43
Joint Ash Wednesday service scheduled
congregations to commemorate Ash Wednesday together
By LINDA M. LINONIS
LIBERTY
A connection in faith and cordial relationship between congregations of First Presbyterian Church of Girard and Liberty Presbyterian Church has produced collaborative efforts over the years.
For Ash Wednesday, the two churches plan a joint service at 6:30 p.m. at Liberty Presbyterian, 1451 Church Hill-Hubbard Road. First Presbyterian has Girard in its name but is physically located in Liberty at 890 Church Hill Road.
The Rev. Debby Dockstader of First Presbyterian will preach, and Dr. John Robert “Bob” Loch of Liberty Presbyterian will conduct the service that will include the imposition of ashes. Liberty Presbyterian is handicapped accessible; all are invited to participate in the service that marks the beginning of Lent.
Pastor Dockstader, who has served at First Presbyterian for 18 years, said the two churches have met for a joint Bible study and other programs. She also has filled in at Liberty when it was without a pastor. Pastor Loch first came as a supply pastor and has served as pastor six months. He worked as director of continuing education at Youngstown State University for 30 years, retiring in 2005. He grew up in the Presbyterian church and is a ruling elder. He studied online through University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.
Though Pastor Loch is new to Liberty Presbyterian, he and Pastor Dockstader know each other through Eastminster Presbytery. “The relationship between the churches is a natural,” Pastor Dockstader said.
Pastor Dockstader said her message will ask a question about how many have kept New Year’s resolutions.
“Habits are hard to change. Little things are hard to change,” Pastor Dockstader said. “When we think of what we really need to change ... what hope do we have?”
She answered her own question with: “We have hope with God.”
“God steps in to help us,” she continued. “We can’t do this on our own.”
Pastor Loch said, “Lent focuses on Jesus and His disciples making their way to Jerusalem. For us, it is a time of self-examination and is about repentence that John the Baptist and Jesus preached.
“We have to repent to be part of the kingdom of God,” Pastor Loch said.
He continued that Holy or Passion Week provides an opportunity “to experience the story in new ways and invest ourselves.”
He and Pastor Dockstader said sometimes churchgoers become too familiar with Bible stories and Scripture. When this becomes rote, the message is lost. “Try to hear the story as if it’s the first time,” Pastor Loch said. “Try to make it new.”
Taking that approach, Pastor Loch added, remember that much
symbolism is used in the Bible and taking things too literally is a mistake. “Before, people understood the symbols but now many don’t,” he said.
“So many times, people read the passages and say the words but don’t really understand the meaning,” Pastor Dockstader said. “That goes to being creatures of habit,” Pastor Loch said.
The pastors said the Lenten journey provides the opportunity for reflection. The culmination on Easter Sunday and Christ’s resurrection “is the experience of the risen Lord,” said Pastor Dockstader. “It’s the living Lord who supports and cares for us 365 days a year and 24/7.”
At Liberty Presbyterian, a group gathers at 10 a.m. Fridays; Pastor Loch said it will focus on material appropriate for Lent.
Pastor Dockstader said First Presbyterian plans to have a new take on the Advent wreath and have a Lenten wreath. “We’ll start out with candles lighted and extinguish one a week until there is darkness. On Easter Sunday, they all will be lighted to show Christ as the light of the world.”