A Closer Look
An interview with Pastor Jon
By Debbie Snare

This is the first in a series of articles which will take a closer look at some of the familiar faces behind the scene at Lincoln Chapel. Upcoming articles will highlight the Christian spirit which has kept this small country church thriving and growing for well over a century. During the past several years, our congregation has been richly blessed with the energetic, dedicated leadership of Pastor Jonathan West, who agreed to take time out from his busy schedule to give us an opportunity to learn more about the man behind the pulpit and to share his perspective on some of the issues facing our church today. After opening with prayer, we discussed some background information, and learned that Pastor Jon was born on October 15 and grew up in the Mansfield/Wellsboro area, where he enjoyed a “Leave it to Beaver” childhood. Growing up, most of his friends and fellow classmates were Christian, which greatly influenced his decision to become a pastor.

CC: When did you first sense God calling you to the ministry?
Pastor Jon: Church has always intrigued me from an early age, but it wasn’t until I was in high school that I felt God had put an absolute desire into my heart to become a pastor. This came at a very confusing time for me, when as a young person, I was trying to figure out what my future held in store, what my career might be, but it is amazing how God laid everything out for me, he allayed all my fears, and things just fell into place. As a very young person, I thought I would become a scientist or a teacher, because I always enjoyed taking things apart to try to figure out what makes them work-the only problem was, I couldn’t figure out how to put them back together again. During training as a counselor, I learned how to take apart a situation to see how the people involved were working in relationships with each other. I think it is fascinating to see how people are built and put back together spiritually through God, and to see myself as part of the big picture, helping to do God’s work.

CC: Where did you attend college and what was your course of study?
Pastor Jon: I attended Mansfield University, where I majored in Music, and minored in Art History and French, so I knew I’d never be able to get a job, but I’d already sensed God’s calling, so I trusted Him and prepared for the seminary. I attended Colgate Rochester Divinity School for four years, and graduated with a master’s degree. Currently, I am studying for my doctorate, with an emphasis on Apocalyptic Eschatology.

CC: Could you share some insights on this subject?
Pastor Jon: This involves the study of “end times”, but rather than looking at one particular time in history, we can see that all throughout history, one thing leads to another, and unless we learn from our mistakes, we may be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. One thing we can be sure of is that God has a plan unfolding through history; there is an ebb and flow of society’s connection with God, and there are many biblical parallels to current events. The question is: Are we going around in a circle, repeating the past, or are we making progress? This remains to be seen.

CC: Where was your first pastoral assignment?
Pastor Jon: In Millerton, which is in Tioga County, where I served as minister for three small churches. After three years, I moved on to Marysville, then to Lincoln Chapel. This is my fifth year with this congregation.

CC: Do you feel that your previous assignments prepared you well for your ministry at Lincoln Chapel?
Pastor Jon: Yes, definitely, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me all along the way. Today prepares us for tomorrow.

CC: How do you prepare for your sermons?
Pastor Jon: I have weekly meetings with another pastor, during which we share ideas, discuss what is going on in the world, and spend a lot of time in prayer. We use the Revised Common Lectionary, which is basically a “through the Bible in three years” study guide, along with commentaries by theologians. Themes vary according to the time of year, such as Easter, Advent and Christmas. Initially, I used to hand-write all my sermons, but over the years, I have found that using an outline works better for me.

CC: What opportunities are available for people interested in getting involved with church ministries?
Pastor Jon: There is so much going on at Lincoln Chapel; we have more new ministries starting in one year than most churches have in 10 years. God has smiled on Lincoln Chapel and its leadership, and I want to see that continue as we prepare for the future. This isn’t the best we can be yet, we will become even better. So, I encourage people to step up to the plate, and get involved. There is literally something here for everyone to get involved with.

CC: Are there any special skills needed or a certain level of education necessary to get involved?
Pastor Jon: There are no special requirements; everyone has something to offer, something they’ve been gifted with that they can use to help others.

CC: After speaking with members of the congregation, it soon became clear that people here have a great deal of affection for you, and enjoy working with you.
Pastor Jon: The feeling is 100% reciprocal. We have a good relationship because we genuinely care about each other. I can honestly say that I love every one of the folks at Lincoln Chapel.

