The "Go In Peace" Story

It was an ordinary day. Talking on the phone with my friend Jere who lives in State College, PA with his wife Sue.  Jere and I grew up together, about a block-and-a-half away from each other near the Lancaster Train Station on the north side of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  We met in 1st grade and have been friends ever since.  While in high school, one of our classmates was a young girl named Sue whom Jere fell for right off the bat and married her shortly after graduation from high school.  She had grown up near State College and moved to Lancaster when she was in 10th grade when her father moved here for his job.  A few years ago Jere and Sue moved back to State College and now my wife Carol and I make trips to State College to visit with the two of them.  The four of us have been friends for many years and enjoy trips back and forth for visits a few times a year.  When Carol and I travel to State College, the four of us usually take a drive around a few of the many small towns near State College to see the scenery and to grab a bite to eat during our travels.  One such location is the small town of Bellefonte which has an area of about 1.8 square miles and a population of about 6,000 residents.  A recent local LNP newspaper article told of one of the churches in Bellefonte, The Bellefonte First Presbyterian Church, which is nearly as old as the borough itself.  The church recently held its final service on Christmas Eve after serving its congregation for nearly two centuries.  So sad to see a church with a 221-year history having to close due to declining membership and attendance.  A few of the worshippers said that, "There' s just such a love among this congregation.  We've all known each other so long and we know each other's foibles.  We'll miss our personality, our laughter and our joy in just being together.  And, of course, the faith aspect of sharing that with other like-minded people."  

The interior of the Bellefonte First Presbyterian Church
photo by Abby Drey - Centre Daily Times

The church was established in 1800 by the same men who founded Bellefonte in 1795 at a time when there were only 16 states and counted among it members two former Pennsylvania governors.  The church met at the courthouse for almost two decades and then in a stone edifice.  The current structure was built shortly after the Civil War.  Before the pandemic hit there were about 40 parishioners.  That number has now dropped to 25 and had no in-person services from March of 2020 until the service this past Easter Sunday.  Fewer people are taking their children to church and the church didn't try and recruit any new parishioners.  Before the final hymn on Easter Sunday, members in attendance lit and raised candles to these words..."And the light has splintered the darkness.  And hope is ours once more.  And this light does call us forward, remembering the past, and walking confidently into the future.  And now go in the peace of Christ."  Hopefully those that were in attendance will be able to find a home in the few other churches in Bellefonte in the near future.  I'm sure they will certainly be welcomed into a new parish and will offer them friendship and a new place to worship.  It won't be the same as their old church, but, the new friendships they make should make up for that in the near future.  I wonder what will become of the old church that has been their home for over 200 years.  As they say...only time will tell!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.