The Outville Presbyterian Church recently celebrated its 125 years of ministry to the Outville Community with a congregational procession from their original location to their current location led by a Bagpiper and their pastor, the Reverend Stephen Merold.

The festivities included stories and pictures of the church’s history, families and events, celebrating music, warm fellowship and delicious home-made foods.

Photo: The Reverend Stephen and Kae Merold

The following article was originally published in the Columbus Dispatch on Friday, September 28, 2007, marking Phil Hazelton’s retirement. Reprinted with permission of The Columbus Dispatch. The author, Doug Haddix (dhaddix@dispatch.com), is projects editor of The Dispatch and an elder in the PC(USA).

 Picture Bob Newhart in the pulpit, wearing a black robe and white clerical collar.

That was my first impression of the Rev. Dr. Philip Hazelton of Worthington Presbyterian Church. Same dry humor, same folksy delivery, same deep reservoir of wisdom.

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Sometime late last spring, Rev. Timothy J. Luoma happened across the Bible in 90 Days website and immediately thought, “90 days?! That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard!”

But then… the more he thought about it, he decided it was something he wanted to try. “Hrm, if I turn it into a Sunday school class, that would keep me from giving up!” So he started talking up the idea from the pulpit and in the church newsletter. “I really had no idea if anyone else would be interested, especially over at 9 on Sunday morning!”

The first Sunday we had about 20 people show up (given that a “good Sunday” attendance is about 100, this was especially encouraging). The final Sunday we had about 20 people show up, and attendance stayed consistent all through the summer. In addition we had several others who were reading along at home. Each week’s sermon came from the readings of the week ahead.

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On Sunday, September 30, worshipers at the Waverly First Presbyterian Church marked the 20th anniversary of their pastor’s service with a special fellowship time following the service.

The Rev. Richard S. Hays began his ministry in Waverly October 1, 1987, following an eleven year pastorate at the Rockford, Ohio, Presbyterian Church. With his guidance and support, in 2001 the congregation moved out of an 1840’s inaccessible downtown building into a contemporary, functional, hospitable (and, since 2005, debt-free) building with room to grow and expand if the need presents itself.

The church session surprised Rick and his wife Paula this summer by presenting them with a four week sabbatical opportunity. They attended the National Pastor’s Sabbath in Snowbird, Utah, spent a week at Ghost Ranch, and attended a week-long training event on church transformation in Chicago, in addition to wonderful sight-seeing in the Southwest.

Since becoming a member of Scioto Valley Presbytery, Rick has been involved a many aspects of the presbytery’s work. He chaired the former Division of Care of Churches, the Bills and Overtures committee, and the Hanging Rock Area ministry. He was presbytery moderator 1998-99 and was a commissioner to two General Assemblies. He was recently elected Stated Clerk of the presbytery and will be installed at the November presbytery meeting.

Paula serves as choir director the Waverly church. For seven years she was a Christian Education consultant for the Hanging Rock Area and coordinator for the presbytery’s Jackson resource center.

When Rick and Paula moved to Waverly their children Elizabeth and were ages 11 and 7, respectively. Today, Elizabeth uses her Ph.D. in physics at NASA’s Goddard Space Center, Greenbelt, MD, and Drew recently completed work for his D.F.A. in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is teaching at Greensboro’s Guilford College.

(Note: a schedule is posted at the end of this article.) Rev. Tomeh is currently assigned to serve with the Middle East Council of churches (MECC) as an associate general secretary, in charge at present of the Iraq relief and rehabilitation program, which is part of the ecumenical relief services of the MECC.

In addition to his duties with the MECC, Rev. Tomeh is also the regional liaison of the PC(USA) for Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and the Gulf. He is assisting with the newly formed Iraq Mission Network in the PC(USA).

Rev. Tomeh holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and psychology from Beirut Arab University in Beirut and a master of divinity from the Near East School of Theology. He received his doctorate of ministry in pastoral care and counseling from Christ Seminary Seminex (ELCA) in St., Louis Missouri. His clergy membership is with the Synod of Syria and Lebanon, which is the Presbyterian Church of Syria and Lebanon.

Nuhad is in contact with the five Presbyterian churches in Iraq and is deeply aware of the struggles of these churches. These churches, and Christians in Iraq in general, have come under increasing threat and danger from Islamic extremists who have kidnapped and in some cases killed Christians. Elder Yousif Al-Saka of the Presbyterian church in Mosul, was kidnapped and murdered in January 2007. (See page 171 of the 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study).

