USA > Pennsylvania > Change and challenge: a history of the Church of the Brethren in the southern district of Pennsylvania, 1940-1972 > Part 32
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The Women's Fellowship of the church has contributed much in worship and activities. They have sponsored the annual Christmas White Gift service and brought in such outstanding groups as the Choraleers. The fellowship has also sponsored two annual work days at New Windsor and has served dinners for numerous local, district and brotherhood func- tions. The fellowship's annual picnic meal for guests at the Brethren Home in 1972 was the largest the women served.
The Men's Fellowship has contributed to the maintenance of the out- door worship center. In one instance the organization has contributed to the improvement of the housing of a member of the church.
Youth Fellowship activities have included Bible Conferences and an- nual week-end camps. Many youth of the congregation have given their peace witness in Brethren Volunteer Service and Alternative Service programs.
Jacob L. Miller's long and faithful service to the congregation con- sisted of 35 years as a minister, 26 years as an elder and 15 years as a presiding elder. He was also active in the founding of the Fort Myers Church in Florida. The church was deeply saddened by his sudden death on November 3, 1971. A successful businessman, farmer and meat re- tailer, Bro. Miller gave positive leadership in many ways including a dedicated visitation of the sick. He was active in support of the brother- hood fund with its stress on foreign missions and relief work. By precept and example he challenged the church to significant efforts for the world cause of Christ.
In the spring of 1972 the congregation elected the assistant modera- tor, Murray P. Lehman, to the post of presiding elder. Bro. Norman F. Reber was chosen to be the assistant presiding elder. One of the new goals for the congregation is to study polity and procedure, the purpose being to write a constitution and by-laws consistent with the congrega- tion's past decisions.
A congregational release entitled, "A Reminiscence of New Fairview's Fiftieth Anniversary" states:
"We have already begun another fifty-year period in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we remain faithful to the trust left to us by brothers and sisters who have passed on. Let us be more diligent, constantly admonishing the faithful and seeking the lost."
THE NEWVILLE CONGREGATION
At one time the Newille congregation was part of the larger organiza- tion known as Upper Cumberland. The original church, a two-story brick school building in Newville, was purchased in 1917. H. K. Ober, of Eliza- bethtown, preached the dedicatory sermon in June, 1917. The congrega- tion did not become independent until October 14, 1925. H. Mitchell Stover, of Waynesboro, was appointed the elder-in-charge of the work.
The congregation is located in the small community of Newville, situated between Carlisle and Shippensburg. It is located to the south and to the east of the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania in the heart of the
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fertile Cumberland Valley. The community lies in the path which Indians once used as they passed through the famous Doubling Gap into Perry County. It also lies on a route used by 18th century settlers as they made their way southward and westward in search of new lands. New- ville is an old and stable community with a population of about two thou- sand persons.
The Newville congregation has been served by the non-salaried and part-time ministry for most of the years since its organization. Cletus S. Myers, who had been elected to the ministry in the Huntsdale congrega- tion, began to serve the Newville congregation on September 1, 1939, and continued to serve until August 31, 1942. On November 1, 1940, the church purchased the Lizzie Westhafer property on E. Big Spring Avenue, Newville, as its first parsonage. This building was sold on June 23, 1945 and the congregation was without a parsonage until 1969. Letters of correspondence from this period indicate that the congregation was offering a parsonage and was paying $500 per year for a minister's services.
John A. Buffenmyer, who had served the Lost Creek congregation of the Southern District, moved to Newville in 1942 to begin the pastoral work. He was installed by members of the District Ministerial Commis- sion on November 1, 1942, with C. E. Grapes in charge of the service. J. A. Buffenmyer, who was noted for his strong evangelistic emphasis, had not served the congregation very long until he was stricken with an incurable illness. Mrs. Buffenmyer, who was a licensed minister, accepted the responsibilities of the pulpit at the church for a number of months in her husband's absence.
On September 1, 1943, Cyrus B. Krall, of the Midway Church in Eastern Pennsylvania, succeeded John A. Buffenmyer as pastor. While he served the congregation, he partly supported himself as a public school teacher. He was advanced to the eldership in a special service conducted at the church on December 18, 1944. Edward K. Ziegler and Otho J. Hassinger were present from the district Elder's Body to conduct the ordination.
