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Masontown news

By Cindy Keener Phone 724-583-2093 5 min read

Outdoor service Grace Chapel Presbyterian Church will celebrate an outdoor service on July 31 on the church grounds located at 1214 Walnut Hill Road in High House. Grace Chapel is only 4.4 miles from the Walnut Hill exit of the Route 119 bypass.

The service will begin at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy a communion service under the canopy of a huge tree next to Grace Chapel.

Pastor Bill Lawson will be officiating.

Bishop to speak

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, spiritual leader of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, will speak at the dedication service of Masontown United Methodist Church on July 24. A fire last July severely damaged the Methodist worship center and social hall.

After a year of reconstruction and renovations, the Masontown UMC will dedicate its new building to the glory of God and to service and witness to Jesus Christ.

Bickerton became the spiritual leader of the approximately 900 United Methodist Congregation in Western Pennsylvania on Sept. 1, 2004.

A native of Moundsville, W.Va., Bickerton was one of six new bishops elected in July 2004 by the lay and clergy delegates to the Church’s Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in Syracuse, N.Y. At age 46, he is the youngest bishop in the United Methodist Church.

In West Virginia, Bickerton served a six-point charge as a student pastor.

After ordination, he was appointed pastor of a Shady Spring congregation, which grew from 85 to 225 members in the six years he served there.

In 1989, he was appointed senior pastor of then 585-member Forrest Burdette Memorial UMC in Hurricane, W.Va. By the time he was named district superintendent of West Virginia’s Northern District in 1998, the Forrest Burdette Church had grown to 1,368 members.

The bishop has been a delegate to the last three General Conferences of the United Methodist Church and a Jurisdictional Conference delegate every four years since 1988. He serves on the General Commission on United Methodist Communications, and previously sat on the church’s General Commission on Archives and History and the general commission on the Status and Role of Women.

A 1980 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in psychology and sociology, Bickerton earned his master of divinity degree at Duke University and his doctor of ministry at United Theological School, where he serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching Wesleyan doctrine and church policy.

The service of dedication at the Masontown United Methodist Church will take place at 10 a.m.

The church is located on the corner of Main and Cross streets, Masontown.

For more information about the service or any of the celebration events taking place that week, contact the Rev. Bob Lewis at 724-583-9207.

Friends of Library to meet

The Friends of the Library will meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the library. A normal business meeting will be followed by light refreshments.

Mary Ann Fell and Mary Anne Hritz, co-presidents, welcome anyone to come. The Friends is an auxiliary group that helps support the German-Masontown Library.

How do you become a member? Simply sign up at the library and pay only $3 dues per year.

Book signing planned

Father Philip M. Kanfush, O.S.B., will be coming to the German-Masontown Library at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, to discuss some of the stories in his book, “Renewed Each Morning: Reflections From the Rocking Chair.”

Kanfush is a very entertaining speaker and gifted writer whose stories provide a framework for illustrating life’s lessons and the opportunities for spiritual growth that can result from being attentive to the voice of God in ordinary moments of daily life.

His reflections provide practical wisdom, gleaned from both Scripture and contemporary life, which can easily be applied in our daily lives. Kanfush will have copies of his book for sale and will gladly sign them.

Applications available

Kid’s Day Out, located at the Fairchance First Presbyterian Church, is accepting applications for the 2005-06 school year.

Classes are held from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for children who are 4 and 5 years of age and from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday for children who are 3 years of age.

Call 724-564-2042 or 724-880-1489 for more information.

Masontown Center news

June was a very busy month for members of the Masontown Senior Center, beginning with Site Council meeting on June 3. On June 7, the group held an ice cream social to call attention to the homeless and hungry. A bake sale was held on June 8.

On June 14, Virginia McCann held a program that included playing “Grand Old Flag” and other patriotic songs and readings.

June 17 was the Father’s Day program, with various members participating with readings and songs.

Congratulations to Mary Springer who attended a spelling bee in Washington County and received a certificate for participation and a free night’s stay in the area.

The Masontown Seniors also took first place for Fayette County dartball and second place in the playoff. Bucky Shaffer and George Crosby both won seven individual medals.

Terry McCullough spoke on new social security programs on June 27 and Mary Springer and Gwen Nichols led a Bible study with Jerry Burden as soloist on June 28.

Birthday celebrants for June included Elsie Ahlgren, John Kormanik, Lurene Brewer, Toni Seneri and Kristin Dunham. Each was give a lottery ticket.

Seniors are invited to join the fun, enjoy delicious lunches and wonderful fellowship. Please feel welcomed at the Masontown Senior Center, Main Street, in Masontown.

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