Lycoming United Methodist Church celebrates new addition

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by Kelly M. Freihofer
Sunday, Oct. 16 was a big day for the folks at the Lycoming United Methodist Church.  It was a day of celebrating and consecrating the new addition on the church located at the intersection of county Route 29 and Miner Road in Lycoming.

The Lycoming United Methodist Church is an active church and a full church. The popular and growing Sunday school, with 45 children currently on the rolls, was a large part of the motivation to expand the church by building an addition.  This motivation became a vision and the vision, through a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication, has become a reality.

The new addition to the church includes:  a new entryway into the church with a handicapped accessible ramp, a greatly expanded sanctuary, a new fellowship hall, a large multi-age Sunday school room, a second Sunday school room, a new office, a second story kitchenette area, and two new restrooms.

Speaking about the enlarged church building the Rev. Steve Eddy, who pastors the church, says, “This new addition is a look to the future with more community involvement.  We made space for the community to come join us.”

Sunday, Oct. 16, began with a worship service and Sunday school.  The morning was followed by a luncheon served in the new fellowship hall.  Upwards of 85 people shared the meal and enjoyed musical entertainment provided by Aaron Karppala. 

The Service of Consecration followed at 2 p.m. in the expanded sanctuary.

The United Methodist Church Crossroads District Superintendent, the Rev. Darryl R. Barrow, attended both the luncheon and the Service of Consecration.  Commenting on the new addition at Lycoming United Methodist Barrow says, “One of the things I want to emphasize is when you see small vital churches pull together their resources of people and of gifts to build a place for use by children and young people, it speaks of a church that understands its mission of nurturing present and future generations.”

During the Service of Consecration the numerous people present heard the Rev. Eddy commend those who have worked hard toward the new addition when he said, “You have been a group with a vision.  That vision has kept you going for many years…  It’s nice to see the vision a reality…  What we have is a very usable space with people who want to use it.”

The building was …’consecrated and reconsecrated for the worship of God and the service of all people.’

Photo Caption: The Lycoming United Methodist Church Building Committee poses for a photo with church leaders just prior to the Service of Consecration at the church on Sunday, Oct. 16.  The focus of the service was the large new addition to the church.  The women standing front, from left, are:  Nancy Hopkins and Anne Krackehl.  The men standing back, are:  Charles Parkhurst, the Rev. Steve Eddy, United Methodist Church District Superintendent the Rev. Darryl R. Barrow, Mark Carson, Jim Searles, and Blair Summerville.  Hopkins and Carson are co-chairs of the building committee.