Zion Hill to honor couple

Staff report

columbiana

Pastor John and Ruth Bartholomew will retire from Zion Hill Church of the Brethren, 14550 New Buffao Road.

A celebration service recognizing 49 years in ministry will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, devoted to the Bartholomews. It will include speakers, video, photos, presentations and music.

An open house will be from 2 to 4 p.m. in the church fellowship hall.

On April 1, Pastor Bartholomew will offer a final message; he will mark his 80th birthday March 31. The Bartholomew family will sing.

The couple met at Zion’s Christmas program in 1950; they were wed Dec. 9, 1951.

The Bartholomews served at Zion Hill from September 1969 to September 1983 and October 1995 to April 1, 2012. Other pastorates have been Hope Mennonite Church in Columbiana from January 1968 to August 1969; Peru Church of the Brethren in Peru, Ind., September 1983 to September 1986; Baltic Church of the Brethen, Baltic, Ohio, October 1986 to October 1988; Peru Church from October 1988 to April 1994; and and Mohican Church of the Brethren in West Salem from April 1994 to October 1995.

Mrs. Bartholomew has been a partner in her husband’s ministry; she has served as church secretary, pianist and in other roles.