With education fair, local Christian schools are organizing and uniting
BY JEFF FALK
Christian schools in Lancaster County have never really been competitors. Now they’re working together to align their missions and streamline their efforts.
The upcoming Christian Education Fair is an event that’s designed to draw strength from numbers, explore and promote the increasing popularity of Christian education and provide families with learning opportunities that are aligned with their beliefs and their children’s needs.
“It’s not that we were against each other; it’s we weren’t working together,” said Jill Armstrong, Lancaster County Christian School’s events and communication coordinator and one of the organizers of the event. “I just think there wasn’t an intentional collaboration. We can learn from each other. We can grow in different ways as we collaborate. We’re trying to find ways to work as one.”
The inaugural Christian Education Fair will be staged from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, at Lancaster Bible College’s Good Shepherd Chapel, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster. Representatives of a dozen Christian schools in Lancaster County - Anchor Christian Academy, Dayspring Christian Academy, Hinkletown Mennonite School, Kraybill Mennonite School, Lancaster County Christian School, Lancaster Mennonite School, Linville Hill Christian School, Lititz Area Mennonite School, Lititz Christian School, Mainstay Christian Academy, Mount Calvary Christian School and Veritas Academy - will be on hand to
provide information and answer questions.
Many of the Christian schools that will be represented are nondenominational private institutions designed for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Christian Education Fair will inform visitors about the schools’ curriculum, athletics, arts, extracurricular activities, transportation, tuition, financial aid and enrollment processes.
“I hope that it’s upbeat and there’s lively conversation. I hope the schools encourage people to ask questions. I hope there’s kind of like a family feel.”
“There’s no pressure, no commitment; just come and learn.”
“I hope that it’s unifying and energizing,” said Armstrong of the education fair’s atmosphere.
The event is free to attend, everyone is welcome and no registration is required.
“There are a lot of options out there, and it can be overwhelming,” said Armstrong. “I think there are families asking themselves, ‘Do I do Christian schools? Do I do public schools? Do I do homeschooling?’ I think you’ll see families with new kindergarten-age children. I think
you’ll see parents of students who are experiencing natural transitions, from elementary school to middle school, from middle school to high school. There’s no pressure, no commitment; just come and learn.”
Organizers of the Christian Education Fair sent out event invitations to 18 Christian schools in Lancaster County to participate.
“Enrollment in Christian schools is growing rapidly,” said Armstrong. “I think we offer something different that families are attracted to. Most Christian schools are places of community. We want to showcase our uniqueness. But what might be
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
For many families facing food insecurity, free lunches provided at school might be the only consistent meal their children receive on a daily basis. But when school isn’t in session on weekends, holiday breaks and summer vacations, children don’t have access to the cafeteria lunch menu, and many children won’t eat a filling meal until they return to class. That’s where Power Packs Project comes in.
Power Packs Project is a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate hunger in schools throughout Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Power Packs Project partners with local school districts such as Hempfield, Lampeter-Strasburg, Penn Manor, Donegal, Warwick, Columbia and Lancaster to provide students with a meal kit called a Power Pack. The kit is stuffed with healthy ingredients for an easy-tomake meal, as well as fresh produce and a few snacks, and the Power Packs are distributed to food-insecure students to make sure they won’t go hungry over the weekend without access to free meals in the cafeteria. During the 2023-24 school year, Power Packs Project distributed approximately 440,000 pounds of food, and the Hempfield branch alone currently serves 200 families in the Hempfield School District every week.
Hempfield Power Packs sources most of its meal kit components from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, where it can procure food for a fraction of the price charged by grocery stores. But according to the Hempfield chapter’s
Students from (clockwise from top left) Mount Calvary Christian School, Lititz Area Mennonite School, Dayspring Christian Academy and Lancaster County Christian School showcase some of the activities offered at their schools.
Crafting for a cause
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
After watching a documentary on the lack of women’s rights worldwide, Audra Peifer was inspired to take action. In 2012, she founded Binding Love, a ministry that creates and sells handmade scarves to benefit Christian-based homes for girls in Thailand. Now, you can help support this impactful mission by attending a Binding Love workshop in Columbia.
