Lower Marsh Creek

Lower Marsh Creek
Pastor Dale Williams

I eat oatmeal most every morning. So I buy the big container of Quaker Oats. Everyday, usually very early in the morning, the goofy smirk of the Quaker Oats man smiles at me from his trademarked perch on the side of the Quaker Oats container. With his identifiable hat, and colonial hairstyle the Quaker Oats man is an image of a different era, probably the colonial era, when Quakers were common and influential in America.
By the strange working of my mind, the image of the Quaker Oats man reminded me of my recent visit to Lower Marsh Creek Church. Lower Marsh Creek has one of the oldest church buildings in the Presbytery, and indeed in the state of Pennsylvania. There is a plaque on the outside of the sanctuary which reads in part: “This site was part of the Manor of Maske warranted by John, Richard and Thomas Penn, proprietors of Pennsylvania, June 18, 1741.” (For a fascinating history lesson, Google on Manor of Maske and read about our Scots-Irish ancestors in Adams County.) John, Richard and Thomas were the three sons of William Penn. They took over as proprietors of Pennsylvania at their father’s death in 1718. Indeed, in 1691 William Penn was given 45,000 acres of wilderness by the King of England and a charter to create a colony in the new world. Penn’s colony, motivated by William Penn’s Quaker sensibilities, was intended to be a society that was godly, virtuous and exemplary for all. Now the plot thickens. I wonder what William Penn and his sons thought of all the Presbyterians, who rushed into their lands. The Presbyterians soon started preaching the crazy idea of becoming an independent nation. This, of course, was in direct opposition to the Penn’s good friend, the King of England. But that is another story. These images all blurred together in my mind: the Quaker Oats man, William Penn and Lower Marsh Creek. I love Pennsylvania history!
Lower Marsh Creek Church today, under the energetic leadership of Dale Williams, is the little church that could. It is a remarkably energetic place, which is committed to a path of growth and vitality. I met recently with a joint Session and Deacons meeting to consider some ways to get our hands around the growth that is coming up the road from Maryland very quickly. As a real estate person who was part of our meeting commented, out of her knowledge of the kind of housing developments which are being planned in the area, “There is a stream roller coming up the road. We are either going to drive it or we will be run over by it.” The leaders at Lower Marsh Creek are energized to be in the driving seat. Their small, historic sanctuary is filled beyond ordinary comfort levels for their regular worship service, so they added a second service. The second service has grown enormously since its introduction. The congregation has a beautiful multi-purpose building and classroom wing, which sits across the parking lot from the historic sanctuary. But it is maxed out as well. When they have congregational dinners and meetings there is not enough space for everyone to sit. The congregation has thrived in a relationship with Gettysburg Seminary. Kathyrn Yaroschuk, a Candidate of our Presbytery, is now on staff as their seminary student intern. They have also brought on a youth minister through the Coalition for Christian Outreach. As a smaller congregation, Lower Marsh Creek does very big things in mission work.
One of the great blessings, which surprised me, when I started my service as your Executive Presbyter is the number of churches in our Presbytery, like Lower Marsh Creek, who are boldly creating a vital future for themselves by the grace of God. The challenges of planning growth and managing growth are enormous. The challenge of putting resources out in front of growth and then trusting the Lord to bring the church up to the challenge is cutting-edge discipleship today. Energetic leadership is the key. A devoted faith in the power of Jesus Christ to do a new thing in our midst is required. And it is all happening in Lower Marsh Creek. I expect the Penn family would be proud. There is some godly, virtuous and exemplary living in their lands.


P.S. The Quaker Oats company has no connection to the Religious Society of Friends also known as the Quakers. The company chose its name because Quakers have a reputation for honesty in their dealings. The antiquated image used by Quaker Oats looks nothing like a modern Quaker as that form of dress has been abandoned by the religious movement for quite some time. Many members of the Religious Society of Friends do not approve of the name usage by the company as the company was not founded by Quakers and does not follow the same codes of behavior Quakers follow. They believe the company's use of their name is dishonest behavior and, at best, causes public confusion, even to the point that many people assume they are similar to the Amish in their customs and beliefs.