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M0UNT NEB0 METH0DIST CHURCH

Township, Lancaster County, Pa

"Churches of Today and Yesterday in Southern Lancaster County" by Fellowship of Solanco Churches, Raymond Dunlap, George Herbert, & Richard Yates , Sr. printed 1968

Mount Nebo is a small village of about 300 inhabitants, nestled down in the picturesque hills of Southern Lancaster County. The Methodist Church stands in the center of the village, and has been the heart of the community for many generations.

In August 26, 1816, a subscription list was completed and paid in full for a building to be made of stone, 24 by 28 feet or 25 by 30 feet, and was to be used for school or Church purposes whenever necessary. James Neel and Valentine Gardner floated the paper, and the money was paid to them; the amount ranged from $.50 to $5.00 or a total of $84.00. (This was almost twenty years before the common school law of Penna. became effective.) In 1817, Jacob Harnish, of Conestoga Twp. leased a lot to James Neel, Valentine Gardner, John Reed and William McCreary, for 99 years. The yearly rent was to be one peppercorn. This building was used as a school and a church for Methodist meetings until August 2, 1834, when ground was deeded by Jacob Harnish and his wife to Isaac Griest, John Miles, Isaac Wentz, John Owen and Robert Bruce, the first board of trustees. The cause of Methodism never had a warmer friend or stronger advocate than Isaac Griest. It was his intention to leave his property to the church at Mount Nebo; but he died in 1876 before his wife. However, she carried out his wishes, and at her death in 1879, the bulk of her possessions was given to the trustees of the church at Mount Nebo for the purpose of erecting__ a new church. Excavation for the new building was completed August, 1881, the corner stone was laid August 17, 1882, and the Church house dedicated to God on August 12, 1883. The bricks for the new church were hauled by oxen and horse teams from Marticville. If a man started very early in the day he could make two trips per day. The church was 55 feet long and 34 feet wide. Samuel Jones of Rawlinsville was contractor and the build-ing committee was John A. Alexander, the Reverend B. K. Hamble-ton and James Clark. In 1883, the official board consisted of John Crawford, President; James Clark, Secretary; John A. Alexander, treasurer; Frank Young, B. K. Hambleton, Rolandus Brubaker, Wil-liam Armstrong,!. N. Massey, and Samuel Alexander. The member-ship was forty-four. (I. N. Massey's funeral was the first held in the new church.)

The church was lighted by coal oil lamps, swept by broom, and heated by large potbelly stoves set toward the front on each side of the room. Coal was carried from the outside and ashes removed the same way. The sexton was paid $2.50 per month for the summer and $3.00 for the winter months.

In the early 1930's a basement was added. Of course, the older members were quite certain the church building would fall down, but the younger members persisted and succeeded in excavating and installing a basement. In 1948 stained glass windows were installed. In 1958 the membership was 190; the Sunday School enrollment was 299.

On May 22, 1960, ground breaking ceremonies were held for a new educational building, to be 30 feet 6 inches wide and 81 feet 6 inches long. It has five classrooms, a boiler room, storage room, two rest rooms, a kitchen and serving room, (which are used as class-rooms) on the ground floor. On the first floor there is a lobby, an office, three regular-sized classrooms and two extra large class rooms plus an addition to the auditorium. The building committee was Howard Jones, chairman; Lloyd Mack, treasurer; Ivan Sellers, secretary; Clyde Armstrong, Emerson Douts, Billy Farmer, Clarence Girvin, Edward Kauffman, Ray McCellan, Joseph Owen, and William Owen. At the end of the year 1967, the debt for the Educational Building was paid in full, new benches were bought for the audi-torium and new carpet and the parking lot was paved.

Today, in 1968, we have a substantial building, attractive and l'om-fortable. There is an average attendance of 250 for Sunday School, and the Church Service is always well attended. We have had a material growth, but spiritual growth has also taken place. We know this each Sunday morning when we see our parents bring their children to worship. Our hearts bow in humble gratitude, for we also know, "Except God build the house, they labor in vain that build it."

"May God make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love, fellowship, and the Father's care, and narrow enough to shut out envy, pride, and hate. May he make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to childhood weakness, or straying feet, but rugged enough and strong enough to turn back the tempter's power. May God make the door of this house the gateway to His eternal kingdom."

The pastor is the Reverend Robert S. Mussmon

The Worship Service 11:00 AM.

Sunday School 9: 00 AM.

Mount Nebo is one of three Churches of the Mount Nebo Circuit; the others are Rawlinsville and Bethesda. Our District Supertendant is the Rev. George Hipple; our present minister is the Rev. Robert Mussman who was preceded by the Rev. Willard Grace.

We give support to Miss Meredythe Scheflen and her mother, our missionaries in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

We also send support to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Rineer serving as missionaries in Kenya, Africa. Four members of our Church, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ashley, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Mack, are living in Breathett County Kentucky, working with the poor and underprivileged.

In the past four or five winters we have had Spiritual Life Con-ferences. The past two years the Church has offered Teachers Train-ing Classes, and in 1967 they concluded with a membership of twenty-five.

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