The workshop will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at Kindred Collections, located at 452 Locust St., Columbia. A snow date is scheduled for the same time and place on Sunday, Jan. 19. Participants will have the opportunity to design their own scarf in a fun “make and take” event. Half of the cost of each scarf will be donated to homes for at-risk girls in Thailand. Fabric is provided for participants, who choose the pieces they’d like to use for their scarf, explained Doreen Impink, the Lan -
caster coordinator for Binding Love. The organization’s designer will guide people on how to lay out the scarf, and then a seamstress will sew it together. Any scarves not completed by the end of the workshop will be sewn off-site and available for pickup at Kindred Collections on Saturday, Jan. 25.
“The workshop held last January was very popular, and we received feedback that people enjoyed designing their own scarf,” Impink shared. “People enjoyed time with friends and using their own creativity.”
Each scarf is made from upcycled fabric, sourced from thrift stores or donated by individuals and organizations. “The workshop is a great way to spend time with friends and make a unique gift for yourself or someone else,” Impink remarked. “And you are supporting a great cause at the same time.”
Proceeds benefit two homes in Chiang Rai, Thailand - Eden House and House of Refuge - which provide shelter, education,
food and Bible teaching for girls ages 5 to 17. To date, Binding Love has raised more than $40,000, directly supporting hundreds of girls in need. None of the volunteers are paid for their work, including Peifer.
“The purchase of one scarf from the workshop will provide 18 meals for a girl at one of the homes in Thailand,” Impink said. “The purchase of two scarves will provide education for one girl for a whole month. The average daily wage of a Thai person is about $11, so our dollar goes far in Thailand.”
Impink noted that if someone is interested in
purchasing a scarf, but they can’t attend the workshop, there are now seven retail locations in Lancaster and Berks counties that sell premade scarves. The newest locations include Naturally Gifted by Jeri in Elizabethtown. Other Lancaster County locations include New Holland Coffee Co., Kindred Collections and Divine Consign in Manheim.
For the workshop, people are encouraged to preregister for a half-hour starting time slot to ensure a smooth flow of the day. To learn more about Binding Love and register for the workshop, visit www.bind inglove.org.
Science and engineering competition set
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Lancaster Country Day School (LCDS), 725 Hamilton Road, Lancaster, will host the next Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon. The event is a science and engineering research competition open to all students in grades seven through 12 in Pennsylvania.
LCDS will host the portion of the competition for students in Region 4, which is one of 12 regions across the state. Region 4 includes students from a range of school settings, from large schools to smaller schools and homeschool communities. Students receiving first-place awards at the regional competition will
qualify to participate in the state competition to be held at Penn State University in mid-May.
For the PJAS, students develop research plans in conjunction with adult sponsors, usually teachers; submit their plans; conduct research; and present their work via a slideshow to a panel of judges for feedback and scoring. Many students participate in both traditional science fair competitions and the PJAS.
LCDS hosted the PJAS last year, with more than 100 students from nine southcentral Pennsylvania counties participating in the regional competition. Nearly half of these students received an
invitation to participate at the three-day state competition at Penn State. Of those invited, three-quarters chose to attend the state event, which included staying in residence halls, eating in the dining halls, presenting their work in academic buildings, taking campus tours, and attending special events. At the 2024 event, the students achieved a number of first-place awards, perfect scores, and special awards.
In addition, students had opportunities to make new friends and have fun together. A total of 1,600 students were in attendance at the 2024 state competition.
Students interested in competing and their parents may visit www.pjas. net for more information. Online registration will close on Thursday, Jan. 9. Prospective teacher participants may contact regional director Jim Ringlein at ringleinj@pjas.org or regional treasurer Michelle Banks at banksm@pjas.org for more details.
A previous scarf-making workshop
Programs to feature
authors
Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) will offer Riverside Reads, a three-part speaker series featuring authors whose works celebrate the rich history and culture of the Susquehanna River. The programs will take place at the historic Zimmerman Center for Heritage, 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the talks will begin at 6:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Jan. 9, Brook Lenker will discuss his book “The Restorers.” The speaker on Friday, March 7, will be Joyce L. Kieffer, author of
“The Trees Remember” trilogy. On Friday, April 4, Michael Maloney will present “Rattlesnake Colonel: Thomas Cresap, An American Paradox.”
