Conestoga Valley /townlively
JANUARY 27, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVII • NO 6
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN THIS ISSUE!
Pathways Program Helps Youths Deal With Loss BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER
Pastor Lester Zimmerman (front, left) passes leadership of Petra Church to new senior pastor Brian Coles (front, right).
Transitions - Petra Under New Leadership BY ANN MEAD ASH
n Jan. 3, Petra Church, 565 Airport Road, New Holland, held a special service during which a new senior pastor took on the mantle of leadership. After nearly 40 years helming the church, senior pastors Lester and Erma Zimmerman retired, and Brian Coles became the new lead pastor. Brian and his wife, Tracy, first joined the Petra ministerial staff as student ministries pastors in 2016. Tracy now serves as Petra’s local outreach pastor, and Lester will move into an expanded role providing leadership and oversight to the Hopewell Network of Churches to which Petra belongs. Noting Petra’s long history in New Holland, Brian, who grew up in Phoenixville, referred to the church’s initial service in a local
The couple served the independent church from 2008 until 2016. Gradually, Brian and Tracy felt God moving them in a new direction. “We both sensed it was time for us to transition from our previous church,” said Brian, who noted that the couple began the interview process, completing their assignment in Moorestown only a few days before beginning work at Petra. After relocating to Brownstown, they began overseeing the middle school and high school ministries at Petra, soon dividing the middle school program into sections for fifth and sixth grades and seventh and eighth grades and creating a young adult ministry. “The Lord was really blessing what we were doing, and we were growing and enjoying the community here,” said Brian, who added, “We fell in love with the area and the people of the church.” See Transitions pg 6
Winter Bible Study Series Announced BY ANN MEAD ASH
“I truly believe that my greatest joy in life, and my greatest responsibility, is to be the best wife and mom I can be,” said Annie Friedrichs, a member of the Change of Pace (COP) leadership team. COP is a seasonal Bible study program sponsored by Friendship Foundation, Inc. “COP has given us a great opportunity to come together and open God’s Word to gain the wisdom and understanding He offers,” continued Friedrichs.
See Pathways pg 6
Diane Kulas
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Police Departments Encourage Blood Donation . . . . . . . . .2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Club Honors Students From Three Schools . . . . .5 House Of Worship . . . . . . .7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .8
See Bible Study pg 2
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fire hall in January of 1983, which attracted between 50 and 80 people. The service was the beginning of a journey of growth and commitment. “The storyline of Petra is the story of a changing church,” said Brian. “They were changing, moving, and evolving for 38 years.” That openness to growth, Brian pointed out has resulted in a wellgrounded entity. “The interesting thing about Petra is that it is such a stable piece of the local community,” he noted. “It is an honor being involved in that.” Brian and Tracy, who is originally from the Williamsburg area, met while both were attending the University of Valley Forge located in Phoenixville. Brian earned a degree in pastoral counseling there, while Tracy’s degree is in elementary education. “Our first pastoral role was in Moorestown, N.J., at Maranatha Christian Fellowship,” said Brian.
Teens, if you are grieving the loss of a loved one and would like to meet with other young people who are going through the same thing, activities offered by the Coping Kids & Teens Program of the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss, the bereavement program for Hospice & Community Care, might be right for you. Coping Kids & Teens is run by children’s services counselor Diane Kulas. The program has been around for 25 years, so hundreds, if not thousands, of youths have been helped by its individual and group support offerings. “Being in a group and knowing there’s another kid who went through this makes them feel like they’re not alone,” Kulas explained. During the pandemic, Kulas and her staff members have been focusing on offering individual sessions via Zoom and over the phone. They have been meeting with children and teenagers after school and during the evenings. To combat Zoom fatigue, the professionals have
dropped off art materials and games for future sessions at clients’ homes. “The best way to get (young people) to talk is to engage them in something they enjoy,” Kulas remarked. The Family Support Series is a six-week program offered in fall, winter, and spring. Due to the pandemic, sessions are being held online. Families gather via Zoom, then break into age-specific groups.