During the 1940s, the congregation cooperated with other Cumber- land and Perry County churches in an open-air service at the Big Spring Park. The park, located in the Tuscarora Mountains in the western end of Perry County, was close to the Hemlocks Natural area. Such services as these joint ventures were forerunners of the modern Park Chaplaincy programs. On the last Sunday of July, the congregations would share responsibilities for conducting the Sunday School and the preaching serv- ices. Very often, the offerings were used for the support of Brethren Service work. Efforts were made toward forming joint choirs for this annual event.
Like many other congregations of the district, the Newville Church has preserved the self-examination service prior to the bi-annual Lovefeast. In later years, the church joined in observing the World-wide Communion service observed on the first Sunday of October. Deacons and deacon- esses who have been installed by the congregation since 1940 are: Austin and Sarah Reid, Cloyd and Ethel George, Merle and Marietta Hummel, Mark and Alice Bucher, Bruce and Lois Cohick, Walter and Betty Chest- nut, Harold and Jane Carey, Markwood and Joan Reid, Jack and Mona Kay Yingling, Dale and Verna George, and Wayne and Marjorie Mohler.
On March 15, 1954, the church council voted to construct a new church on ground which had been purchased at the east end of Newville, along route 641. A ground-breaking service was observed on March 27, 1955 and dedication services were held for the new church on May 13, 1956. Dr. Calvert N. Ellis brought the message of dedication and Cyrus B. Krall, who had moved to the Maiden Creek congregation in February,
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1954, returned to deliver the evening message. The cost of the new church was $80,000. The congregation moved to its new location in May, 1956. The original building was sold to Mr. David Alleman on June 1, 1959 to be used as a family residence.
The Newville Church
During the summer of 1954, David C. Wilson, a Bethany Biblical Seminary student, served as the summer pastor. Robert L. Cocklin became part-time pastor in September, 1954, and continued to serve the congre- gation until May, 1965. During the 250th anniversary observance by the denomination in 1958, the church joined in celebration. In the course of this year several Brethren films on the heritage of the church were shown.
Arthur M. Smith, of Carlisle, served as an interim-pastor at Newville from June, 1965 to October, 1965. He had served as moderator of the congregation prior to his work as pastor.
On May 1, 1966, Norman R. Cain was elected pastor. He was the congregation's first full-time pastor, serving from July 15, 1966 to August 31, 1968. Bro. Cain was licensed to the ministry in the Fort Mckinley Church of the Brethren in 1959 and was ordained to the full ministry in the Newville congregation in 1966 by his moderator, Ordo M. Pletcher.
The congregation had been governed by an official board with an elder-in-charge until 1965. In this year, the congregation voted to adopt the church board with a series of commissions to govern the affairs of the church. Harold Carey was the first elected church board chairman. The unified budget was also adopted by the church. Under this plan all of the support from the congregation came from a single weekly offering. After many meetings and much diligent effort, a new consti- tution and by-laws was adopted by the council on February 19, 1968.
Moderators who have served the church are Harper M. Snavely (1937-1942, 1944-1945), John A. Buffenmyer (1943), Cyrus B. Krall (1946- 1953), Otho J. Hassinger (1954-1956), Clarence B. Sollenberger (1957-1958), Samuel A. Meyers (1959-1960), Kenneth R. Blough (1961-1962), Arthur M. Smith (1963-1964), Paul M. Basehore (1965), Ordo M. Pletcher (1966- 1969), and O. Wayne Cook (1970- ).
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When Norman R. Cain became pastor of the Welty congregation, O. Wayne Cook served as the interim-pastor at Newville from September 1, 1968 until August, 1969. Richard A. Grumbling who moved from the Yellow Creek congregation, became the full-time pastor on September 1, 1969 and has continued to serve the congregation.
The church membership voted to erect a parsonage on a lot adjacent to the church. The decision was made on January 20, 1969 and ground-breaking services were held on April 6, 1969. The parsonage was com- pleted and ready for occupancy by August 18, 1969. The cost of this project had been $32,000. A dedication and an open house was held on November 16, 1969.
Richard A. Grumbling The Sunday School has continued to meet prior to the church worship each Sunday morning. New facilities were provided for the Sunday School when the new church was constructed. The Christian Education phase of the Church's life has been directed by a Christian Education Commission. The Sunday School superintendents since 1940 have been: Roy Shultz (1940), Ernest Scott (1941), Markwood Reid (1942-1944), Austin Reid (1945- 1952), Wayne S. Cohick (1953), Wayne F. Mohler (1954-1968), Dale G. George (1969-1970) and Wayne F. Mohler (1971- ).
