Annual Ascension Day service held at Old White Church
May 14—RINGTOWN — The annual worship service celebrating the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven returned Thursday to the Old White Church after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The traditional Ascension Day morning service drew about 50 people to the historic church between Ringtown and Brandonville in Union Township. The bright sun in the clear blue sky illuminated the interior to the maximum. The inside depends on outdoor light since it does not does have electricity, along with no plumbing.
The Rev. Craig Zimmerman, pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Ringtown and Mahanoy City, was the host minister this year.
"This year we have the privilege in being able to come back and worship here," Zimmerman said in his welcome. "I know technically we did not have our service, but I did some math and it is our 123rd Ascension Day service."
The church building is the oldest religious structure in Schuylkill County north of the Broad Mountain. A highway marker states that the building was erected 179 years ago in 1842 by Ringtown settlers and was formerly named St. Paul's Union Church. It replaced a log church building around 1810.
The current church, located in Union Township at Brandonville Road and Cemetery Hill Road, was completely restored in the 1990s and is maintained by the Lutheran and United Church of Christ (Reformed) churches of Ringtown. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 1995.
"This church is incredible," Zimmerman said. "Every time I come here, and I've mentioned it before, where you are sitting are also places where your forefathers sat in those seats. It's a beautiful tradition that a lot of churches no longer celebrate. The Ascension is a very important time."
Zimmerman said that people can get the chance to tour the small church during an open house from noon to 2 p.m. May 30 and from 10 a.m. to noon May 31.
The service began as the Rev. Joseph "Jay" Serafin, pastor of St. John's Lutheran churches in Ringtown and Brandonville, walked into the sanctuary to light the liturgical candles while Zimmerman played the antique pump organ. The Scripture lessons, including the Gospel reading according to St. Luke, were read by Pastor Julian Milewski of Aurand Memorial United Methodist Church in Ringtown.
The "guest speaker of the day" was the Rev. Michael C. Klahr, pastor at Christ Church and Friedens United Church of Christ, both in Hegins. He serves in the Schuylkill Association UCC Committee on Ministry. Klahr and his wife, Lucinda, live in North Lebanon Township in Lebanon County and have three adult children and four grandchildren.
"This is a sacred place and we are God's sacred people," Klahr said as he spoke from the elevated pulpit between the two large windows. "Ascension Day does not receive as much attention these days as it once did. The day Jesus came is called Christmas, and we give that day a lot of attention. Jesus was crucified and then rose from death. The day that he arose is called Easter, and it gets much attention, too. The day that Jesus returned to Heaven — not so much attention. It goes unnoticed in our culture."
Klahr spoke of the 40 days after the Resurrection when Jesus spent time with the Apostles and taught them in preparation for his Ascension. When he ascended, everyone watched him leave, but they still kept looking and looking after he was long out of sight. Klahr supposed that they were thinking of the good old days when they were with Jesus and maybe wanted to return to these days. The two men in white spoke to the Apostles why they were still looking up.
"We have that tendency to stay in the past and look back," Klahr said. "Possibly paraphrasing the two men, they may be saying, 'What are you looking up here for? You're looking in the wrong direction. You've got your heads in the clouds. Look the other way. Look with God at the world and see where God needs you."
Due to some pandemic restrictions, the potluck fellowship after the service was not held.
The church is maintained through private contributions. The website is theoldwhitechurch.com.
Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023
