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KEEPING THE FAITH Easter is not only a time for Christians to celebrate the Resurrection with worship services and fellowship, it's also time for many to reaffirm their faith. Area Christian leaders tell Endeavor News that despite the protracted war, economic uncertainty and declining church attendance nationally, local residents still demonstrate concern for their neighbors and faith in God. Pastor Scott Melott of the First Baptist Church in Emporium is concerned that more Americans think they don't need God, because they consider themselves self-suffi- cient. "Some seem to think technology is going to save us,'" Pastor Melott continued. Nevertheless, the local community is holding firm to its Christian foundation, he hastened to add. "We have a great spirit of cooperation between Protestants and Catholics," Melott said. "They recognize our common foundation, and that is Jesus Christ." Evidence of this could be seen on Good Friday, when seven Emporium churches participated in the traditional "Cross Walk," retracing Christ's passage to Calvary. Emporium area churches will band together again at 7 am Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service at Newton Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be held at First Baptist Church. Pastor Rock Pifer echoes Melott's optimism. "God is on the move in Cameron County!" he said. "Our community is strong spiritually, and getting stronger all the time." Pifer, who has served the Free Methodist Church in Emporium for more than ten years, added, "We are a close community of faith, with a close ministerial association and mutual respect." International turmoil and signs of moral decay must not diminish people's spirits locally, Rev. Pifer insisted. "God's love and His great plan for humanity will come to pass," Pifer said. "He is steadfast, deliberate and cannot fail." Rev. James Eastman, who has served the Abundant Life Tabernacle since 1987, sees a manifestation of God's work in the local area. "I believe God is doing a unique thing here," Pastor Eastman said. "People are very open to spiritual things and we have a real sense of unity here among our churches." Rev. Jason W. H. Claydon of the Rich Valley Wesleyan Church said international turmoil has "more people talking about God," but that trend has not been shown in church attendance. "We seem to have lost the younger generation spiritually," Rev. Claydon said. "Something must be done to reach out to the teens in our community before it is too late." Easter is a time of hope, Rev. Claydon was quick to add: "During the dark days between Jesus's death and resurrection, many doubted God's sovereignty. He arose and proved that God is in control. The same is true in these dark days. He is in control and one day there will be no doubts." EASTER SERVICE SCHEDULES The following area churches responded to an Endeavor News request for information about Easter worship services: Emporium • Presbyterian: Pastor Jay Hanson, Sunday, 11 am. • St. Mark Catholic Church: filling in for Fr. Paul Siebert who is currently on sabbatical in the Yucatan will be Fr. Chuck Schmitt of Port Allegany. Good Friday: 7 pm, Stations of the Cross; Holy Saturday: vigil at 8:30 pm for the "resurrection of our beloved departed ones"; Easter Sunday: Easter mass at 8 am and 10:30 am • Abundant Life Tabernacle: Resurrection service Sunday at 10 am. • Methodist: Rev. Gary Atkinson, Sunday services at 8:15 am and 10:45 am. • Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Pastor Matthew Ryan, Sunday, 11 am. • First Baptist Church: Pastor Scott Melott, Sunday's service to an Easter message from the Gospel of Luke, 10:45 am • Christian Missionary Alliance Church: Pastor Mark Conklin, Sunday school at 9:45 am and service at 11 am. • Rich Valley Wesleyan Church: Rev. Jason W. H. Claydon, Easter Sunday breakfast from 9 to 10:30 am, followed by regular worship service at 11 am. Coudersport • Calvary Baptist Church: Rev. Richard Kuehlman, Easter breakfast at 8:30, Sunday School and Adult Bible Studies at 10, worship service at 11. • Christ Episcopal Church: the Rev. Elaine Silverstrim, Sunrise Service at 7:30 at Coudersport church; worship services held at 9 am and 11 am in Brookland and Coudersport, respectively. • Christian & Missionary Alliance Church: Pastor Bernie Knefley, Sunrise Service at 7:30, pancake breakfast at 8:30, followed by worship service at 10. • First United Presbyterian Church: Rev. Evon McJunkin, 9:45 am worship service. • Gospel Tabernacle: Pastor David Minor, Good Friday, 7 pm, a Readers Theater production, "Broken Bonds," featuring mime and song, open to public; Sunday: worship service at 11 am. • North Eulalia Baptist Church: Pastor Michael Reeves, Sunrise Service at 7:30, followed by breakfast, and then a worship service at 9:30 am, • St. Eulalia Catholic Church: Fr. Joseph Czarkowski, Sunday masses at 7:30 am and 11 am • St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church: Pastor Evon McJunkin, worship services at 8 am and 11:15 am. • Sweden Valley Faith Community United Methodist Church: Pastor Tom Schatto, worship services at 8:30 am and 11 am. Austin
Austin Methodist Charge will have sunrise services at 7:30 and then normal worship services afterwards in Austin and Keating Summit
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