Each event will include a talk, a question-and-answer session, and an opportunity to connect with the author. Light refreshments will be served.
Tickets may be purchased at www.susqnha. org/events or at the door. For more information, contact Sophia Vayansky, program coordinator, at svayansky@susqnha.org or 717-449-5607.
Education
right for one family might not be right for another. We’re kind of on a mission together. I think all of the Christian schools would say similar things.”
Christian schools offer just one type of private education available to Lancaster County students. The origins of local Christian schools date back to the early 1900s, and their growth seems to be associated with periods of time when some became nondenominational.
“I think we are really privileged to live in a part of the world that has so many Christian schools,” said Armstrong. “I think the county has a lot of history of prioritizing Christian education, just
by the number of Christian schools that there are. Over the years, I’ve watched schools better articulate their missions. Christian education emphasizes a biblical worldview and studying the Word of God.”
For additional information about the Christian Education Fair, go to https://christianedfair. com.
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Art exhibits posted
The Lancaster County Art Association (LCAA), 149 Precision Ave., Strasburg, has posted two upcoming shows, which will run from Sunday, Jan. 12, through Thursday, Feb. 13. The exhibits will be open on Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
The Winter Membership Show will open with a reception on Jan. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. Awards will be presented at 2 p.m.
Featured will be works by LCAA members.
In the Steinmetz Gallery, the works of Dan Graziano will be showcased. Graziano is a nationally known, award-winning artist who has held several workshops at LCAA over the past few years. His next workshop will be on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22. His workshops tend to sell out quickly. For more information or to register, visit www.lcaaonline.org or call 717-687-7061.
Students of the Quarter receive recognition
Middle School’s
Centerville
eighth-grade Students of the Quarter were (from left) Declan Gaffney, Isla Wallover, Joshua Kuo, and Emily Brenneman.
at 9 A.M.
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Dance, donate or adopt at this concert series
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Looking for a purr-fect way to support a great cause? Get down on the dance floor and support Columbia Animal Shelter when the shelter hosts its 2025 concert series. Concerts will be held once a month beginning on Friday, Jan. 10, and concluding on Saturday, Dec. 13. “Each band is different and brings a unique sound and vibe to the event,” said Tammy Jalbert, executive director of the Columbia Animal Shelter. “In the warmer months, the concerts are held on the lawn at the shelter, 265 S. 10th St. in Columbia, and in the winter months, there is a warehouse directly across from the shelter where we hold them.”
12, Maxwell Project will present its unique blend of R&B, funk and soul. The band for the May 10 concert is still being determined, but Honeypump, a rock and dance cover band, will entertain on June 14. The Collinsville Discount Band will perform on July 12, followed by the Kracker Beez on Aug. 9. The Sept. 13 concert will feature the Jess Zimmerman Band. Salt Hill will perform on Oct. 11, and Three Hour Tour will entertain on Nov. 8. Get Petty will wrap up the series on Dec. 13. With the exception of the BluesFest, which will run from 5 to 10 p.m., all concerts will take place from 7 to 10 p.m.
“We hold events like this for a multitude of reasons,” Jalbert said. “A concert series provides an opportunity to raise funds in an enjoyable and engaging way. Hosting an event like this helps raise awareness about our shelter and its mission. It can attract people who might not be familiar with this fantastic shelter, allowing them to learn more about our work with animals and how they can contribute.”
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With the exception of the Jan. 10 concert, all performances will be held on Saturdays. Smilo & the Ghost will kick off the concert series on Jan. 10. The band plays hard-driving folk-rock. Feb. 8 will feature a BluesFest with entertainment from Deb Callahan, Mikey Junior, Blues on the Loose and The Nobles. On March 8, a Bad Company tribute band will perform. On April
The concert series also fosters a sense of community, she said. “It brings people together for a shared cause, making them feel more connected to our shelter and each other,” she explained. “This is especially important for shelters that rely on community support and involvement.
