Pastor's 2015 Annual Report

JOHN 13:34-35
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This was a year of sadness and a year of Christian love. Six members of our congregation passed away: David Dougherty, Richard Bowman, Ann Tremblay, Richard Kramlich, Linda Fehnel, and Titus Ruch. We also lost Ed Clancy and April Hantz, good friends of our church. Several of our most loyal members entered nursing homes, and are no longer able to come to worship. Joanne Matthews replaced Kathy Jernegan as Church Secretary on a temporary basis. Pat Frankenfield took over the job of cleaning the church after Michael Jernegan resigned from that position. We thanked John Hrizuk for years of exemplary service as Clerk of Session.

Christ’s love strengthened us to share our struggles and joys. We were productive! In the spring, when we completed a master plan document for Lehigh Presbytery, we set, as our goals for 2015, improved visibility and outreach in our community. With these objectives in mind, we began new projects and improved our historic building in many ways. Here are just a few of the achievements of which we can all be proud:

• Implemented extensive security clearances for all Sunday School teachers and youth leaders, in accordance with new federal and state laws;
  
  
• Began our participation in a three-congregation youth group with Faith Church in Emmaus and the Barn in Salisbury Township;
  
  
• Joined with other local churches in spearheading “Communities That Care,” lending our leadership to the Whitehall Hunger Initiative;
  
  
• Started a church page on Facebook;
  
  
• Initiated the “Deacon of the Month” program for visitation to shut-ins;
  
  
• Collected warm clothing and food for the needy, and presented our offerings to the Whitehall Food Bank;
  
  
• Offered fellowship opportunities, including two greeting card-making workshops and an enjoyable game night;
  
  
• Successfully filed a $56,611.00 insurance claim to repair substantial storm damage to the building;
  
  
• Furnished a choir room, redecorated three Sunday School rooms, repaired wall cracks in three of the oldest areas of the church, purchased a new refrigerator, dehumidifier and water dispenser, and made other significant improvements to the physical plant (see Property Committee report);
  
  
• Donated Christmas gifts to the Caring Place for young children, and presented holiday gift cards to two needy families in the congregation;
  
  
• Taught twenty students about the Bible at our “Everest” Vacation Bible School with the help of seasoned teachers and youth volunteers;
  
  
• Kept the mission of “Presbyterian Women” strong, even as several of its members suffered family losses and health setbacks;
  
  
• Began publicizing the Church Secretary’s office hours for better accessibility; and
  
  
• Invited guests to participate in worship services, including clarinetist Emily Hoke, Director Gershon Gordon of Camp Kirkwood/Brainerd, and Presbyterian missionaries Christopher and Margeaux Cronce.

May God continue to bless us, and to increase our joy, in 2016.

In faith, Pastor Joyce

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