THE PLEASANT HILL CONGREGATION
The Pleasant Hill congregation is one of the larger free ministry con- gregations in the Southern District of Pennsylvania. At one time a part of the Upper Codorus (Black Rock) congregation, it was established as an independent congregation on May 6, 1904. At the time of its organization, the congregation had 130 members. Since its beginning, the congregation has grown steadily in membership until in 1972 it had 440 members.
The membership of the congregation is located in the southwest sec- tion of York County and the eastern sections of Adams County. At one time, the membership was located in the northern zone of the Upper Codorus congregation. The custom in the nineteenth century was to erect meetinghouses to serve the membership residing in the widespread geo- graphical regions assigned to a congregation. Many members of the origi- nal Upper Codorus congregation lived in the valley extending westward from Spring Grove. The Pleasant Hill house was erected northwest of Spring Grove to meet the needs of these members.
The congregation assembles in three church houses today. The oldest of these is the Beaver Creek house originally built in 1866 to the south of Abbottstown. The present brick structure was erected about 1925 close to the stream which gave rise to its name. The Pleasant Hill house was erected in 1898. A year later, the North Codorus house was built west of Stoverstown. The Pleasant Hill meeting house is the largest of the three houses, and is centrally located between the other two. All Sunday morn- ing services and all evangelistic meetings are conducted at the Pleasant Hill house. Sunday evening services alternate between Beaver Creek and the North Codorus meetinghouses.
Since its beginnings, the congregation has been served by the plural free ministry. The congregation is organized as most of our congregations were organized in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with an
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Ministers of Pleasant Hill
Harold Martin
Merle Bievenour
David Lehigh
Harry E. Sellers
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elder in charge. He is responsible for directing the church administration, the visitation program, and the preaching services within the congrega- tion. The church is administered by an official board which consists of all of the ministries and the deacons, all of whom are elected for life. The congregation calls young men to the ministry in order to continue the preaching and witnessing functions of the church.
Since 1940, the following ministers have served the Pleasant Hill con- gregation: G. Howard Danner (deceased), Henry R. Miller (deceased), Jacob H. Keeney (deceased), Samuel M. Lehigh (deceased), Paul K. New- comer, James C. Sellers (deceased), David M. Lehigh, Paul M. Hoover, Milton W. Yohe, Harold S. Martin, D. Fred Miller, Harry E. Sellers, and Merle E. Bievenour.
Paul K. and Martha Newcomer
The congregation has been served by only two elders-in-charge since 1940. G. Howard Danner, who was ordained in 1937, served the congre- gation for thirty-one years. He had also been active in the interests of the district, having served as a trustee for Elizabethtown College and as a member of the District Ministerial Board. In 1958, Paul K. Newcomer succeeded to the office and has served continuously since that time. Paul K. Newcomer had been ordained as an elder in 1946 in a service conducted by Jacob L. Miller and G. M. Resser. He has also served the district as a member of the Southern District Board.
The Pleasant Hall congregation has regularly conducted two-week revival and evangelistic meetings during the summer, usually in July. These meetings have proven highly successful in strengthening and en- larging the membership of the church, and they provide a highlight in the congregational year. Elder Murray P. Lehman held his first revival meet- ing at the Pleasant Hill congregation in 1951. Twenty-seven persons were baptized as the result of that meeting. D. I. Pepple conducted meeting in the old Pleasant Hill house in 1960 with thirty-eight new members added. Other evangelists over the several decades have included Clarence Sho- walter, Noah Martin, Donald E. Miller, Olen Landes, Roy Hawbaker, Ollie Hevener, Kenneth Hershey, Milton Hershey, Michael Olivieri, James Myer, Alton Bucher and Luke Bucher.
Attendance at the morning worship services averages 400 persons, and the evening services average 200 persons. The interest and attendance required an enlargement and an improvement of the original Pleasant Hill meeting house. In 1960-1961, the church placed an extension eastward
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from the original sanctuary, and built a vestibule to the west end of the original frame building. It also added an oil-fired heating system, placed tile on the floor of the sanctuary, added carpet to the aisles of the church, and re-decorated the interior. All of this was done at a cost of $65,000. Additional improved parking area was placed to the north and to the west of the meeting house.
