Dec. 3—Trinity United Church of Christ, 2449 Cumberland Ave., Mount Penn, will be celebrating its 125th anniversary on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. during a special worship service, with Holy Communion.
The Rev. William Worley, Conference Minister of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, will be the guest preacher. A string quartet as well as the Handbell and Senior choirs will provide music under the direction of Dr. Ina Slater Grapenthin. A luncheon will follow worship.
Trinity was founded in 1873 as part of a union Sunday school in what is now called the borough of Mount Penn. The first pastor was the Rev. Mabry Herbein. The actual birthday of Trinity was Dec. 7, 1897, when it was incorporated. The original church building was located at 24th Street and Cumberland Avenue.
As the Mount Penn, Lower Alsace Township and Exeter Township grew after World War II, Trinity needed more room for its ministries. In 1957, a new church school and office building was built at the current location.
For five years, members attended church school at the new building and walked up the steep hill to worship in the original church building. A new sanctuary and Fellowship Hall were constructed at the 25th Street and Cumberland Avenue site in 1962. The building campaign took place under the leadership of the Rev. Frederick Sterner.
In its 125 years of ministry, Trinity has been served by only four full-time pastors. Herbein served for 22 years, and Sterner served for 47 years. He was followed by the Rev. Dr. James D. Miller, who was pastor for 42 years. The Rev. Edith Gettis was a part-time pastor at Trinity during Miller's service.
The current pastor, the Rev. Debbie A. Derby, joined the staff as an associate pastor and was called as senior pastor following Miller's retirement. Derby is in her 39th year of ministry at Trinity.
Trinity was known for its children's and music ministries. In addition to children's programs for the church and community, Trinity provided childcare through Trinity Learning Center. Childcare was offered first at the church building and later moved to 705 Friedensburg Road when more space was needed. The center closed in 2007.
Trinity's music ministry flourished under the direction of Leroy Remp for over 10 years, Janet Miller for 25 years and now is led by Grapenthin.
Trinity's primary mission ministry is the In His Name Food Pantry. The ministry started many years ago with the church's coat racks being used for food donations. It now is located at the rear of the building at 705 Friedensburg Road in a facility that offers much more space for food that is used to feed those in need.