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TOGETHER IN FAITH
Prince of Peace Lutheran began as mission church
The church has a rich history of participation and benevolence.
The words “hope, joy and anticipation” figure prominently in the founding of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Poland. It is marking its 50th anniversary of its beginning as a mission church.
The words hope, joy and anticipation also describe how the congregation is facing the present and future.
Its history recounts how Prince of Peace was founded on the foresight of Pastor Luther Schliesser and generosity of the congregation of Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Ave., Youngstown. Pastor Schliesser realized that the Lutheran faith wasn’t represented in Poland, the first township in the Western Reserve. The Youngstown church donated $100,000 to the American Lutheran Synod — $25,000 went to start Prince of Peace as a mission church and $75,000 was a loan to the build the church at 2985 Center Road.
Recently, Tom Reedy, church council president; Pastor Paul Burgeson, interim pastor; Sally Kramer, reader and altar care; and Kim Marsico, Sunday school teacher and co-chairwoman of the call committee for a new pastor with Mindy Caspary, met to discuss the church and its anniversary.
Reedy reflected that the church had a promising beginning as it welcomed the Rev. Robert Trump, an intern at Martin Luther Lutheran, as its first pastor. He and Elmer Roller, council president, led the fledgling congregation as it planned a new church building and then moved into it. “The pastor then left for a bigger church in Columbus and Elmer died,” Reedy said. The congregation was challenged by the abrupt changes but forged ahead.
“That story shows how the church came together,” Pastor Burgeson said. “It was starting anew,” he said, adding that looking ahead to its next 50 years is like starting anew.
Reedy said the church started with 109 charter members and experienced “steady growth” into the 1980s and early 1990s when membership reached 300. But like many mainline denominations, attendance and membership began to wane in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He said the church has about 118 members and the majority are active. “It’s like beginning anew, we’re almost back to the number when it began,” said Reedy, who has been a member for 25 years.
In October 2008, the pastor at the church resigned unexpectedly. Reedy said Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, leader of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the ELCA, has encouraged the church to see this as a “new beginning.” He also noted that though the church has a rich history of participation and benevolence, Bishop Eaton told the congregation that “glory days” are in the church’s future and in eternal life.
Marsico said, “We’re looking for a new pastor who can help grow the church and can attract young families.”
But, she noted, “We also want someone who can relate to an older congregation but who has new ideas.”
The group credited Chuck Lundquist, supply pastor, and the interim pastor, who is retired, with helping the congregation navigate its celebrations and challenges. “Prince of Peace is together in faith,” Reedy said.
Marsico said the traditions of the past serve as examples for the present and future. That’s one reason why she volunteered to coordinate the Sunday school. Kramer, her mother, organized Sunday school and was involved in vacation Bible school for 40-some years. Known for her guitar-playing, Kramer said, “I just had a knack with kids.”
“I was born and baptized in this church, so it’s important to carry on the traditions,” Marsico said. Kramer said she has been a member since the 1960s.
“Our family takes up three pews,” Kramer said of their participation.
Though there are only eight youth in the church, they are involved.
They undertook a project of writing to military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan and have a Happy Birthday board for church members.
The church also confirmed five young people in May.
The church family is valued by the congregants. “It’s a loving congregation,” Reedy said.
“It is a caring congregation,” Kramer said. “Everyone is like family.”
Faith and the family atmosphere have led to a “high percentage of attendance,” Reedy said.
The church offers various activities including POPovers (Prince of Peace member older than 65), a quilting group that has stitched more than 100 quilts for Lutheran World Relief, Mary Dorcas prayer and Bible study group that meets monthly and adult Sunday school at which participants focus on Bible study.
Prince of Peace also is involved in the community. “We’ve reached outside our walls,” Reedy said. The church is a member of Poland Interfaith Council, which organized the Poland Food Pantry housed at Poland United Methodist Church. “We donate food and money,” Reedy said.
It also is one of nine Lutheran churches to help establish Shepherd of the Valley retirement community and one of 10 Lutheran churches that established Camp Frederick in Rogers.
Pastor Burgeson added that the church also has opened its doors as a meeting place for support groups for people recovering from alcohol and drug addictions.
The church built an outdoor pavilion a few years ago. “We offer it free to the community and congregation ... just book a date,” Reedy said. The pavilion, which cost $8,400 in materials, was built by members. “No one in particular needs credit,” Reedy said.
The church basketball court is a popular gathering spot for sports-minded community residents.