The website of Refugees International says that the displacement of Iraqis is now the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. The U.N. estimates that over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced since 2003: over 2 million have moved within Iraq itself; another 1.5 million have fled to Syria, 3/4 million have gone to Jordan; 1/4 million have gone to Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and Turkey.

It is unofficially estimated that over 50,000 Christians have emigrated to Syria and the same number to Jordan. Another 6,000 have gone to Lebanon. Yousif Al-Saka’s son, Mazen Al-saka M.D., has had to flee to Lebanon from Mosul.

Rev. Tomeh will share with us throughout the day the situation of the Presbyterian churches in Iraq and what we might do to help. All are welcome to attend any or all of these events.

Schedule of the day

9:00 am - 10:00 am
Presentation at the Adult Forum (Parlor)

10:30 am - 11:30 am
Worship
Rev. Nuhad Tomeh preaching

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Presentation and discussion

For more information on Rev Tomeh, see:
http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/tomehn.htm

The 200th meeting of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley was highlighted by worship led by the Rev. Carol Wickersham, from the Presbytery of Lakes and Prairies. She challenged the Presbytery to think about peace also to work for it in large and small activities.

New pastors, James Gear (Columbus Brookwood), Leigh Holder-Bobo (Columbus Hoge Memorial), and Michael Phillips (Washington Court House First) were introduced.

At the request of the Presbytery of San Jose, Brett Swanson (pictured) was examined and approved for ordination. He has been called to be associate pastor at the Columbus Boulevard church.

In other pastoral transitions, Charlotte O’Neil has moved from 1/2 to 3/4 time at Delaware Old Stone and Donald Coleman has become associate pastor at Delaware Liberty. New interims are Tim Jones at Grove City First, Alex McDougall at Galloway, and Paul Van Horn at Nelsonville First. Jeff Connar will serve as commissioned lay pastor at Columbus Calvin, Dwayne Lee will serve as CLP at Frankfort First, and Linda Plummer will add Oak Hill Horeb to her CLP duties at Oak Hill Bethel. Marian Redding is now stated supply pastor at Iberia. November 1st will see Jeffrey De Yoe begin as pastor at Worthington and Stuart Ritter become interim at Columbus Broad Street. Phil Hazelton and Rawley Boone were granted honorably retired status.

The proposal from the Mt. Gilead church, presented in September 2006 and postponed to this meeting, asked that the Presbytery take the position that “compliance with the standards for ordination adopted by the whole church in the Book of Order is an essential of Reformed polity” was defeated.

The mission partnerships report noted that the major upcoming activity will the week-long Presbytery’s joining in the Mission Challenge ‘07. Ted Wright, area coordinator for central and southern Africa, will be in the Presbytery October 20-26th andz will meet at area gatherings, including Presbyterian Women and Hanging Rock.

The Presbytery Resource Center was granted permission to proceed with the organization of a partnership network of Presbytery Resource Centers in Ohio, in the Synod of the Covenant.

A well done video presentation on the Youth Triennium was presented.

A lay pastors class of 4 Presbyterians and 3 UCCs were welcomed at the September 2007 Presbytery Meeting.

This marks the completion of our first class partnering with our United Church of Christ colleagues.

The Trustees announced that they had concurred with the Committee On Ministry oversight committee for Worthington Highlands to grant the church $30,000 for September 2007 through August 2008 and not do the projected funding for the third year of the original plan.

A motion was referred to Presbytery Council to have the presbytery meetings scheduled at the same time on consistent dates.

CORRECTION: The next presbytery meeting will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Columbus on Tuesday, November 20, at 10 a.m.

Presbytery of Scioto Valley youth and leaders from 14 PSV congregations attended the Presbyterian Youth Triennium at Purdue University in mid July.

Thousands of Presbyterian youth from around the world gathered for fun, fellowship, Bible study, worship and recreation at this life-changing triennial event.

Scioto Valley outdoor enthusiasts enjoyed a delightful evening of fun, fellowship, games, great food and inspiring music on a warm Sunday evening in late July.

Thanks to Concord Presbyterian Church for organizing and sponsoring this special summer event!

Moderator Joyce Smith enjoyed winning at Corn Hole!

PSV Hanging Rock area church professionals gathered for delightful summer picnic at the lovely country home of Kay and Frank Puckett near Wilkesville.