Chuck, Debbie, Sara and Danny came to us from Saranac Lake, New York, and have been with us since July, 2004. Sara and Dan are now 8th and 7th graders, respectively. They both play soccer. Sara plays the piano and Dan the trumpet. Sara loves reading, writing poetry, harvesting apples and turning them into applesauce, dried fruit chips, and apple desserts. Danny loves most sports, especially NASCAR of late, though he did read the final Harry Potter book, all 750 pages, in 6 days, because he didn’t want his friends to ruin the ending for him.

Deb is an RN who currently works as Nurse Coordinator for the local Head Start Program based in Altoona. Before this position, she served as a nurse to pregnant teens and teen moms in schools in several counties. Deb grew up in Quakertown, PA, where her family still resides. Deb enjoys various forms of exercise, cooking, planning creative outings for her family, gardening, reading and helping out in the JAM Sessions youth ministry program on Wednesday evenings at church.

Chuck grew up outside of Philadelphia in Glenside, PA. His parents and the families of his sister and brother still live in that area. Chuck’s other sister and her husband live in Wyoming. Chuck loves reading, keeping fit by running and playing tennis, and spending most down time with his family – playing 4 square, cards and other games, biking and going to Canoe Creek on hot summer days. He also enjoys harvesting black walnuts from the walnut trees in their yard.

Among the highlights of Chuck’s ministry since being ordained in 1989: getting to know, visit and care for members and friends of the churches he has served; worshiping God, focusing on the nature of God’s grace in Jesus Christ and Christ’s call to discipleship; leading youth groups and Sr. Hi. service/learning projects to places such as NYC, the US/Mexican border, San Francisco, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota; helping facilitate creative adult programming on Sundays and weekend retreats of refreshment and renewal for men, women and families; striving to serve and welcome neighbors and non-church members into the church’s life and ministry; being a steward of the time, talents and treasure God has given him.

When Chuck was an adolescent, his father was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Reedsville, just an hour-and-a-half northeast of Hollidaysburg; and where his mother worked in a doctor’s office in Lewistown. In fact, his dad supported the development of Camp Krislund, outside of State College, and Chuck was a camper there for many enjoyable, inspirational weeks as a boy.

One of the most “moving” experiences of Chuck’s life was biking across the entire country with a friend and raising $7000 for hunger relief in the process the summer before his freshman year at Westminster College, in 1978.

Some of the most significant, influential passages of Scripture in Chuck’s life and ministry are the parables of the Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan (and most every parable Jesus told); “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” Jeremiah 29:11; and the following passage from Philippians 2:

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Chuck’s day off is Monday. Otherwise, he is available to meet with anyone and to be of service to all members and friends and neighbors of First Presbyterian Church in Hollidaysburg.