased 30 heifers for overseas aid. A note of this period said, "Nine young men of the Codorus community are accompanying heifers and horses to Poland and Germany."5
Customarily a fall worship service designated as Harvest Home has been observed. Foods and produce from field and garden have been brought for display and dedication to the church and have been taken to the Brethren Home at Huntsdale or at Cross Keys. On occasions through the years, entire truckloads of such produce have been donated.
In response to the devastation of Hurrican Agnes (June, 1972), the Codorus congregation raised funds, contributed material goods and donated many hours of volunteer labor to clean-up operations. Bus loads of work- ers have gone to the Wilkes-Barre area for clean-up work. Several fam- ilies of the congregation contributed a truck load of meat for immediate use in feeding flood victims. The congregation responded admirably to the appeal of the deacons to surrender a day's wages to the aid of flood victims.
Many young people have dedicated themselves to Brethren Volun- teer Service and to the Alternative Service program of the denomination. Youth from the congregation have visited regularly at New Windsor, Maryland and youth from New Windsor have returned the visits and have conducted services of worship for the congregation. The youth have also been active in the Walk For Crop program first introduced in York County. In 1971, the youth of the church raised $590.85 by walking in the interests of the poor around the world.
The Codorus Church has been keenly aware of its home mission responsibilities. In 1875, the Codorus membership erected a building in the eastern part of the county and called it Pleasant Hill (now Pleasant View). In 1883, it also decided to build the New Freedom house. A Shrewsbury house was erected in 1912. As early as January 1, 1948, plans were submitted to the Codorus council to form a new congregation at New Freedom and Shrewsbury. This congregation was officially formed by division in October, 1952.
The District Ministerial Board met with the Codorus Church on April 18, 1956 for the purpose of dividing the congregation again. At this meeting the Pleasant View congregation was formed.
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The Codorus Church
David C. Wilson, of Mechanicsburg, became the first professional pastor of the church on July 1, 1957. He was a graduate of Bethany Biblical Seminary (May, 1957). In 1958, David and Sarah (Grossnickle) Wilson moved into the new parsonage provided by the congregation in the community of Loganville.
The growth of the church and the Sunday School soon required some attention to the enlargement of the building. The people responded in splendid fashion to pastoral leadership. In the midst of a busy coun- seling-planning-visitation schedule, David C. Wilson' began to prepare the congregation for a building program. A series of studies provided many options for the church. The Minutes of the Church Council show that many suggestions were made to confront the problems of a growing church and Sunday School. Eventually, discussions turned to the possi- bility of constructing a new church building. In preparation for this change, the council met frequently to consider plans.
The Church board and the Church council met frequently to hear suggestions concerning possible solutions to the building needs. Dr. A. C. Baugher and Virginia S. Fisher were invited on separate occasions to discuss building needs. The basic problem centered on whether the church should remain at its traditional site or relocate on a new site. In 1962, the council decided to purchase additional land adjoining the church property and to develop building plans for this site.
Bro. Wilson served well in preparing the church for its changing min- istry. In 1963, however, he submitted his resignation and began pastoral work in Ohio. The congregation searched for a pastor to lead the mem- bership through a building experience. They were fortunate to secure the services of William L. Gould who had wide experience in conducting building programs in prior pastorates.
William L. Gould, a native of western Pennsylvania, was serving as pastor of the Lebanon Church of the Brethren when he accepted the call to enter the Codorus charge. He had served as the Executive Secretary for the Lebanon Council of Churches on a part-time basis (1961-1962). He began his pastoral responsibilities at the Codorus Church on December 1, 1963. Both he and the congregation immediately began to erect an entirely new structure. By October, 1965, the contracts for the construc- tion were signed and work was begun. A plateau was formed on the hill- side above the original church and a new church center was formed in the historic valley of the Brethren.
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The people were ready to celebrate their building achievements in November, 1966. The building dedication was meaningful since "the people had a mind to work". They contributed liberally of their time and their substance. Joseph M. Long, Nevin H. Zuck, M. Guy West, James S. Flora, Jesse D. Reber and David C. Wilson were guest speakers for the services of dedication on November 20-24, 1966. A Sunday School unit of sixteen rooms, a fellowship hall, a new sanctuary and a large parking lot were completed with an indebtedness of $165,000. The value of the structure has been estimated to be $450,000.
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