A service of dedication for the improved building was delivered on June 25, 1961 by Elder Noah Martin, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. A week of meetings followed the dedication, with a different minister speaking each evening. These meetings were concluded with a Lovefeast service on July 2, 1961.
For many years the congregation has continued the tradition of weekend Lovefeast services. The service begins on Saturday evening and concludes on Sunday evening. These bi-annual meetings have proven to be mountain-top experiences in the life of the membership. The deacons meet to prepare the Lovefeast and to serve the worshiping congregation.
Since 1940, the following deacons have ministered to the congrega- tion: David Hoover (deceased), Moses Mummert (deceased), Nelson Hoover (deceased), Raymond Altland, Edman Miller, William Yohe, Stewart Jacobs, David Lehigh, Charles Hartman, Claude Hoover, Stuart Lucabaugh, Paul Hoover, Milton Yohe, Richard Miller, Charles Lehigh, Harold Martin, Amos Lehigh, Earl Krout, Harry Sellers, Fred Miller, Robert Yohe, Paul Nell, Merle Bievenour, Donald Newcomer, Paul Mum- mert, Philip Hoover and Steven Fodor.
The church regularly conducts mid-week prayer services, usually with meetings alternating between the three meetinghouses. During the win- ter months, a regular bi-weekly singing class is conducted. Stress is placed on the learning of new hymns and on preparation for caroling. Every year, on one Sunday afternoon, a service is conducted at the Wilda- sin meetinghouse formerly shared by the Brethren with other denomina- tions. This union house, once a school building, is located in the Project Seventy area of southwestern York County.
In 1950, David W. Lehigh was ordained to the eldership. On October 17, 1966, Harold S. Martin, Paul M. Hoover and Milton W. Yohe were ordained to the eldership. These ordinations took place after the ministers had been interviewed by members of the District Commission on Ministry and Evangelism.
During the past few decades, several dozen young men from the con- gregation have entered Alternative Service in lieu of induction into the Armed Services of the United States. Most have served in civilian projects in the United States, although several have served in foreign lands. Connie Stambaugh of the congregation served two years as a volunteer nurse in the Garkida Hospital in Nigeria, West Africa (See Missions).
Amos Lehigh, one of the deacons of the congregation, is the founder of a bi-monthly publication called Bible Helps. He has served as the editor of this publication since 1950. At the present time, 300,000 copies of these pamphlets are being distributed annually free of charge in most states of our nation and in a number of foreign countries. A "Bible Helps Brethren Church" has been established in the Philippine Islands in recent years. Harold S. Martin visited the Philippine Islands in 1970 on behalf of the Bible Helps ministry. The Pleasant Hill congregation has con- tinued to give support to the Bible Helps program.
The church has also contributed to the work of the Garkida Hospital where the Church of the Brethren ministers to leprosy patients. The Nigerian hospital is one of the largest leprosy treatment centers in the
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world. The congregation also contributes to the Brethren Disaster Fund and other relief funds of the denomination. When misfortune strikes in the neighborhood, the congregation collects "basket" offerings for the needy. The money is not counted but is given directly to the needy family.
The life of the congregation has experienced changes over the decades. Where once the membership was comprised largely of farming peoples and orchard workers, today it is composed of people who make their living in the industries and stores and transportation enterprises of the sur- rounding communities. Nevertheless, the congregation continues to strive to maintain that simplicity of life which was associated with the Church of the Brethren of former generations. All of this is reflected in the style of life and the manner of worship and the type of architecture preserved within the congregation itself.
Pleasant Hill
Wildasin Schoolhouse
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Beaver Creek
North Codorus
THE PLEASANT VIEW CONGREGATION
The Pleasant View congregation was once the eastern meetinghouse for members of the Codorus congregation. The frame meetinghouse was built in 1875 by Jacob and Julia Herbst in memory of their daughter Julia who died at an early age in 1873. The house was built several miles south of Red Lion on the Stewartstown road at the top of a pleasant hill. For many years the church house was known as the Herbst's meetinghouse and, later, the Pleasant Hill church. In 1907, the Codorus congregation enlarged the original house with an eighteen foot extension to the north end.
