Published November 21, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by ELIZABETH EISENSTADT-EVANS

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - After I wrote my first of two columns on troubled clergy and what can be done to help keep congregations and clergy healthy ("A disturbing trend among our clergy," Nov. 7, Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era, Page B5), I realized how helpful it might be to have a clergyperson share his...

Published November 21, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by JOAN KERN

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - Linda Bingner has two jobs just two miles apart in New Holland.But one of them — organist at Trinity Lutheran Church, 221 E. Main St. — feels more like play."Even after 30 years, I think of it as a hobby," said Bingner, 48. "It's part of who I am. I can't imagine l...

Published November 21, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by JOAN KERN

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - Joanne Caras shared one of her favorite stories from her book, "Holocaust Survivor Cookbook."She summarized it this way:A husband and wife, who had been childhood sweethearts, were sent to separate concentration camps.They lost their parents, most of their brothers and sisters and their 3-...

Published November 14, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by JOAN KERN

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - The fractured economy hasn't derailed the annual fall pledge campaigns at many local churches.But in light of hard times, some pastors are preaching on pledging as sacrifice, faith over fear, solidarity with the suffering.The Rev. Timothy A. Mentzer's sermon topic on Pledge Sunday last month...

Published November 14, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by JOAN KERN

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - "A small unopened gift box with a bow."That's how one couple now thinks about the child they lost in a miscarriage.They heard the comforting metaphor last year at the Blue Christmas service at First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange St.First Presbyterian will once again offer comfort ...

Published November 7, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by JOAN KERN

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - Reamstown Church of God left a cozy village last month for a sprawling new $7.5 million hilltop home in the country.Founded 74 years ago, the full gospel, Pentecostal church moved two miles from its first home, at 57 E. Church St., to spacious new quarters with room to grow at 400 Pfautz Hill Road, ...

Published November 7, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by ELIZABETH EISENSTADT-EVANS

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - This is the first part of a two-part series on troubled clergy and what can be done to help keep congregations and clergy healthy.What's going on with our clergy?Once upon a time, they were regarded as role models.Serving at the altar, baptizing babies, delivering a sermon on a Torah portion, as...

Published November 7, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by DAVID O'CONNOR

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - It's a lot more "than just music and lyrics," the Rev. Antony Raja said, looking at a CD case sitting on the table in front of him.The 12-song, 90-minute "Lord, You Know I Love You" was recorded in Lancaster and Chennai, India.And it relied on no fewer than 47 singers, musici...

Published October 31, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by JOAN KERN

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - Sister Maruca Cipriano has a dream that one day the world will be free of war.The Catholic sister, who grew up in a poor Mayan family of migrant workers in Guatemala, knows firsthand about the horrors of war.During a brutal civil war from 1960 to 1996 between the military and guerrillas in the Centr...

Published October 31, 2009, 12:01 AM EST

by RON OROZCO

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This is a busy time for Wiccans as they observe the pagan New Year.Today is Samhain (pronounced sow-in), the celebration of endings and beginnings and of remembering the dead. Pagans believe it's the time when the veil between the worlds of the living and dead becomes ...