Bethel UMC to celebrate 150th Catwissa area church plans special events this weekend

CATAWISSA - Bethel United Methodist Church, located at 168 Bethel Drive, will culminate its 150th anniversary celebration with a special weekend of fellowship, praise and worship this weekend.

Pastor Anna Fyock, the pastor of the church since 2008, said many past pastors and members, along with present-day members, sister church members and family and friends will be in attendance at a special old-time Sunday school picnic Saturday and Sunday.

The activities will begin at 4 p.m. in the church's pavilion with games and fellowship, followed by a covered dish meal at 5:30 p.m. After the evening meal, the Gospel Strings, a Bluegrass Gospel group from Middleburg led by Gordon Zechman will perform. The group has performed many years throughout Pennsylvania. Penny candy, bottled Big Ben's soda from Catawissa Bottling Company and hand-dipped ice cream will be available at old-fashioned prices.

Sunday's activities will begin with a worship service at 10:15 a.m. with District Superintendent Dr. Thomas Salsgiver giving the main message. Also speaking at the service will be past ministers Rev. Carl Rutherford, Pastor Lynne Schwartz, Dr. Dale Neufer, the current pastor, Pastor Anna Fyock and longtime lay leader Robert Leiby. Following the service, a light lunch will be provided by the church, followed by a performance by The Wehry Family at 1:30 p.m.

Randy and Wendy Wehry have been singing together for more than 30 years and have five children, Jared, Janessa, Jessalynn, Joshua and Jourdan, who are all part of the ministry. The group have traveled extensively throughout the East Coast and as far west as Montana, ministering in 19 different states.

The public is welcome to attend the activities, and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Prayer stations and items of historical interest will be on display. Items to be placed in a time capsule are also needed.

Bethel's first congregational meeting was held when the history of Bethel Methodist Church began in 1859. At the time, the house of worship was erected on the road from Willowvale to Numidia. The first trustees of the church included David Zarr, Jonas Berninger, Joseph Hartman, John Teitsworth, Nicholas Campbell, William Roeder, Peter Yocum and William Kiesle.

Some of the first members were Elma Kester, Bertha McMurtie, David Zarr, Susan Zarr, Aaron Seivis, Alice Hendershott, Moses V. Shoemaker, Hannah Arter, Johnah Thomas and their leader, James Kester.

In 1866, Bethel became a part of a newly established Elysburg circuit including Sharp Ridge, Bear Gap, Oak Grove and Elysburg UMC. They remained a part of that circuit until 1980 when they joined the Catawissa Circuit, which included St. Paul's (Esther Furnace) and Fisherdale UMC.

In January 1869, a new Sunday school began. It had five officers and teachers, 25 scholars and an average attendance of 20. At this time, the Sunday school library was composed of 125 volumes. The first superintendent of Bethel's Sunday school was S.M. Hoagland. Serving as trustees were William B. Kimbal, John Teitsworth, Nicholas Campbell, Peter Yocum, Samuel Reeder, James Keister, Samuel Hoagland, Theodore Mendenhall and J.P. Hoagland.

Expenses for that first year totaled $16.

The trustees in 1875 were David Munson, Adam Johnson and William Dyer.

The events of Bethel were unrecorded for 35 years and then the present wooden structure was erected in 1910, after the original building was removed and the site of the new building was excavated.

Financially, the stability of the new undertaking was of a somewhat dubious state, for at this time, only $740 had been pledged, $40 of that being labor. These fears were unfounded, though, for the final cost was $500.

With the new building complete, the original dedication had been scheduled for Dec. 11, 1910, but because of a severe storm, all but 25 of the congregation were prevented from attending. To these few, Rev. George S. Womer, of St. Paul's of Danville delivered an inspiring sermon in the morning and evening, and from these few, an offering of $70 was collected.

The actual dedication was then held Jan. 8, 1911. The Rev. Richard Brooks from Second Church of Shamokin delivered the dedicatory sermon to an exceedingly large congregation. The Rev. T.S. Faus was pastor at that time, and trustees were Alfred Riege, John Llewellyn, William Llewellyn and W.D. Watkins.

During the war years, little history was recorded. In the 1930s, the women organized, calling themselves, "The Friendship Circle." In the 1940s, memories of cake walks were recorded which led to the box socials held throughout the 1950s.

Since then, many improvements have been made over the years, including the painting of the interior, laying of aisle carpet, the addition of a mural, an improved pavilion, a furnace, primary chairs and tables and the replacing of the organ with a piano.

Sometime in the 1960s, an attractive porch and new ornamental shrubbery were added under the trustees committee, consisting of Roy Thomas, Chester George, William Hampton, Roy Leiby, Harry Berninger, Newton Vought, Russel Campbell, Robert Yost and Harlan Horn.

The cemetery association was formed, and more improvements were made, including adding a cross and candlesticks to the altar area.

Updating and remodeling continued during the 1970s with the purchase of new church pews, a piano and a hymn board. Storm windows and siding enhanced the building structure.

During the 1980s, a basement was built by the congregation and has since been used for fellowship and Sunday school classes. A sound system was purchased in the 1990s and a tape ministry was started.

With the dawn of a new decade, the church continues its worship with structure improvements including new shrubbery, a new lighted church sign, repainting and updating the electrical, lighting and sound system in the pavilion.

Throughout its history, the annual oyster stew suppers, sunrise services, Easter breakfast, Sunday school picnics, bean soup suppers, hayrides and Christmas programs have been a long-standing tradition along with added family and movie nights.

"We are celebrating the completion of 150 years in God's service, but the work of the Lord for Bethel is not finished," Fyock said. "God is surely expecting great things for us the next 150 years as we may continue to carry on and do His will until He comes to glory."