Church prepares to celebrate 150th anniversary – Sunbury Daily Item

SUNBURY As the saying goes, the family that prays together, stays together.

The people that have been a part of Klinesgrove United Methodist Church, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this month, will tell you its true.

Brian Moyer, who is in his fourth year as pastor of the church, said they live out the mission statement they developed prior to his arrival: Where you are a part of the family of God.

That truly defines the characteristics of this congregation, he said. They truly believe in the family nature of the church and the community, of being a part of the family of God. I see that very much in the types of outreach, ministry, and service that they do.

I think we have a strong family, echoed member Ray Shipe, who has been attending Klinesgrove since the early 80s, and who is also serving on the 150th anniversary celebration committee. We have lots of fellowship.

Well known in the area for their annual fall apple butter boil, which goes way back into the churchs history, and the huge amounts of coconut and peanut butter Easter eggs they make each year, the churchs members, though few in number, are also known for the love and support they pour out on the community around them.

Community connection

The thing about this church that affects me the most, Moyer said, is the level of activity of its youth group.

Thats something that is often not seen in many churches nowadays, he explained. But the young people of Klinesgrove are busy not only enjoying fun activities with each other, but completing effective mission work in their local community, volunteering regularly at AGAPE in Bloomsburg, Elijahs Bowl, and Haven Ministries, among other outreaches.

The church also provides food on a regular basis to people living on fixed incomes.

Their connection with each other and their connection to the community, Moyer said, is what has kept the church going for 150 years.

A lot of times, a church starts to falter and fail when its just internally focused. The more successful churches are the ones that are externally focused.

Historical connection

Currently in seminary, Moyer was taking a recent history course when he decided to write about Klinesgrove United Methodist Church for one of his assignments. During his research, he discovered the building was soon to reach its 150th anniversary. Upon that realization, the church in the winter began planning a celebration, with numerous activities this month including visits from previous pastors and historical talks. Today, Shipe said, they are celebrating with a meal, entertainment, and some re-enactors during a tour of the adjacent cemetery that is more than 210 years old. Someone is even planning to arrive at the celebration on horseback, portraying a circuit-riding preacher who had ministered to the people of the area who met in each others homes before the church was built.

The 60- by 40-foot brick structure that still stands today was built in 1867, just after the Civil War, at a cost of $9,000. Previously the Klinesgrove Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the families of the church played a direct part in its construction.

The Campbell family, who lived on a farm near the soon-to-be location of the church on donated land, used clay from their property to make bricks, which they cooked in their kiln and hauled to the construction site. Another family, the Klines from which the church gets its name also had a big part in building the church.

Even all the way back to the grassroots of this church, Moyer said, it was truly a family-oriented and family-based congregation.

Mission connection

I believe all churches have one mission, Moyer said, to make disciples for Christ for the transformation of this world.

When Moyer became pastor at Klinesgrove, he encouraged the members to start adding to their mission statement with action words to create a vision for the churchs future.

They use the words offer, love, grow and serve to steer everything they do.

It keeps us focused on the purpose and reason that we are the church, Moyer said. And that is to be the hands and feet of Christ here in the community to which we belong.

Thats our goal, Shipe added, to offer Christ to others.

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Church prepares to celebrate 150th anniversary - Sunbury Daily Item