TRANSFER

Activities begin with an anniversary worship service at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Alan McLarty, conference minister of Penn West Conference of the United Church of Christ, will bring the message. Rev. Douglas Garland, pastor, will lead the congregation in a rededication service.

Sunday school at 10:40 a.m. will be followed by a time of visiting. There also will be a display of historical material.

The congregation will have a catered dinner at 1 p.m. Lois Eastlick, an elder of St. Mark's United Church of Christ, New Hamburg; and the Rev. Steve Voelker, spiritual services director at St. Paul Homes, West Salem Township, and president of Lake Erie Association of the United Church of Christ, will offer greetings and congratulations.

Reservations are needed for the dinner. All other activities are open to the public.

The church began in 1853 when some Reformed and Lutheran members of Good Hope Church, southwest of Greenville, withdrew to start a congregation in a "more convenient" location at Rickerts Corners, east of Transfer. Organization was completed in 1854 under Rev. Frederick Wahl's leadership.

During the pastorate of Rev. David Lady, members of the Reformed congregation decided to have a place of worship in Transfer. At a congregational meeting Feb. 21, 1900, they voted to move. The Lutheran congregation was unwilling to move.

During the year, funds were solicited, a building committee appointed, land purchased and arrangements made for building stone. The new brick church on Church Street in Transfer was completed and ready for dedication June 8, 1902.

Rev. Lady returned from New Kensington to give the dedication sermon. Rev. O.H. Strunck of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., gave the financial address. Judge Miller of Mercer presented the afternoon address.

Zion's was part of the West Greenville (later the Shenango) Charge until 1909 when Zion's; St. Mark's, New Hamburg; and Jerusalem, Hickory, were constituted as the Pymatuning Charge. Jerusalem, Hickory, closed before 1920, however, Zion's and St. Mark's remain as the Pymatuning Charge today.

Although the congregation voted in 1914 to build a parsonage in Transfer, it was not until 1953 that this became a reality, replacing the parsonage across the street from St. Mark's in New Hamburg.

Friendship Mall was added in 1975.

Other items of interest:

The church's earliest English language service was held in June 1861.

The use of offering envelopes began in 1914 and individual Communion cups in 1916.

Until 1915, there was preaching only every other Sunday, sometimes in the afternoon.

Lighting was by oil lamps, then acetylene lamps and -- in 1930 -- electric lights.

The Rev. H.S. Garner was the first pastor, serving 1915 to 1919, to drive an automobile.