Local News

Glenmoor Church to mark 100th anniversary

GLENMOOR - Glenmoor Presbyterian Church may not be the oldest or largest church in the Tri-State area, but it does boast an active congregation and minister.

A dinner is planned to follow the 11 a.m. worship service Nov. 15. There will be displays containing history of the church and its activities through the years.

Glenmoor Presbyterian Church's beginnings date back to 1910, when the permission was granted by the East Liverpool Board of Education for the use of the building known as the old Croft School on Lisbon Street, near Westfield Road. This allowed the early church to have a Sabbath School. Nowadays, about 125 people make up the congregation, and the average attendance amounts to 90 churchgoers.

Worship services are held at 11 a.m. during fall, winter and spring and 10 a.m. during the summer months.

Rev. Dr. Vel Vais has served this church for over 20 years, having served churches in Illinois, Pennsylvania and now Ohio. He and his wife Cheryl live in the Calcutta area. They are blessed with three children and their families who are located in different parts of the country.

Architecturally, Glenmoor Presbyterian Church is a warm and homey church. One of the attributes is the wooden wainscot paneling on the bottom of the walls and plaster on top, with a large log cross in the choir loft. The beautiful stained-glass windows add character to the sanctuary. Although it's not a very large building, it has 20 pews and a choir loft, enough to accommodate the congregation, along with additional seating in an annex to the sanctuary.

Glenmoor Church boasts numerous opportunities for individuals to share their talents. The chancel choir, led by Holly Pickens, has about 13 members and blesses the congregation with an anthem and leads the congregation in song. Pianist Kathy White and organist Beith Weir provide accompaniment. Nancy Parsons directs a bell choir, who will be presenting several selections at the anniversary worship service. Children are invited to the front pew for a children's message during the service and then proceed to a special program while adults enjoy the remainder of the service. Nursery services are available for the youngest attendees.

The church also focuses on outreach in the community. Helping Hands provides lunches and some additional food items to people who drive through on the last Tuesday of the month, yearlong. This outreach began in 2005, fulfilling the vision of Cindy Blythe and is now under the direction of Dan Williams, with about a dozen people helping each month. Candy Miles worked to oversee the packing of 162 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for Samaritan's purse, which will help spread the gospel throughout the world.

Each summer the church hosts Vacation Bible School, offering a week-long summer evening program. Through Bible stories, songs, games, skits, science experiments and memory verses, the children learn about the love and care Jesus shows us. There is no cost for a child to attend. About 25 people of the church come together to staff the week.

The church has a strong mission focus, dedicating 10% of its budget to spreading the gospel, local, national and worldwide.

Individuals in the Under Shepherd Prayer group commit to praying daily for individuals and a Prayer Chain is activated when a specific need arises.

Sunday School classes are available for all age groups and meet at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings. In December, the Sunday School children will present a program, to share about the birth of Jesus, with children singing and playing bells, directed by Robin Theiss.

A United Presbyterian congregation was organized Jan. 1, 1924, and was incorporated on July 7, 1926 with incorporation paperwork filed Nov. 18, 1926 as the Glenmoor United Presbyterian Church. About 24 families were represented as charter members.

The present building, located at 16410 state Route 267 (Lisbon Street), was erected in 1926-1927 and dedicated on July 31, 1927. Both loan and mission funds from the United Presbyterian Church of North America provided money to construct and maintain the new church.

Mission funds were used until July 1942 when the church became self-supporting. The mortgage was paid off in 1943, and there was a mortgage burning ceremony. Sometime during the late 1940s, the adult Sunday School class raised the funds to build an addition to the back of the church which provided restrooms on the lower floor and a new classroom on the sanctuary level, which is now the pastor's office.

Later, the present annex, which provides space for three classrooms on each floor, was added at a cost of $15,000. It was dedicated in 1954, and the mortgage was paid off in 1962. The sanctuary underwent major remodeling in 1980 at a cost of $20,000 with most of the labor being donated by members of the congregation.

Similarly, the fellowship hall/classrooms, kitchen and restrooms downstairs underwent major remodeling in 1985. At that time, two new furnaces replaced the older, less efficient heating system. The church purchased a set of Schulmerich hand bells in 1988. Money was raised through donations in memory of loved ones.

In 2008, a new addition was completed at the back of the church with an elevator, church office and a handicap accessible washroom. At a cost of over $100,00, there was NO loan taken to complete the work. In 2013, adjacent property was purchased, and a pavilion was built. A new brick sign, which is lighted, was erected, paid for by a congregation family in memory of a loved one who was a life long faithful member of the church.

In October 2015, the church officially became a member of the denomination: Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO).

The church continues to maintain and make improvements to its building and grounds. And last year purchased a life size nativity at a cost of about $12,000. It will soon be displayed in the pavilion for all to see.