We also use events like these to promote our animals available for adoption, hear success stories and even be inspired to adopt or volunteer. The concert gives people an opportunity to enjoy music, relax and have fun while supporting a meaningful cause.”
Proceeds from the concerts are used to provide care for the animals entrusted to the shelter until they are adopted. Proceeds also help to offset the cost of vaccines and supplies needed to run the shelter’s low-cost spay/neuter and wellness services.
“We are pleased to let everyone know we are offering low-cost dental services for your pets and will be working with the borough to provide self-service Check the Chip stations to help reunite lost pets with their owners,” Jalbert commented. “This way, Good Samaritans can scan lost pets any time of
day, every day, and help get them back home with their families without involving pet care professionals. By keeping these lost pets out of shelters in the first place, animal welfare organizations can focus on neglected or surrendered pets under their care.”
Jalbert invites everyone to come out and enjoy a concert, noting that entry is free except for the BluesFest, but there is a suggested donation amount. Food and drink will also be available for purchase at the shelter during each concert.
“People can expect a great time for the entire family while supporting a great cause,” she said.
For the outdoor concerts, people should bring their own chairs. For the indoor concerts, tables and chairs are provided.
For more information on the concert series or the shelter, visit https://columbia animalshelter.com.
Recognizing brake issues
Drivers play a vital role in vehicle maintenance. Although diagnosing and fixing car problems is often best left to professionals, drivers who learn to recognize warning signs of various problems can prevent breakdowns and potentially costly repairs. Problems with the brake system are among the issues that drivers may learn to recognize.
Television shows and movies have lent credence to the notion that brake problems are marked by the sudden loss of a vehicle’s ability to stop. Although that can happen, warning signs of fading brake systems tend to be more subtle.
Certain noises are one of the signs that brakes may be failing. The most noticeable of these signs is a high-pitched squeal that occurs when drivers apply the brakes. Grinding sounds and noises like scratching and scraping also warrant a visit to a brake specialist.
Drivers may also notice an increase in the distance a vehicle travels before it stops after the brakes are applied. This issue may or may not require a brake replacement. In fact, it sometimes indicates that brake fluid levels are low, which can be remedied quickly and easily. However, an increase in stop -
ping distance is significant enough that it should be brought to the attention of a brake specialist immediately.
Another warning sign of brake problems is that the vehicle noticeably pulls to one side as it comes to a stop. This behavior indicates that one side of the brakes is malfunctioning while the other is working properly. Like other issues with brakes, this one requires immediate attention from a professional. Issues with brakes can be costly and dangerous, so it is important that drivers learn to recognize the warning signs of brake problems.
Proceeds from a concert series will benefit furry friends like these at Columbia Animal Shelter.
Buzz into beekeeping
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
“I believe there’s a lot of value in learning beekeeping through a hands-on experience where other students have your same level of interest and experience,” said Mark Gingrich, Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) certified Master Beekeeper.
With that in mind, Gingrich will hold a Beekeeper Training program in conjunction with the Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education.
The program will kick off on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and will meet monthly through Saturday, Oct. 11. All programs will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with the exception of the Oct. 11 session, which will begin at 7:30 a.m. The first three sessions will be held at the Hellam Township Municipal Building, 35 Walnut Springs Road, York, while the rest of the sessions will be held at the Horn Farm, 4945 Horn Road, York.
This is the 10th year Horn Farm has hosted the training, which began after Gingrich asked the farm about keeping bees there due to the diverse and plentiful plant life offered on the property.
“After a year, I was approached about teaching a class on small-scale beekeeping,” he recalled. “The program began in 2014 with a single student. It’s run successfully every year thereafter with the class size slowly increasing to 15.”
Offering the training program is a natural fit for the Horn Farm, said executive director Alexis Campbell.
“Beekeeping is a beneficial practice that boosts local ecosystems by supporting pollination and bee populations. It also offers sweet rewards such as honey, beeswax and pollen, which can fuel a small business or be used for personal consumption,” she shared. “As an educational organization focused on teaching regenerative practices that support sustainable living and a healthier ecosystem, we wanted to provide the opportunity for community members to learn the tradition of backyard beekeeping.”
As Gingrich explained, the Beekeeper Training program is designed as a two-year program with year
Participants in a previous Beekeeper Training class
one dedicated to new, firsttime beekeepers. “We start with the basics, biology, equipment and management,” he said. “Students take home a colony at the conclusion of the first season. The second year, they learn management techniques for sustainability and colony growth.”
Gingrich is the owner of Gingrich Apiaries in Dover, Pa., and he’s been keeping bees for about 25 years.
“We manage around 300 colonies for pollination, honey production and queen rearing,” he said.
“The operation produces an average of 450 mated queens annually sold across the U.S.” He serves as president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association and a founding member and co-chair for the Pennsylvania Queen
The Beekeeper Training program provides hands-on instruction.
Bee Improvement Project, among other groups.
He is also a longtime participant in numerous USDA-funded Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education grants focused on bee genetics.
“Beekeepers are important because they actively maintain healthy honeybee
colonies, which are crucial for pollinating crops and ensuring a stable food supply by transferring pollen between plants, allowing them to produce fruits and seeds,” he commented. “Without sufficient bee populations, many crops would struggle
See Beekeeping pg 6
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BREAKOUT MINISTRIES: Senior Pastors Ron & Mary Buch; Sundays at 10am. Contemporary worship & messages of freedom, healing, deliverance and discipleship. Children’s ministry includes nursery through Sr. High. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 7-8pm; Check our web site for scheduled home bible studies.; JA Jesus based recovery meeting Saturday 7-8:30p. Men and Women groups meet monthly. Family Fun Night bi-monthly 6:30-9:00, Jr. and Sr. High youth group meets alternating months. Local and International outreaches. Web site: www.breakoutministries.org or Call for details. 2400 Anita Court, Leola, PA 17540. Ph.: (717)656-8366
CHIQUES METHODIST CHURCH: 1215 E. Main St., Mount Joy. Doug Paglia, Pastor. Worship Service at 9-10 am Children’s Sunday School: 9-10 am. Refreshments & Fellowship: 10-10:30 am. Adult Sunday School at 10:30-11:30 am. Nursery Provided, Handicapped Accessible. For more information, call: 717-653-5175.
CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES: “Inclusive Refuge – Compassionate Justice –Environmental Advocacy.” 1850 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, 17603. Rev. Kathryn Kuhn, Sr. Pastor. Sunday Worship: In-person at 10am (Combined Worship Service) followed by 11am Social Hour. Services also available by phone (888-440-0106) or online at www.apostlesucc.org
HABECKER MENNONITE CHURCH: A growing intercultural church that loves God, its neighbors and the world. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10 am. Located at 451 Habecker Church Rd., Lancaster, PA. Active youth group. All are Welcome! Website: habeckerchurch.com
ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH: A Reconciling in Christ (Open & Affirming Congregation). Located at 700 Pleasure Rd.Lancaster. Robin Fero, Pastor. In-person worship: Sat. 5 pm & Sun. 10 am. Online Worship at www.stmatthewelc.com For more info, call (717) 394-9607, or visit our web site.
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: 2340 State St., East Petersburg. Rev. Dr. Christopher Rankin, Pastor. Phone: (717) 569-1632. Sunday Schedule: 7:45 am Worship with Holy Communion; 9:00 am Sunday School for all ages; 10:00 am Koinonia (Fellowship Time); 10:30 am Worship (Holy Communion twice a month) Online service is available by visiting www.trinityeastpete.org “Catch the Vision, Share the Joy!””
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COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH: welcomes you to Love God, Love Others, and Reach Out with us! Join us for worship on Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, or 11:00 a.m. We’re located at 331 Anderson Ferry Road in Marietta (off Rt 441 on Rt 772). Learn more at cbcpa.org.
WAYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 600 Stony Battery Rd., Landisville (near Hempfield High School). Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Fritz, Pastor. Wayside offers two services: 9:00 am Traditional with choir, 10:00 Fellowship & 10:30 am Contemporary with band & Children’s Ministry. For more info, visit www.waysidepc.org or (717) 898-1551.
FAITH BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: 151 Donnerville Rd., Lancaster (one block south of Columbia Avenue). Pastor: Keith M. Long. 8:45 am Sunday School (with nursery and classes for children, youth and adults); 10:15 a.m. SundayWorship Service (with nursery and children’s church). Wed.: 6:30 p.m. AWANA Clubs (K6); Wed.: 6:30 pm Youth Group 717-285-1900. www.faithbfc.com
ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH/ LANDISVILLE: 85 East Brandt Blvd. 717-898-2911; adminzelc@comcast.net In-person worship at 9am. Live-stream link can be found at zionhempfield.net under the worship tab and on the Zion Lutheran Hempfield Facebook page. Adult Sunday School in-person at 10:15am. Pastor Timothy Seitz-Brown.
Please Note: Updates can be made to your church’s listing for 1st issue date of each month only. (Changes must be submitted by the previous Wednesday.) For More Information On Church Listings And Rates, Call Justin at 717-492-2533
Professor to speak about avian conservation
The Lancaster County Bird Club (LCBC) will meet on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at the North Museum of Nature and Science, 400 College Ave., Lancaster.
Dan Ardia, professor of biology at Franklin & Marshall College, will present “Avian Conservation in an Urbanized Fragmented Landscape: Evolving Techniques and Developing Partnerships.”
Bird populations face increasing threats from rapid environmental change and human impacts on the landscape. Ardia’s talk will use Lancaster as a case study for how to study and conserve birds in a fragmented and urbanized landscape. Results from existing research will be combined with describing new approaches to monitor birds in Lancaster and beyond.
Beekeeping
to thrive, impacting our food security.”
Programs like the Beekeeper Training provide tangible ways for people to positively impact the environment, he said.
“Backyard beekeeping is a fascinating hobby that plays a significant role in supporting healthy honeybee populations,” Gingrich remarked. “As people increasingly seek sustainable lifestyles and food sources, beekeeping has grown in popularity. Having a beehive at home not only enhances your garden’s vitality, but also boosts plant pollination for
Ardia has been studying the effects of rapid environmental change on birds around the world and in Lancaster. He serves the ornithological community as the board chair of Avinet Research Supplies, and he is a past president of the Association of Field Ornithologists. He is also active in local conservation efforts as a member of the board of directors of Lancaster Conservancy and Pennsylvania Master Naturalist.
The meeting is free and open to the public. To learn more, call 717-856-3851 or 717-725-2717.
For more information about the Lancaster County Bird Club, visit www.lancaster birdclub.org, www.facebook .com/lancasterbirdclub, or www.instagram.com/ lancasterbirdclub.
from pg 5
maximum productivity.”
He encourages anyone with an interest to enroll in the training.
“A hands-on beekeeping class offers participants an interactive and practical introduction to the world of bees and hive management,” he said. “This type of class is ideal for beginners and hobbyists looking to gain foundational knowledge and experience under the guidance of an experienced beekeeper.”
For more information or to register for the training, visit https://hornfarmcenter .org/beekeeper-training.
Webinar to focus on invasive plants and insects
Penn State Extension will hold a live webinar, “Invasive Plants Drive Insect Invasion,” on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Andrew Liebhold will delve into the complex relationship between invasive plants and insects and discuss the critical role of reducing plant invasions to preserve forest health. Attendees will gain
insights into how managing plant invasions can help protect forests and the diverse life they support. There is a fee. Continuing education credits are available. Registration is required by visiting https://extension.psu.edu/ and searching for “Invasive Plants Drive Insect Invasion.”
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At
top of their voices, One
A-Chord singers praise God
BY JEFF FALK
Music is a gift from God. Singing is using that gift to worship God. Singing well is a way of glorifying Him.
One A-Chord Ministries shapes diversity into unity in the name of God, and the common denominator is music.
“I love being able to teach people and lead people in how to use their gifts,” said Amy Fennimore, who’s been the president of One A-Chord Ministries and the choir director for a dozen years. “I want to challenge them to be their best and give their best. I always tell (the singers) that God deserves their best. When we give our best, He is honored.”
One A-Chord Ministries is a nondenominational, seasonal community choir that seeks to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the community through song. The choir’s 100-plus members range in age from
20 to 90 and hail from all parts of Lancaster County and beyond.
One A-Chord Ministries is not affiliated with any one church, but its members represent 50 churches across the county. The group rehearses regularly at Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster.
“They are people who love the Lord and worship the Lord,” said Fennimore. “They are people who want to have an opportunity for group ministry within the choir. ... They have a heart to bless the community.”
“It’s a wonderful experience to work with a group of people and accomplish something,” Fennimore continued. “Music is art, and we’re doing it together. We strive to do it to the best of our ability. Our choir has really developed a sense of family. It’s more than just an activity. (The members) love each other and pray for each other.”
Each year, One A-Chord Ministries performs a hand-
Power Packs from
director, Amy Jordan, items such as peanut butter, canned fruit, pasta, rice and other meal staples items difficult to source from the food bank due to their cost or availability. In the same way Power Packs Project picks up the slack when children don’t have access to their school cafeteria, local community food drives step up to the plate to help the nonprofit find items that the food bank can’t provide. For the past five years, Mountville Elementary School has held an annual holiday food drive to encourage students and their families to donate food for Hempfield Power Packs. Every year,
pg 1
Power Packs provides the school with a list of specific items it is most in need of, which included canned soup, canned vegetables and peanut butter, as well as macaroni and cheese for the drive in December 2024. “We provide them with a list of specific needs because all families’ Power Packs should be the same, rather than having people bring anything from the pantry,” Jordan said. “The holiday food drive is super helpful for our program.”
In addition to Mountville Elementary School, organizations such as local lacrosse teams, baseball teams, Scouts BSA troops and Girl Scout troops have
ful of concerts during both the spring and fall/winter seasons. The community choir sings at churches, retirement communities and events to audiences that sometimes number more than 500 listeners.
Fennimore noted that music has been part of worship services for a long time.
“In today’s world, as contemporary worship has grown, I think it’s important to embrace the new and contemporary music and continue to honor the traditional,” said Fennimore.
“Music is a wonderful way to speak to the heart and soul in ways that words can’t. As the director, I try to incorporate different styles into the concerts. I am very aware that we have audiences made up of many different backgrounds.”
Fennimore acted upon an idea to have a community choir stage a concert even before One A-Chord Ministries officially became a nonprofit in 2013. The choir’s growth has simply
been a validation of that idea’s value.
“It came out of a desire of singers wanting to do more,” said Fennimore. “We got people to come (to the concerts), and it grew from there. I still have a lot of the singers who were with us back then. We’ve had a lot of members come and some go. Over the years, we’ve grown and matured musically. I’ve been able to challenge (the singers) more musically. Their music skills have grown over the years.”
“Another way we’ve grown is in our relationships,” she added. “We’ve had many opportunities to sing at many places. Our passion is a love for the Lord. We want to energize people to worship the Lord through the gift of music. It’s important for believers to come together, and music can be a catalyst to make that happen.”
For additional information about One A-Chord Ministries, go to www. oneachordministries.org.
held food drives for Power Packs in the past. Power Packs Project also relies on community fundraising to sustain its operation, which is run entirely by unpaid volunteers. With the rising cost of inflation and steadily increasing enrollment numbers, Hempfield Power Packs is counting on the community more than ever to join the fight against food insecurity.
“We’ve been active for 10 years, and our enrollment has increased each year.
To meet the growing demand in the community, Hempfield Power Packs is seeking volunteers to fill leadership roles and helm projects such as fundraising efforts, school district relations, meal packing operations and distribution procedures. Coordinators are needed for packing and distribution at the organization’s facility located at 6020 Lemon St., East Petersburg.
For more information about becoming a volunteer, email Jordan at teamjordan5@comcast.net or visit www.powerpacks project.org.
This is the highest number of families we’ve ever had,” Jordan said. “I think it speaks to the need within the community. It’s not cheap for anyone to (shop at) the grocery stores these days.”
Members of One A-Chord choir perform at a recent concert.