Up and Down the Valleys: October 2026

Serve your church by being part of this year’s Synod Assembly! The assembly gives Lutherans in Central PA a chance to grow in their faith, worship, see what we do together and attend to the business of the USS. Congregational voting members need to be identified by mid-February. Talk to your pastor about being your congregation’s representative.

 Sharon, Selinsgrove (Pastor Bob Doll) provided a photo booth where people dressed up as Biblical characters for the Selinsgrove Market Street Festival. They shared the central message of their faith in fun ways and sparked lots of conversations.

Port Royal Lutheran Parish held an outdoor worship service and picnic at the Juniata County Fairgrounds today. Chad Hershberger led the two congregations in worship and attendees were able to see upgrades to the church’s Juniata County Fair Stand which will be in operation in about 2 weeks.

Summer Clergy Notes: Installations: Pastor Felicia Swartz (Zion, Kratzerville), Pastor Lisa Barnes (St. Matthew, Bloomsburg) and Diane Booth Bubb (ordained at Washingtonville). Pastor Brian Vasey retired as pastor of St. Mark, Williamsport. Congratulations to pastors celebrating milestone ordination anniversaries this summer: 65 years- Alfie Bashore (retired): 50 years- Dale Biesecker (retired); 45 years- William Henderson (retired); 40 years- Richard Fangmann (retired), Wayne Muthler (GMC Chaplain), Vicky Schaffner (retired), Brian Vasey (retiredI; 30 years- Debra Ernst (retired), Lois Martin (retired), Craig Miller (Bishop)I; 25 years- David Byler (retired): 10 years- Sandra Olson (Siloa, Morris Run).

Pastor Chad Hebrink, Bishop Emeritus A. Donald Main, and Bishop Miller participated in a ceremony recognizing Diakon’s first affordable housing community for families and children, Hillside Village in Catawissa. Rain could not dampen the mood as CEO, Shari VanderGast, and others spoke about the significance of this community resource.