Christ's United Lutheran Church

Mortgage Burning Celebration

From Left to Right:  The Rev. Peggy Sue Pfeffer, The Rev. Robert Hoenich,
The Rev. Joseph (Jay) Serafin, and the Rev. David Strobel, Bishop of the Northeastern Synod ELCA
 

From Left to Right:  The Rev. Robert Hoenich, The Rev. Peggy Sue Pfeffer, The Rev. Joseph (Jay) Serafin

    On May 21, 2005, a Celebration Banquet was held at the Gordon Fire Company in Gordon, Pa. to celebrate the retirement of our church mortgage.
    The evening got underway with greetings from Dean Fetterolf, the Chair of the Mortgage Burning Celebration Committee, and the welcoming of members of our congregation, friends of the parish and special guests by our Church Council Vice President, Terry Halye.
    An invitation to our special services planned for our celebration was given by Paula Chuplis, a member of our Worship Committee.
    The opening prayer was given by Pastor Hoenich after which we enjoyed a delicious meal, which was catered by "A Matter of Taste".
    Following the dinner, Mr. Wayne Batten, the church architect and Mr. Harold Blacker, the church builder shared their thoughts.  Both men were actively involved in 1991-1992 in an important segment in the life of our congregation.
    The Guest Speaker, The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Hughes also shared his thoughts and reminisced with us.
    A special Thank You was given for the support and commitment and steadfastness of our members, for those who did not live to see this day, to those who stuck to the merger from its very beginning and to those folks who have joined Christ's United from the 1970's to the present time.
    A word of appreciation was given by Pastor Hoenich and closing remarks were given by Dean Fetterolf, the Chair of the Mortgage Burning Celebration Committee.

    On Sunday morning, May 22nd, a Worship Service of Holy Communion was held with Pastor Gene Handwerk, Synod Staff Liaison to our Schuylkill Mission District preaching the sermon.
   Later that evening at 6:00 P.M. the Church was open to view displays of church memorabilia and to view a DVD and video in the Fellowship Hall of the groundbreaking and the ultimate building of our church from start to finish.  Special thanks go to Mike and Wendy Wojtaszek for a job well done in assembling this outstanding DVD.
    At 7:00 P.M. the Service in Celebration of the Retirement of our Church Building Debt began with the singing of the hymn, "What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine".
    Greetings were extended from Pastor's in attendance who have served Christ's United or in any of the predecessor churches.
     The Rev. David Strobel, Bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod ELCA, preached the sermon;  after which an announcement of the debt retirement was given by Church Council Vice President, Terry Halye.  A Word of Appreciation by Church Council Secretary, Ann Marie Dillman, was given followed by the presentation of the debt agreement by the Treasurer, Jo-Ann Young.
     The Burning of the Mortgage then commenced with Pastor's Peggy Sue Pfeffer, Pastor Jay Serafin and Pastor Robert Hoenich, participating.
    Following the service, refreshments were served in the Fellowship Hall provided by the ladies of WELCA.    

    On Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 P.M. a Service of Thanksgiving was held.  Pastor's of the Ashland Area Ministerium participated along with the Ashland Area Community Choir under the direction of Betty Chappell and the Christ's United Senior Choir.
    Following the service, the Lutheran Church Men provided refreshments in the Fellowship Hall.

    On Sunday May 29th, the Rededication of the Cornerstone took place following the morning worship service after which a Covered Dish Dinner was served in the Fellowship Hall which brought to an end our week-long Mortgage Burning Celebration.