Living in God’s Amazing Grace

FISHERVILLE DAY- MAY 11

Messiah Lutheran Church, Faith U.M. Church, Fisherville Volunteer Fire Company, and Lake Tobias Wildlife Park are having a “Fisherville Day” celebration again on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 10 AM to 3:00 PM.

The opening session will begin at 10 am. This year’s honorees are Earl Deibler and Gary Kinsinger.  Cub Scout Pack 156 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Nancy Brody will give the Invocation.  Brad Crum will sing the National Anthem.  In addition to the Fisherville Day Honorees, two servicemen will be presented with a Quilt of Valor.  This year’s recipients are:  Dennis Dreibelbis and Robert Warfel.

Entertainment includes:  The Joyful Ringers Handbell Choir playing in Messiah’s Sanctuary from 11:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m.; Brad Crum performing from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. and from 1:15 PM-2:15 PM.  Following the Handbell Choir (weather permitting) there will be a tractor parade.  Jimbo the Clown will be walking around from 11:00-1:00.

There will be ham and bean soup and chicken corn soup in Messiah’s basement and hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, French fries, homemade baked goods and drinks available for purchase in the Fisherville Fire Hall.

A Fisherville Day book will be available for purchase.  It will include information on our 2024 Honorees and the recipients of the Quilts of Valor; Halifax Gazette from 1910 to 1936; Luther League publication that was mailed to the Fisherville servicemen in 1945; documents from the Sabbath School (now Messiah Lutheran Church); valentines from the 1930’s; information on the stained glass windows at Messiah; Fisherville news from 1935 to 1952; excerpts from the diary of Sara Meckley; advertisements from the past; and highlights of the 2023 Fisherville Day.

Messiah will have a yard sale at the church on Fisherville day.  NO CLOTHING OR ELECTRONICS will be accepted.  If you have other items that you would like to donate for the yard sale, please bring them to the church Monday, May 6 to Thursday, May 9.  We would ask that the items be ‘ready for sale’.  While all donations are appreciated, please do not bring any baby furniture (cribs, high chairs, mattresses, walkers, car seats, etc.).  State and Federal laws governing the safety of these items change regularly.  Also, there have been recalls of some of these items.   Items remaining after the yard sale will be taken to Goodwill Industries or another charity.  

If you would like to have a table to sell your items and keep the profits that is fine.   Craft vendors are also welcome to participate.  There would not be a charge to set up but we would ask that an item be donated for the raffle table.  Please contact Dianna Reed if you would like to have a table for your yard sale items or craft items.  

If you have pictures or stories from Fisherville from the 1800’s or early 1900’s that you would like to include in a future Fisherville Day book, please email them to reogden1954@gmail.com.  

If you have any questions, or you would like to help with the events, please contact Dianna Reed at 717-692-5317. Your support is much appreciated! 

175 Years…And Counting

The Celebration Begins!

Messiah Lutheran Church 1849 – 2024

The German Reformed and Lutheran Church of Fisherville was organized in 1848 on land donated by George Fisher, Esquire. Shortly afterwards, the sum of $1.00 was paid to Squire Fisher for the legal transaction and the cornerstone was laid on September 9, 1849.

Berrysburg pastors served the new Fisherville parish until 1855 when it became an independent pastorate. At that time, it also became a member of the Fisherville Charge of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dauphin County.

No records can be found to show when the church officially became known as Messiah Lutheran Church although reference to this name is given in several church council minutes of the 1870’s. The Reformed membership was not strong and eventually dwindled out by the late 1800’s.

More than 24 pastors and a number of supply ministers served the Messiah Church throughout the years. Recently William Krenz served the longest term from 1971-1993. Currently Pastor Nancy Brody serves the Messiah Lutheran Church.

The Messiah Lutheran Church Sunday School was originally known as the Fisherville Union Sabbath School and had a large membership for such a small country church. In addition to regular Sunday School, German Bible classes were also taught for the German speaking people of the area.

With an ever-growing church school, a new Education Center was completed in 1989, consisting of a basement, two levels of classrooms and a pastor’s study. All of the labor in constructing the new addition was done by members of the church, both young and old. It is this type of devotion and fellowship which first built the church in 1849 and it is this same fellowship which strengthens our faith today and tomorrow.

