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NANTICOKE — Several city churches came together to celebrate Pentecost with an ecumenical service on Sunday evening.

The churches involved included First United Methodist/Calvary UMC, Nanticoke Christian Fellowship, St. Faustina’s Roman Catholic Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and St. Luke’s United Church of Christ.

The 90-minute service had each church’s pastor speak for a few minutes, music from St. Faustina’s choir, a song from St. Luke’s parishioner Jaclyn Victor and a music concert to close the evening performed by some of the church pastors.

One parishioner who spoke for a few minutes was Lisa Moyer, of Nanticoke Christian Fellowship, who talked about how she was once in a dark place and at one point contemplated suicide.

The Shickshinny resident spoke to the parishioners about her past and how she was lifted out of the dark times through the help of her church.

She believes churches joining together for services and other events is something all churches should consider doing.

“I think it’s extremely important because too often there’s not unity among people and there’s division among people,” she said. “If we don’t come together for the greater good of unity, anywhere, it’s not as effective.”

This year marked the second time the churches gathered as one for the service, and over 180 people attended, which according to the Rev. Debra North, of St. John’s Lutheran Church, is about the same amount of people that attended last year.

North said the idea for the ecumenical effort came about a few years ago.

“A couple of years ago, I and one other person really had this vision of creating this clergy group and getting as many of the churches in the town involved,” she said. “We’ve now kind of accomplished that in the last couple of years with the pastors.”

The ecumenical service is not the only time of the year the local churches gather as one, as they also hold joint Thanksgiving services and services during the Week of Prayer in January, according to North.

The ecumenical service is primarily held in Patriot Square, but harsh weather forced them to move to the St. Faustina’s Roman Catholic Church Parish Center, which the James Nash, St. Faustina’s pastor, said was difficult to do at the last minute.

“It was hard,” he said. “We announced it at all of our churches, all of our sites and during all of our Masses today, and then we had to post on Facebook. We had to get the word out any way we could, but it seemed to work out.”

North said the combined ecumenical service will become an annual event and, hopefully, it be held on Patriot Square next year.

The combined efforts of the churches, she said, is something that will hopefully one day make a difference in the city and surrounding areas.

“It’s a sign of unity and it’s a sign that we are, not just as one church here, one church there and one church over here, but as the body of Christ at work in different ways in this city trying to make a difference,” said North.

Tammy Pegarella, of Mountain Top, right, and Mike Czajkowski, of Ashley, sing to ‘How Great Thou Art’ during the ecumenical service.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL051616EcumenicalService_2.jpg.optimal.jpgTammy Pegarella, of Mountain Top, right, and Mike Czajkowski, of Ashley, sing to ‘How Great Thou Art’ during the ecumenical service. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

The St. Faustina Parish Choir sings a hymn during an ecumenical service at the church’s parish center in Nanticoke on Sunday evening.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL051616EcumenicalService_3.jpg.optimal.jpgThe St. Faustina Parish Choir sings a hymn during an ecumenical service at the church’s parish center in Nanticoke on Sunday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Faithful gather at the St. Faustina Parish Center in Nanticoke for an Ecumenical Service on Sunday evening.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL051616EcumenicalService_4.jpg.optimal.jpgFaithful gather at the St. Faustina Parish Center in Nanticoke for an Ecumenical Service on Sunday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Bonnie Stackhouse, of Orangeville, waves a flag to the music of ‘The Here and Now Effect’ before an ecumenical service at St. Faustina Parish Center in Nanticoke on Sunday evening.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL051616EcumenicalService_1.jpg.optimal.jpgBonnie Stackhouse, of Orangeville, waves a flag to the music of ‘The Here and Now Effect’ before an ecumenical service at St. Faustina Parish Center in Nanticoke on Sunday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
Nanticoke congregations celebrate Pentecost with ecumenical service

By Jimmy Fisher

[email protected]

WHAT’S NEXT

The five churches that participated in Sunday’s ecumenical service — The Fist United Methodist/Calvary UMC, Nanticoke Christian Fellowship, St. Faustina’s Roman Catholic Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and St. Luke’s United Church of Christ — will combine for a prayer walk in August. The date was unavailable on Sunday.

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher.