The Ministeriums of Lycoming County
It has been said that the ecumenical movement forms one fabric. At every level, it seeks to help us discover the unity we have in Jesus Christ, and to find ways through which that unity may be expressed in common witness, service, and action. The eleven Ministeriums listed above are the channels for such ecumenical ministries in Lycoming County for their respective communities. Feel free to call their leaders when there are matters which should be brought to their attention.
Name | President/Contact Person | Meeting Time | Meeting Place |
---|---|---|---|
Williamsport City Ministerium | Rev. Ken Wagner-Pizza 570-322-0126 Trinity Episcopal Church 844 W 4th St., Williamsport PA 17701 trinityrector@comcast.net |
First Tuesdays 1:00 P.M. |
St. Marks Lutheran 142 Market St Wmspt. |
Hepburn Lycoming | Rev. Lou Gatti 570-220-9211 Church of the Nazarene 3200 Lycoming Creek Rd., Williamsport PA 17701 revlou.lg@gmail.com |
First Mondays September-June 8:30 A.M. |
Church of the Nazarene |
Jersey Shore | Rev. Charles Winkelman 570-398-1909 Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church cwinkelman@aol.com |
Second Thursday at Noon for lunch Sept – May |
Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital Board Room (off cafeteria) |
Montoursville | Rev. David Letscher 570-368-8933 Bethany Lutheran Church 369 Broad Street, Montoursville PA 17754 pastorbethanymalc@gmail.com |
Third Wednesday 11:30 A.M. |
Bethany Lutheran Church |
East Lycoming | Rev Robert Ingram 570- 549-2568 Moreland Baptist Church 118 Moreland Baptist Road, Muncy PA 17756 pastor@morelandbaptist.org |
Fourth Wednesday 8:00 A.M. |
Country Fork Restaurant |
Muncy | Rev. Arlene Beechert 570-546-8030 First United Methodist Church, Muncy 602 South Market Street, Muncy PA 17756 abeechert@susumc.org |
Fourth Thursday 10:00 A.M. |
Rotates |
Montgomery | Rev. James Pentz 570-244-8939 New Covenant Assembly of God 1270 Pinchtown Road, Montgomery PA 17752 Montgomery PA 17752 |
Third Tuesday 11:00 A.M. as announced |
Rotates |
South Williamsport | Rev. Mark Brumbach 570-326-0302 South Williamsport United Methodist Church 409 Main Street, South Williamsport 17702 revymark@comcast.net |
As announced | OIP South Williamsport |
Williamsport City Ministerium
- Rev. Ken Wagner-Pizza 570-322-0126
Trinity Episcopal Church
844 West Fourth Street
Williamsport PA 17701
trinityrector@comcast.net - First Tuesdays
1:00 P.M. - St. Marks Lutheran Church
142 Market Street
Williamsport PA 17701
Hepburn Lycoming
- Rev. Louis Gatti 570-220-9211
Calvary Church of the Nazarene
3200 Lycoming Creek Road
Williamsport PA 17701
revlou.lg@gmail.com - First Mondays
September – June
8:30 A.M. - Calvary Church of the Nazarene
Jersey Shore
- Rev. Charlie Winkelman 570-398-1909
Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church
cwinkelman@aol.com - Second Thursday at
Noon for lunch
September – May - Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital
Board Room (off cafeteria)
Montoursville
- Rev. David Letscher 570-368-3833
Bethany Lutheran Church
369 Broad Street
Montoursville PA 17754
pastorbethanynalc@gmail.com - Third Wednesday
11:30 A.M. - Bethany Lutheran Church
East Lycoming
- Rev Robert Ingram 570-546-2568
Moreland Baptist Church
118 Moreland Baptist Road
Muncy PA 17756
pastor@morelandbaptist.org - Third Wednesday
8:00 A.M. Country Fork Restaurant
Muncy
- Rev. Arlene Beechert 570-546-8030
First United Methodist Church
602 South Market Street
Muncy PA 17756
abeechert@susumc.org - Fourth Thursday
10:00 A.M. - Rotates
Montgomery
- Rev. James Pentz 570-244-8939
New Covenant Assembly of God
1270 Pinchtown Road
Montgomery PA 17752
newcovag@comcast.net - Third Tuesday
11:00 A.M. - Rotates as announced
South Williamsport
- Rev. Mark Brumbach 570-326-0302
South Williamsport United Methodist Church
409 Main Street
South Williamsport 17702
revymark@comcast.net - As announced
- OIP South Williamsport

