October 31, 1979 Rev. Clair L. Wagner, Jr. Rev. Wagner plans varied church services Rev. Clair L. Wagner, Jr., pastor of Glossbrenner United Methodist Church, Mount Joy, is a native of Mount Joy. His father, Clair Wagner, Sr., was formerly the manager of the Joy Theater. As boy, however, Rev. Wagner did not attend Glossbrenner but St. Mark's United Methodist. Glossbrenner Church is the oldest Methodist church in northwestern Lancaster County. It can be called the mother church of other Methodist churches in the area: St. Mark’s, also in Mount Joy, St. Paul's in Elizabethtown, Salmoe in Columbia, and the church in Newtown. Rev. Wagner graduated from Mount Joy High School and then from Franklin and Marshall College. While a freshman at F&M Rev. Wagner decided to become a minister. After college he attended United Theological Semina- ry in Dayton, Ohio. Later, he attended Lancaster Thelogi- cal Seminary, from which he obtained the degree of Master of Sacred Theology. His master’s thesis was on the subject of junior high students as lay people in the church. He worked in the youth ministry for a time for the Evangelical United Brethren Church and travel- led in that work all over the United States. Rev. Wagner was ordain- ed to the ministry at Glossbrenner Church. His first pastorate was at Trinity in Denver where he remained for eight years before coming to Glossbren- ner in 1969. He is married to the former Lorrain. Kindig, and they have two sons, Bruce, a carpenter who works for Sherman and Walton, and Mark, a senior at DHS, who plans to major in music in college. All four members of the Wagner family sing in the chancel choir at Glossbrenner. Rev. Wagner tries to bring as much variety into worship as possible. He says, ‘‘To me one of the most exciting aspects of pastoral ministry is planning and leading worship, which requires a lot of very thoughtful planning. Be- cause no one type of service will appeal to everyone, our worship services are ex- tremely varied. ‘““We still have some services which are high liturgized, others where members of the congregat- ion will give testimonials. I find myself pretty much at home in any of the forms. “I really do find that worship today must include congregational participation -gven- in a day of television, when people come prepared to watch. “To me worship is bringing the cares and concerns of people to God. Worship is praise, but seeking guidance, and instruction too. ‘I do not hesitate after a sermon or in the midst of a sermon, to engage in a dialogue with the congregat- ion, “Our worship services follow a form, but within that form there is much variety. ‘For example, our music is varied in style, from classical to contemporary. We have a lot of young people in the choir.” Rev. Wagner says that Glossbrenner is ‘‘a com- munity church,”’ which ‘“‘is pretty well concentrated in Florin.”’ One third of the members of the church have been received into the church in the eleven years that Rev. Wagner has been pastor here. He is pleased not only with the growth in member- ship but by the increased giving “‘in terms of mission outreach.”” This giving to missions outside the church is all the more remarkable because it has occurred during a period when the church has been paying off a large debt incurred in building its new edifice. While payin off this large sum, the church has also been helping to support Meals on Wheels in Mount Joy, a Spanish congregation in Lancaster, the World Service Fund, a mission in Peru, and also a mission in southeastern Kentucky, the Redbird Mission with its own hospital, high school, and crafts market. For the future, Rev. Wagner sees evangelism as the greatest need. He points out that 93 percent of all new church members are brought in by the laity, not the clergy, of the churches. Only two to four per cent are brought in by the pastor. ‘Individual members in- vite their unchurched neigh- bors and co-workers to come to church with them,’’ says Rev. Wagner. This is the cutting edge of religion— people talking to other people about their life in Christ. ‘“A church member can say to his neighbor: ‘I go to church. I find my faith a meaningful part of my life. How about coming along? I want to share my life with you.’ It’s really the ongoing sharing of the Christian's faith with others that keeps the church vital. “George Gallup, the opinion poller recently asked people, ‘““Why have- n’t you become a member of a church? The most frequent answer he got was: ‘No one invited me.’ ““The role of the pastor is enabling people to bring other people into the church. People have to be reminded of this again and again and again. ‘We are a mission.’ ”’ The Glossbrenner Church sponsored a rice and tea luncheon after the church service one Sunday, to remind people that this all the food some people in the world get, if that. Those attending the luncheon contributed $850 to help the boat people. As their church building gets paid for, Rev. Wagner hopes that this kind of outreach by the Glossbren- ner Church will increase. He sees a serious challenge ahead for the church. The life-styles of people are changing radical- ly. People go away week- ends instead of attending church. Affluence has made it possible for people to do just about anything they want. Travel, sports events, shopping now compete with the church on Sundays. Rev. Wagner believes that the churches must somehow deal with these changing life-styles of people, which are weaken- ing the vitality of the churches. There are some real challenges ahead for the churches. Sauerkraut supper at Maytown Reformed The United Church Wo- men of Maytown Reformed Church will hold a sauer- kraut supper on Saturday, November 10th, from 3:00 to 6:00pm at the church, Revival at Green Tree Church of the Brethren There will be a revival at the West Green Tree Church of the Brethren, RD2 Mount Joy, on Nov. 4-11 at 7:30pm each night. The topics are: Sunday “Knowing God’ Monday ‘““The Bethlehem Connection’’ Tuesday *“The Church Of The Three Ships’’ St. John’s Episcopal to hold Holiday Bazaar The Guild of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Marietta, will hold a ‘‘Holiday Ba- zaar’’ in the social hall on Friday, Nov. 2nd, and on Saturday, Nov. 3rd. On Friday the benefit will take place between 9:00am and 8:00pm. Lunch will be served from 11:00am to SUSQUEHANNA TIMES—Page 7 located on West Elizaleth St., Maytown. The price of the tickets is $3.50 for adults and $1.75 for children under 12 years. Wednesday “Climbing The Mountain”’ Thursday ‘“When Someone Close To You Dies™’ Friday “*Quenching Thirst”’ Saturday ‘‘Marriage, Biblical Style’ Sunday [at 10:00am] ““The Man/Woman You Are Going To Meet’ Sunday “I Can’t Believe It”’ The public is invited. 1:00pm. Saturday hours will be 9:00am to noon. There will be a home made food WE CAN'T CURE YOU. BUT WE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER. Our disability insurance can help pay the bills while you're laid up. So all you have to worry about is getting back on your feet again. JACK TYNDALL 80S Church Street Mount Joy, PA Phone 653-5970 NATIONWIDE INSURANCE » Nationwide 1s on your side Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Nationwide Life Insurance Company Home Office: Columbus, Ohio sale on Saturday. Bazaar items will include stuffed animals, Santas, snowmen, ceramic trees, wreaths, afgans and pillows, and many other Christmas gifts and ornaments. Some of the items available at the bazaar
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