Guest speaker Robert Castellano from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was introduced by Executive Director Tammey Edkin. His topic was “My Brother’s Keeper,” which dealt with aspects of suicide prevention.

   The 2023 Board of Directors was approved, as was the budget and by-law revisions. An outline agenda for ongoing projects as well as newly presented plans for the greater Lycoming community were discussed and approved.

   Reports were given from the various ministries, including Rise Up Village Bakery, United Churches of Lycoming County Food Pantry, Church Women United of Lycoming County, Shepherd of the Streets, United Campus Ministry, and Institutional Ministries (including both prison services as well as weekly services at various nursing homes and hospitals), and results from the 12th Annual Golf Tournament.

   The 2023 Ecumenical Service Award was presented to Mrs. Julie Bittner (pictured), Chairperson of United Campus Ministry. Executive Director Edkin remarked that the recipient has repeatedly given her time and efforts to not only the youth in our community, but adults at Pennsylvania College of Technology. She volunteered and served with Relay for Life, library book sales, and ministry to nursing homes and three congregations throughout the year, including her home church of St. John-Newberry United Methodist Church. Edkin added that Bittner truly exemplifies the words of Jesus, “What you did for the least of these, you did for me.”

United Churches of Lycoming County