Clergy association mounts relief effort
As it observes the Week of Christian Unity, the Klondike Clergy Association will gather to host a Tsunami Relief Service on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. The service will take place at Fairview Church of the Brethren, located on Fairview Hill Road in Masontown, where the Revs. Homer and Pat Marshall are pastors. The Rev. Todd Kornahrens, pastor of Jacob’s Creek Lutheran Church, will be preacher.
A special offering will be received to assist the relief efforts.
The Rev. Bob Lewis, pastor of Masontown United Methodist Church, is president of the Klondike Clergy Association, which serves the communities of Masontown, McClellandtown and Leckrone. He explained that while individual churches were doing something for tsunami relief, the clergy association wanted to do something as a community. They decided to take the initiative during the Week of Christian Unity.
Lewis explained, “Twenty-five to 30 years ago, people needed to have this ecumenical service to see that we could worship in each other’s churches and break down the walls. We’ve come a long way in 25 years in the ecumenical movement. What’s really on people’s hearts and minds now is the tsunami. As people of compassion, you want to reach out and do something. We can pray and we can give. Those are two ways that we can feel as if we’re doing something.’
As an example of Christian unity, Lewis noted that the day his church caught fire last July, the Presbyterian church offered the congregation use of its facilities until they could go back to their own building.
“We have felt not only welcome, but like it’s our own building now,’ said Lewis. “A lot of things that used to divide denominations, people don’t care about anymore. What’s bringing us together is mission and ministry and helping and serving others.’
For more information, phone Lewis at 724-583-9207. For directions to the church, phone Marshall at 724-583-7073.