List of Pastors Serving Messiah:

Berrysburg Pastors 1848-1855

Rev. L. K. Secrist 1855-1858

Rev. John H. Davidson 1860-1862

Rev. M. Fernsler 1863-1866

Rev. J. G. Breininger 1867-1868

Rev. E. Daron 1869-1872

Rev. F. Aurand 1872-1874

Rev. S. S. Engle 1874-1875

Rev. Charles Hay 1876-1877

Rev. J. K. Bricker 1877-1879

Rev. A. B. Erhardt 1879-1884

Rev. M. V. Shatto 1884-1886

Rev. H. A. Letterman 1886-1890

Rev. J. M. Stover 1890-1894

Rev. H. H. Flick 1894-1897

Rev. J. Peters 1898-1902

Rev. S. A. Garnes 1902-1910

Rev. S. A. Zimbeck 1910-1912

Rev. J. F. Stabley 1912-1931

Rev. R. M. Wise 1932-1943

Rev. L. C. Mortensen 1943-1948

Rev. John L. Rine 1949-1954

Rev. Edward G. Brame 1954-1962

Rev. David Strasser 1962-1965

Supply Pastors 1965-1971

Rev. William Krenz 1971-1993

Supply Pastors 1993-1994

Rev. Jeffery Laeger-Hagemeister 1994-1998

Supply Pastors 1998-1999

Rev. Michael T. Petresky 1999-2018

Supply Pastors 2019-2020

Rev. Nancy Brody 2020-Present

 

Messiah Lutheran Church 1849 – 2024

A History of Giving

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”  Matthew 25:40

Messiah Lutheran Church is celebrating our 175th Anniversary in 2024, and throughout the years, Messiah has strived to share our Christian faith by serving others with support and contributions to many local organizations:

United Lutheran Seminary: God’s Half Acre

Valley Lighthouse in Lykens: Meals on Wheels

Halifax Ministerium: 40 Days of Giving

ELCA World Hunger: Noisy Offerings

Lutheran Disaster Relief: Pre-School Program

Communities That Care: Crop Walk

Halifax Area Ambulance & Rescue Association, Inc.

Release Time Education

Bethesda Mission: Buck-A-Chick

Community LifeTeam-EMS 

Halifax Fire Department 

Fisherville Volunteer Fire Department 

Upper Dauphin Human Services Center, Inc. in Lykens 

Halifax United Methodist Church-Food Ministry Program 

Carsonville Volunteer Fire Company 

Halifax Senior Center

Elizabethville Library 

Halifax Area Historical Society 

Cub Pack 156 

Isaiah 61 

Graceful Acres 

Christian Churches United 

Northern Dauphin Human Services 

Lutheran Camping Corporation (Camp Nawakwa) 

Sundays and Seasons (Lectionary)

Pastor’s Message

Welcome and thanks for visiting Messiah’s website. As you can see, the church is located in a beautiful rural setting just thirty minutes from Harrisburg. You’ll find the sanctuary and congregation steeped in local history. Check out a few of our videos, sermons and newsletters.

Better still, come visit in person. Btw, my name is Pastor Nancy Brody. I’m rather new to both Halifax and the ELCA Roster of Word and Sacrament, but not new at all to personal transformation, growing in spiritual depth, or caring for others.

Each week, I try to connect characters in scripture with current generations, believing that stories shared multiply our chances. Our chances of better understanding where we’ve come from and where we might go improve as we name common struggles. Worship services contain many features designed to treat, heal and nourish.

That’s the beauty of trying to live out the gospel in community. It is shared evolutionary work through a process of discipleship where people learn by practicing. We’re all on the same journey: to gain knowledge, wisdom, humility and a sense of holiness given to us by an opportunity to become church: a gathered body of folks who learn to trust God and each other with greater confidence.

We have overcome and still struggle, while striving to maintain a well-built faith community whose walls remain open and permeable. We continue to say with honesty that, “Through it all, God remains faithful, even when we do not.” 

You are welcome anytime, exactly as you are, for that is how God always receives visitors, family and friends. May God’s blessings visit you until then. Stop by, email, or call and leave a voice message, soon. We look forward to the God-given chance. PNB

Read my most recent sermon here!

Christian Education
9:00 AM

Sunday School classes available for all ages on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.

  • Elementary Program for children ages 2 years through 5th grade.
  • Teen Program for children in 6th grade through 12th grade.
  • Adult Classes

Worship Service
10:00 AM

Child Care available the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month for elementary age children and younger during the sermon.

Communion offered the first Sunday of each month.

Fellowship Brunch
11:00 AM (currently suspended; resuming this Fall)

3rd Sunday of each month.