Elizabethtown townlively.com
JANUARY 26, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Bible2School-Elizabethtown Seeks Students BY CATHY MOLITORIS
n a one-room schoolhouse at Rissers Mennonite Church, children are learning about the Word of God. Bible2SchoolElizabethtown offers weekly classes to second-graders who attend East High Street Elementary School and third-graders who attend Bear Creek School. “This is a restructured program
“The students bring their lunch and we pray, we sing and we do crafts,” said teacher Karen Olweiler, who is also secretary of the board. “We have a teacher who brings her guitar.” The second-grade curriculum focuses on the Old Testament, beginning with the story of Creation, while third-graders learn about the New Testament, including Jesus’ birth.
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that we just launched in October,” said Arlene Heistand, treasurer of Bible2School-Elizabethtown’s board. The church took over the program after a partnership with two other local churches dissolved. Students are bused from the elementary schools to Rissers Mennonite Church, 8360 Elizabethtown Road, for the program. No tax dollars are used to support Bible2School, and classes are held over the students’ lunch hour.
Night To Shine To Offer Prom Experience BY CATHY MOLITORIS
In 2014, the Tim Tebow Foundation began hosting Night to Shine, providing a prom night experience for people with special needs. At the time, Joell Ketcham’s son was graduating from high school. “He attended his school’s prom and the IU 13 prom, and I said to his aide, ‘We need to do something like this once people are out of school,’” Ketcham recalled. She reached out to the foundation and started the work to bring the program to Lancaster County. This year’s Night to Shine will be held in two parts. A ShineThru Parade will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at LCBC Manheim, 2392 Mount Joy Road, Manheim, followed by an at-home virtual experience on Friday, Feb. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. See Prom pg 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Veterans Honored In Elizabethtown . . . . . . . .2 GEARS Announces Upcoming Events . . . . . . .3 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Business Directory . . . . . .6 House Of Worship . . . . . . .8 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9
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Karen Olweiler leads a Bible2School class in Elizabethtown.
When Rissers took over hosting the classes, it was a natural fit, said Laura Landis, board president of Bible2School-Elizabethtown. “This schoolhouse has been here for quite a number of years,” she noted, adding that when the church renovated the space, the goal was to use the schoolhouse for special programs. “ When we heard about Bible2School, we thought, ‘Ah! This is finally a way to use the schoolhouse.’ We have been so blessed by this opportunity.” Landis recalled attending a Bible school during the school day as a child. “I remember getting on a bus that pulled up near the school and going for lessons,” she stated. “That’s where I first learned about Jesus, because I didn’t go to church.” That’s the goal of Bible2School, she said. “We want to reach children who don’t attend church,” she explained, noting that Bible2School statistics reveal 57% of participants do not have a home church. Olweiler said she hopes children will share what they learn in classes with their parents and caregivers while also increasing their own knowledge of the Bible. “This program is meant to inspire hope and to encourage students to see how special they are,” she remarked. “We want them to know that God made each of them to be special in their own way.” Classes also offer children an opportunity to learn overarching themes of Christianity, she said, adding, “It’s a way to teach students about the Bible and also to teach them about God’s love and how to love each other as well as how to forgive each other.” While Bible2School-Elizabethtown has been well received, Olweiler said there is room for more students. “We’d love to see this classroom full,” she stated. To register for classes, visit https://elizabethtown-pa.bible2school .com. For more information, contact Heistand at arleneheistand@ embarqmail.com or 717-653-4549.
VOL LXII • NO 50
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