Faith-Based Initiative Committee of the Heroin Task Force
Lycoming County’s Faith Community has been working to facilitate healing of spirit through the power of God’s love.
The opioid epidemic has affected the lives of people throughout the nation and Lycoming County is not exempt. In an effort to positively influence young minds to steer clear of harmful drugs a Sunday school program has been developed called Prevention Through Faith Intervention. It was part of Project Bald Eagle’s faith component.
In an effort to positively influence young minds to steer clear of harmful drugs the Prevention through Faith Intervention Series was developed. They were designed locally by a host of area pastors and drug prevention professionals coordinated by the Revs. John Manno and Gwen Bernstine.
Ten lessons cover the topics of acceptance, affirmation, appreciation, care, courage, creativity, hope, relief, safety and success. All of the lessons give kids reasons … to not get involved with drugs and alcohol. It gives them the strength to say, “I don’t need that, I’m already OK on my own.”
The program is not an effort to replace drug abuse education, but rather to back it up by teaching youth about self esteem, relaxation and natural highs. Each lesson takes scripture from the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testaments that relate to one another. Teachers will have questions to ask students about the objective of the stories and how it can relate to drugs.
These lessons, the prayer cards and the prayer walk scriptures are all available below at no charge. If you have questions or need more information please contact United Churches of Lycoming County.

9th Annual Golf Tournament for United Churches
Twenty eight foursomes enjoyed the day golfing in the United Churches 9th Annual Golf Tournament held on the White Deer Heritage Golf Course on Friday, September 27!
Each golfer received a gift (this year a beautiful duffel bag), breakfast goodies, snacks, grilled hot dogs, and beverages throughout the day. There was a delicious light lunch at the end of the day. Our generous sponsors make sure our golfers are well taken care of all day long, and we invite our golfers and faith community to thank them throughout the year.
Our sponsors help the golfers have a great day golfing, but most importantly they underwrite the ministries United Churches provides in our community throughout the year. Often when asking a sponsor for a donation we hear the response that we need to have the food pantry, the Shepherd of the Streets, the nursing home and prison services and the editorials and devotions available. They all give people hope and resources every day.
Our sponsors are very generous! There were fifteen major sponsors who donated between $200 and $1,000. Thirty one hole sponsors donated $100. Twenty sponsors donated other items like artwork, jewelry and other gift items for the day, with values this year between $70 and $400. Twenty four area restaurants provided gift cards that were used to make three beautiful gift baskets. I lost count of how many times golfers would tell me how amazed they were with the overwhelming support we have throughout the community.
Tournament winners were in two categories this year.
Flight Two – Coming in second place was a team from First Church of Christ Disciples, Williamsport; Dan Aichner, Diane Pysher, Jake Pysher, and Todd Pysher. Coming in first place was a team from Messiah Lutheran Church, South Williamsport; Ed Feinberg, Barry Grove, Mike Larson, and Paul Ulrich.
Flight One – Coming in second place was a team from Muncy Baptist Church; Dave Dunmire, Matt Dunmire, Bob Rice, and Bill Yeagle. Coming in first place was a team from St. John’s-Newberry United Methodist Church, Williamsport; Dan Brown, Keith Harvey, Howard Keiss, and Althea McBride.
Skill shot winners included: closest to the pin – Tim Kitchen, Vicki Fischer, Bob Walker, Sandy Bernan, Judy Mase and Josh Mensinger. Longest drive winners were Pat James and Cheryl Bergey.
United Churches Golf Committee works throughout the year to plan for this day. This year the committee included Rev. Gwen Bernstine, Chair, George Casella, Vicki Fischer, Jim Foran, Phyllis Girven, Patty Gohrs, Don Konkle, Bob Shimp and Yvonne Shenuski. The United Churches Board of Directors and Staff thank them and the volunteers as well as the White Deer staff. This was financially our most successful year to date, and with a few checks yet to come in we have a profit of over $12K.

Becoming Plastic Foam Free – Help is Available
We all want to be part of the solution our landfills and our earth need and become Plastic Foam Free! But it is hard to know how it will all work. You are not quite sure, in our world of new and untried products, which will be best for you.
Well, you are in luck! United Churches is now able to partner with interested congregations and small businesses to provide some replacement cups and clam-shell-to-go-containers at no cost to you.
Thanks to an UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) grant, United Churches is purchasing these materials. To apply to be part of this free program download this short application. Application for Plastic-Foam Free Materials
God calls us to be responsible stewards of creation. One of the most polluting substances we have in our communities is plastic foam. Plastic foam takes anywhere from decades to millennia to decompose, and it releases toxic chemicals as it breaks down. Unfortunately plastic foam is very common – our trash, landfills, streets, and even our beloved rivers and streams are filled with it. Such pollution sickens our natural world and breaks God’s heart.
Thank you for caring!