e * PAGE EIGHT know your neighbor The Rev. William C. Bispels A birthday party for Jesus! After all, that is what Christmas is all about! And the children at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in - Shavertown are probably more aware of it now after approxi- mately 75 youngsters attended the birthday party at the early Christmas Eve service at St. Paul's. The birthday party for Christ is just one of the many innova- tions introduced at St. Paul’s since the Rev. William C. Bispels became pastor in July 1968. Many programs for young people have been started and ‘the younger generation has become quite active in church activities. Many help with repair work and redecorating, and several have made items which are displayed during church services. They also perform various duties during services and at other times. The Rev. Bispels, like a few other clergymen in the area, is also involved in community “affairs and is one of the forerun- ners of the FISH Organization which has provided various in- valuable services to members of the Back Mountain com- munity. Pastor Bispels is already well-known throughout the area. He came to the Back Mountain area ater he was ordained in May 2, 1968. He at- tended Temple University from 1961 to 1965 and majored in English and psychology and so- cialogy as minor courses of study. He enrolled in the Lutheran Seminary at Philadel- phia in 1965 where he became president of his class, an office he held for the three years he studied there. He worked at many jobs during his spare time, including work as a sur- veyor and gas station mechanic and attendant; work in a funeral parlor; shoveling snow, selling ice cream, doing home repairs, cutting grass, etc. His wife, Judy, worked as a nurse on a 3-11 p.m. shift while he The Dallas Post (Scott Saffian) His Day Candy canes, popcorn balls and lots of toys, This is a happy time for girls and boys. Stockings to hang up and trees to trim, But lets not forget that Christmas is For Him. attended school and they were together only on weekends. The pastor met Judy while she was a student in the Phila- delphia Nursing School and they were married in 1957. They have three children, Bill, now 11, Judiann 10, and Martin John, who was born in this area in September 1968. Rev. Bispels was born near Philadelphia in March 1936, the son of a laborer and truck driver, and spent his early childhood living in the city. His father, who had a great joy for life, died in his 30’s of a heart attack. His mother, rather old- fashioned, proper and kind, was shattered by the death of her husband, and died after several lonely, unhappy years. William Bispels grew up in a home for boys where he learned to be selfreliant. He later became a surveyor and then worked as a rodman- chainman, transitman, corps leader. He had Army Reserve training in demolitions, and was a transportation sergeant in an Armor Reconnaissance Squadron. Experiences and unanswered questions after the death of his father in 1944, led Pastor " Bispels to find answers and an understanding of life in the life, teachings, death and resurrec- tion of Jesus Christ. The kind of life, people, experiences he had along the way convinced him of the necessity to find others like him and to help them find the kind of joy and peace he now has. He found it a struggle to accept the church as it is, compared to the church as God means it to be—not a building, but as a people of God, people who know their own need for God’s help; a meeting place for real people to learn, to cele- brate, and to express the great news of God’s concern for others. St.” Paul’s membership has been increased by over 100 The Rev. William C. Bispels in his study in the church at St. Paul’s in Shavertown. adults and 100 children since he became pastor. Many parish- ioners feel that the interest of young people in the church has grown tremendously through the programs and activities, and through his deep under- standing of the young and young at heart. When asked about his hopes for St. Paul’s, Pastor Bispels said that he hopes to see it become a place in which, and from which, may take place deepened understanding of God’s Word, more joyous and meaningful worship and con- gregational life, and more ef- fective and increased expres- sion of God’s will. He hopes the people of St. Paul’s become truly a people of God, sharing in each other’s joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, concerns and expectations. He said, “I see the Church of the future deepening and broad- ening its ministry. Deepening in that worship and educational opportunities more truly meet and reflect the deeper needs of people for honesty and open- ness, support and love. There is a growing rediscovery of God’s innonence, his presence in people around us and in our- selves. The Church must provide opportunities in its acti- vities for this rediscovery. “The ministry of the Church is broadening in that the Church of the past was the building on the corner where people came on Sunday morning. The Church of the future must reach out to those who no longer find a Sunday morning appointment very relevant nor reverent; it must reach out to people where they are to help them find God in all of life.” Joyous ; New Year emp . : si At Santa’s Work Shop J At Santa’s workshop each little elf, Is busy all