May 22, 1991 Baltimore Sun: Pleasant Valley St. Matthew's Members Join Together On Pentecost

May 22, 1991 Baltimore Sun: Pleasant Valley St. Matthew's Members Join Together On Pentecost

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-05-22/news/9113005480_1_matthew-lutheran-union-church-matthew-united-church

Union Church Congregations Make It Official With Merger

St. Matthew's Members Join Together On Pentecost

May 22, 1991|By Amy L. Miller | Amy L. Miller, Staff writer

PLEASANT VALLEY — Two congregations sharing one building celebrated the birthday of the Christian church by merging to create one unified church.

Members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church transferred their names to the rolls of St. Matthew's United Church of Christ during a unification service on Sunday.

"Sunday the 19th was chosen because it's Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church," said the Rev. Charles Stanfield, pastor of St. Matthew's.

The two denominations of St. Matthew's had been a union church -- or congregations sharing the same building -- for more than 100 years, he said.

Although preparations for the formal merger began in January, members of both congregations had been considering the move for some years, said member Donna Geiman.

"The first time it shows up in the church notes is about 12 or 15 years ago, but the time wasn't right," she said. "Things have to come at the right time."

However, the idea came up for serious consideration when St. Matthew's Lutheran's minister -- the Rev. Paul A. Haack -- left the church to pastor the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Oxford, Pa.

The Rev. Adam Fisher pastored St. Matthew's Lutheran until the end of December. Read more: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-05-22/news/9113005480_1_matthew-lutheran-union-church-matthew-united-church

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