WITNESSED ( Seen and Heard, July 2010)

　
Christin Helwig, a freshman biology major and daughter of Daniel and Kymberly Helwig (all friends of the church) was named to the dean's list @ Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa. Christin and her family have been worshiping at Donegal for about the past 1-1/2 years.

Congratulations to Gregory Vanek and Debra Jean Setnar who were married here at Donegal Church. They will reside in Hummelstown.

It was a weather-perfect day for the Donegal Reunion – and a delight to have good attendance, many of our former members returning, and a large number of persons from our county DAR chapters. At an earlier period, the DAR for many years would have one segment of the program. That was when there were morning, afternoon, and evening programs interspersed with meals. We can’t help but wonder how they (mostly the women) could provide all that food, mainly with no refrigeration or dish-washing facilities.

Probably for the first time ever, the reunion featured no speaker. Instead we were entertained with Scots-Irish music by violinist Liz Mallin and Ireland native Brendan Power, who indeed had a powerful but pleasant voice.

One of the continuing customs, so very much appreciated, is the spectacular flower arrangements everywhere, done by Donegal church women. Those in the large pewter pitchers (gift of Al Withers mother, Jean) placed on either side of the pulpit, were particularly striking. Donegal’s flowers are always extremely important to a special friend of Donegal, Wayne Lefever. He attends every year and photographs them all (very professionally) and has accumulated a large number of albums over the years.

Lunch this year, as last year also, was served at the Cameron Estate Inn’s spacious reception area. It is a lovely place and the hot lunch was very tasty. Best of all it was topped off with Montgomery pie. The pies were all made in our church kitchen by Althea Johnson and Portia Brian and were pronounced excellent.

Donegal members should keep in mind that next year, 2011, will be not only the 100th anniversary of the organizing of the Donegal Society, but also the 290th year since our Donegal Church was founded and pastoral services were requested for the many Scots-Irish settlers who had come from North Ireland and Scotland in great numbers.

Those early Presbyterians were seeking the blessings of freedom and when there was oppression by Britain, the Scot’s–Irish were willing to fight for their liberty. It is said that every able-bodied man served in the military, seventeen as colonels. There are as many as forty Revolutionary soldiers buried in our graveyard, easily identified by the recent use of "Betsy Ross " flags for those graves.

Earlier in June, almost all our members participated whole-heartedly in Donegal’s first-ever "auction". The Outreach Team is to be congratulated on their very organized efforts in getting an abundance of worthwhile items to sell. We commend our younger members for their energy and ingenuity. Of special interest was the cane made from Witness Tree wood given by Don Betty. Competitive bidding brought the price up to $600 for which it was sold to a round of hearty applause. Another special sale was the automobile donated by Melissa Pennypacker and bought by her parents for budding young driver Annie Ritsch, who was a beaming and happy girl and we all were equally happy for her.

A very small group made the trip to see the Rocky Spring Church in Franklin County near Chambersburg. It is a larger building than Donegal and as noted before, the interior plan is exactly like ours was before the 1851 remodeling. There are high very narrow unpainted pews with doors inscribed with the names of those who rented them. An extremely high pulpit had a special place for the presentor who led the hymns, and a sounding board at ceiling height. Our large spring is a vital part of our site, but their spring was nearby but not visible from the church grounds. Their building and cemetery are kept in good repair by the DAR, but what is sad is the fact that it is no longer a living place of worship. How grateful we can be that Donegal escaped this fate by its wonderful recovery from the 1909 time of 15 members. We truly thank God for our beautiful site and a caring congregation.　

What good things have you seen or heard recently?

　

　

HATS OFF TO THE GRADUATES!

Kira Labagh just graduated from SUNY-Brockport (near Rochester) with a Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Education.

Jennifer Leap graduated from Muhlenberg College.

Meryl Arnold graduated from Hempfield High School and will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.

Billy Bayer graduated from Penn Manor High School and will attend Pennsylvania College of Technology. He will major in Civil Engineering.

Theta Cleis graduated from Elizabethtown Area High School and will attend HACC in the fall.

Ashley Foltz graduated from Elizabethtown Area High School and will attend Penn State Harrisburg, as undecided, and possibly changing to Secondary Science Education.

Kari Labagh graduated from Elizabethtown Area High School.

Corey Landis graduated from Elizabethtown Area High School and will attend the United States Air Force Academy. You can write him (until 9/7/10) at Basic Cadet Corey Landis, P O Box 1562, USAF Academy, CO 80841.

Jonas Nissley graduated from Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut and will attend Loyola University in Maryland this fall. At this time, his major undeclared but plans to minor in Music.