First Presbyterian Church of Berwick
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Hello everyone!
 
I thought it might be helpful for you to know something about me as I come to be with you as your pastor. The following is the abridged version; other bits and pieces will come out as we go along.
 
I was born in Bloomington, IL, to Douglas and Charlotte Engelhardt, both graduated with degrees in music. I’m the first of our siblings, stair-steps two years apart. Dad’s pursuit of opportunities and education led us to stops in Kearney, NE; Ames, IA; Mansfield, PA; Boston, MA; Rapid City, SD; and Morehead, Ky (where I went to college. They continued on to the University’s of Wyoming and Hawaii before retiring in Paducah, KY, near my brother. My dad died last December, Mom twelve years earlier.
 
I graduated from Morehead State and went to seminary at Asbury while serving a three-point United Methodist charge. My upbringing positioned me well for the itinerant UM system where I served several parishes and campus ministry settings at Morehead and Penn State, which brought me back to Pennsylvania. I’ve been here since 1984, including pastorates in Wellsboro and Pleasant Gap. In 1995, I came to Geisinger Medical Center as a student in the Clinical Pastoral Education program, where I remained until 2005.
 
I left the UMC in 1998 and joined the UCC in 1999. Diane and I were married that same year. We share five children: hers (Becky and Brian) and mine (Tim, Mica and Mary). She has worked in a variety of positions as a nurse at GMC.
 
My last parish was the Trinity Reformed UCC in Bloomsburg where I served for nearly ten years before retiring at the end of 2015. I continue to be active in the Penn Northeast Conference of the UCC, presently serving as Chairperson of the Search Committee to replace our retiring Conference Minister. My time on the Board of Directors ends this April.
 
I enjoy music and reading, am a bicycling enthusiast (rode 62 miles from Wellsboro to Jersey Shore last September), and am an active member of the Coalition for Social Equity (covering Columbia/Montour counties) as well as the River Poets.
 
It is a joy for me to join you as your part-time pastor for the next year. If I can be of service to you, please don’t hesitate to call, text or email – or stop and see me. I’m looking forward to helping you maximize your gifts as a congregation in ministry to Berwick and beyond.
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2021 Guest Pastor Schedule

January 24 John Polhill
February 21 Tracy Fetzer
March 21 Nancy Hardy
April 18 Sally Dries
May 16 John Polhill
June 20 Sally Dries

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office Hours

T-F: 9a-1p

Telephone

570-759-9461

ADDRESS

320 Market Street
​PO Box 325
Berwick Pennsylvania 

Email

berwickpresbyterian@gmail.com
  • Welcome
  • Come and Worship
  • Online Giving
  • Pastor
  • Blog
  • Youth
  • Salt+Light
  • Virtual Tour
  • Church History
  • Windows
  • Music
  • Weddings at First Pres.
  • Photos