by himself. But Santa is busy too, He has lots of things to do. Every elf makes a toy For each little girl and boy. Each toy will be wrapped very gay, To make each child happy on Christmas Day. Yes Christmas is the birthday of Christ our King, Remember that and you will enjoy everything. So when you wake up on Christmas morn, Don’t forget that this is the day ‘He was born. Billy Martin Lake-Grade 5 Susan G. Conaway Lehman—Grade 2C I saw a star shine in the sky and then I knew the reason why Baby Jesus was born in the hay Is why we celebrate Christmaf day. On Christmas all children should have A day that is happy, joyful and glad I hope I get a lot of toys None for girls but lots for boys. Donnie Sutton Lehman—Grade 2 AN AWFUL LOT OF HYPOCRITES GO TO OUR CHURCH! People who could be a lot better; people who have a lot to learn. But then, that’s who the Church is for! Care to join us? ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN SHAVERTOWN THE DALLAS POST, DEC. 29, 1970 THE DALLAS POST - Rutherford L. Cooper JOSEPH A. BEDNAR A retired banker and resident of E. 42nd St., Idetown, Joseph A. Bedner died at the Veterans Administration Hospital * Dec. 22. Born in Philadelphia April 23, 1894, Mr. Bednar lived in Wyoming Valley most of his life and made his home in the Back Mountain community 35 years. ie had been active in banking, first as assistant cashier with the former Luzerne County Na- tional Bank and the former Heights Deposit Bank. A gradu- ate of Wyoming Seminary and the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Bedner was appointed by Gov. Gifford Pinchot as a re- ceiver for five banks closed during the depression. He was a representative ‘with Chase, Harris, Forbes Invest- ment Bankers, New York City, and from 1950 to 1966 he was af- filiated with the State auditor general’s department. Mr. Bedner retired in 1966. Surviving are his widow, the former Sarah M. Robinson; son, Robert R., Greenwich, Conn.; sisters, Mrs. Leonard Mark- ford, Upper Darby; Mrs. An- drew France, Wenatchee, Wash.; brothers, Andrew, Rivervale, N.J.; Albert L., Marblehead, Mass. ; two grand- children. The funeral was held Saturday from the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Shavertown. Interment was in the family plot of the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dallas. RONALD DAILEY SR. Ronald Dailey Sr. 82, of Port- land, Ore., died Dec. 17 in Port- land. He was the father of Warren Dailey of Dallas. Mr. Dailey was born in Vernon and resided in Syra- cuse, N.Y., prior to moving to Portland three years ago. In addition to his son Warren, he is survived by his widow, Beatrice; daughters, Donna Chesbro, Ore.; Shirley Van Derhoff, Auburn, N.Y. and Geraldine, Miami, Fla.; sons, Andrew and Roland Jr., Ore.; brothers, Archie, Lake Como and Alvin, Largo, Fla.; a sister, Elizabeth Springer, Lake Como, and six grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Portland. All seven members of Lehman Cadette Girl Scout Troop 655 attained First Class status following impressive ceremonies held recently at the Lake-Lehman High School auditorium. Pictured above are Regina Husovsky, with guitar; second row from left to right: Karen Kasenchak, Susan Woodling, Denise Sherwood, Kyle Jones, Jane Salansky, Sharon Carkhuff, Ann San Fanandre. Third row: Mrs. Rutherford Cooper, Mrs. Robert FE. Sherwood, Mrs. Marvin Carkhuff, Mrs. Charles Hensley. Obituaries KATHRYN ROEHM Kathryn Roehm, 65, of Dallas RD 4, Oak Hill, died Saturday morning in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. A member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shavertown, Mrs. Roehm was born in Brooklyn. She is survived by her husband, John; children, Mrs. Thomas Lynch, Dallas; Mrs. Francis Ecker, Durham, Conn.; brother, Robert Stolz, Long Island, and a sister, Mrs. William Palmer, Brooklyn; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. The funeral was held Monday from the Disque Funeral Home, Dallas, with the Rev. William Bispels, pastor of St. Paul’s, of- ficiating. Interment was in the Chapel Lawn Cemetery, Dallas. no mail service New Year’s Day The Dallas Post Office will be closed all day Jan. 1, New Year’s Day. There will be no delivery of mail on the city or rural routes, and no window or lockbox service. There will be service Jan. 2, 1971, and all treasury checks will be delivered on that day. HEART ATTACK VICTIM from PAGE ONE) Born in Nanticoke March 28, 1903, Mr. Watkins attended Nanticoke schools. He was a field investigator for the Occu- pational Disease Division, Commonwealth of Pennsylva- ! nia Bureau of Workmen’s Com- pensation. A member of the Shavertown United Methodist Church, he. had been employed previously at the Luzerne County Court- house. Mr. Watkins is survived by his widow, the former Leona Thomas; son, Alan G Watkins, Marlton, N.J.; three grand- children. The funeral will be held Wed- nesday from the Harold C. ’ Snowden Funeral Home, Shavertown, with the Rev. Robert D. Yost, pastor of the Shavertown United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Edge Hill Cemetery, West Nanticoke. Check for new listing before calling The Dallas Post. 675-5211 YP P : R RIN Px THE Al GS WITH EXCITEMENT AT THE i OF ANEW YEAR. MAY THE DAYS AHEAD HOLD PEACE AND HAPPINESS FOR ALL. Disque Funeral Home 672 Memorial Highway Dallas 675.3255