The congregation has been served by the non-salaried ministry since its beginning in 1875. Ministers from the Codorus congregation provided
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Original Pleasant View Church
the preaching and visiting ministry until a separation was made in 1956. Since the reorganization, the congregation has been served by Richard R. Grim, George W. Keeny, Richard L. McWilliams and E. Gerald Thompson. The elders-in-charge since 1940 have been S. C. Godfrey, George H. Keeny, Martin M. Hartman, Richard R. Grim and George W. Keeny.
In 1951, the Pleasant View congregation observed the seventy-fifth anniversary of its beginnings. Elder Benjamin Stauffer was the guest speaker. When the congregation became independent in 1956, the mem- bership changed the name to Pleasant View because there was already a Pleasant Hill congregation.
In July, 1953, Elder S. C. Godfrey called the Codorus Church into a special council. The result of this council was the appointment of a planning committee to submit plans for a new church house. The com- mittee was composed of Joseph Hartman, chairman, John E. Krout, Alvin Dise, Harvey Baker, and George W. Keeny. The committee proceeded with plans to build. By October 3, 1954, a ground-breaking service was held to the rear of the original meetinghouse. Howard A. Whitacre, the pastor of the Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren, was the guest speaker for the occasion.
A new brick church was erected on a lot behind the frame building. Land had been donated to the church from the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Herbst, members of the congregation. The first services were held in the basement of the new structure on April 3, 1955. George H. Keeny brought the message at this service.
Services of dedication were conducted at the new church from July 3 to July 9, 1955. The original meetinghouse was dismantled and provision was made for lawn and parking where the old house stood. The speakers for the dedication Sunday were Stewart B. Kauffman, Regional Executive Secretary, and Frank S. Carper, pastor of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Guest speakers on succeeding nights of the week were Robert Faus, Nevin H. Zuck, Noah S. Sellers, Charles L. Lady, Howard A. Whit- acre and M. Guy West. The new church cost the congregation $35,000.
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Pleasant View Ministers and Wives
From Left: George W. Keeny, Pauline E. Keeny, Richard R. Grim, Ethel Grim, Richard L. McWilliams, Lois E. McWilliams, E. Gerald Thompson, Florence V. Thompson.
On April 18, 1956, the District Ministry Commission met with the Codorus congregation to effect a division of the church. The commission found the two groups amicable and the congregation was divided. The original organization retained the name of Codorus Church of the Brethren and the new organization assumed the name of the Pleasant View Church of the Brethren. The District Ministry Commission recommended to the District Meeting that the new congregation should be recognized and the delegates seated. The new congregation had 100 members.
When the congregation became independent, the need for additional ministries to share the preaching responsibilities became evident. Richard R. Grim was ordained to the eldership on June 6, 1957 and soon was elected elder-in-charge of the congregation. George W. Keeny was licensed to the ministry in May, 1956. In 1958, he was advanced to the office of elder. E. Gerald Thompson was licensed to the ministry on October 22, 1961 and Richard L. McWilliams was licensed to preach on November 26, 1961. These ministrers have shared the preaching and visiting chores of the congregation since its formation.
Pleasant View Church
The church conducts regular preaching services and Sunday School sessions each Sunday. In addition, the congregation has observed two Rally Days each year, a Harvest Home service, regular Bible Institutes, anniversary events and evangelistic meetings. Evangelists in the con- gregation have included Frank S. Carper (1961), Elmer B. Hoover (1962), Robert O. Hess (1963), Howard A. Whitacre (1964), Harold S. Martin (1965), Howard Bernhard (1966), Becker Ginder (1967) and Abram Eshelman (1969).
When Sunday School class rooms were added and a nursery was built in 1960, a service of dedication was held for these improvements. On July 6, 1960, Dr. Ralph W. Schlosser, professor at Elizabethtown Col- lege, was the guest speaker. A tenth anniversary observance for the new building was held on July 5, 1965, with Frank S. Carper returning to preach in celebration of the event.
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Soon after the congregation was organized, A Women's Work Organ- ization was formed. This organization meets regularly each month and involves itself in activities which support the church and the relief needs of the district. The organization makes gifts to be sold by the Women's Auxiliary Gift Shop at the Brethren Home. They have also canned many kinds of fruits and vegetables for the Home in past years. Each month, a number of the women continue to go to the Brethren Home in order to bake pies and sugar cookies for the residents. They have also made com- forters and collected relief goods for overseas use.
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