CC: Another aspect of your personality that people enjoy is your sense of humor, we enjoy the way you use this gift to make us laugh, and yet teach us a lesson. People are also impressed with your knowledge of history.
Pastor Jon: Some people will get a history lesson, some will have a transformational moment, some will just get a good laugh-my challenge as a pastor is to get across all three. If you are just laughing when you come here on Sunday, you need to come back for the serious message as well. When God transforms us, that transformation is addictive; if you can put God’s spark in someone and then let it grow, it is truly amazing to watch them change.

CC: What would you say is the number one challenge facing youth today?
Pastor Jon: Society would say that there is nothing wrong, but the church has a valid answer for that question. It has to do with morality and ethics, and the philosophy of relativism. When we say nothing is morally wrong, and there are no guidelines for behavior, we have no moral center, which means that everything is up for grabs.

CC: What would you say has been your most rewarding experience as a pastor?
Pastor Jon: …I honestly can’t think of how to answer this one because I am in complete awe…I can’t believe how good God has been to me and how He is using me. I am sure there are some people who can’t believe it either! (laughs)

CC: Do you have any hobbies?
Pastor Jon: When I have time, I like to putter on cars, write music and travel. God has been very good to us, providing many opportunities to do some wonderful things.

CC: One last question: Why do you think people are so curious about your age?
Pastor Jon: (laughs, long pause) Perhaps it’s because people are fascinated by mystery. In this day and age, scientists have an answer for everything, and with regards to my life, it is an open book. But then there’s just this one thing that they don’t know for sure…I will say this, however; the people who have guessed at my age have come pretty close!

A Closer Look
An interview with Marcia West
By Debbie Snare

This month, with autumn finally setting in, as it has for so many decades at Lincoln Chapel, A Closer Look focuses on the talented, hard-working woman behind the man behind the pulpit: Marcia West. I caught up with Marcia just after she finished a midday piano rehearsal; as a talented pianist, she has often shared her musical gifts with our church. After chatting about the weather, and sharing an opening prayer, Marcia provided some background information about herself: she was born in western Pennsylvania, and grew up in a rural valley north of Pittsburgh.

CC: Since you were raised in a rural area, was coming to Lincoln Chapel an easy transition for you?
Marcia: Oh, yes, I love living here, I find Lincoln Chapel very comfortable, and the West End is better in a lot of ways than where I grew up--the schools are closer, and there is a store just up the street. I've met so many nice people here; this is a great place to live!

CC: What were some of your interests and activities as a child?
Marcia: I've always loved to read, and as a child, I played outside a lot with my siblings. We often visited my grandfather's farm, where we thought we were helping, but of course, it was more like playing. We would "load hay" and go for rides on the hay wagon, it was so much fun!

CC: What about school activities?
Marcia: I was always interested in academics more than sports. I tried track for one year, but it interfered with my piano lessons too much, so I gave it up.

CC: So, you were interested in music from a very early age?
Marcia: Yes, I joined school band as soon as I was allowed, started piano lessons in second grade and continued through high school. I began taking organ lessons in junior high school so I could play in church. My aunt was my first organ teacher, so the lessons were fairly easy. I was in for a shock when I first took lessons in college; they were much more difficult, and my teacher even made me wear special shoes. My aunt used to let me play organ with just socks on my feet, no shoes, which I think shocked my college professor even more!

CC: Where did you attend college?
Marcia: Mansfield University, where I earned a degree in Music Education.

CC: This would be around the time you first met your future husband, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history?
Marcia: (laughs) Yes!!

CC: The congregation has noticed and appreciates your obvious passion for playing the piano, especially when you really "cut loose". I'm thinking of the 4th of July service in particular, where you were given a hearty round of applause.
Marcia: (laughs) Well, that was probably how the music was written for the piece I chose that day, and it takes a lot of practice; like anything else, you get rusty as soon as you stop practicing.

CC: Do you have a favorite style of music?
Marcia: My favorite composer is Beethoven, but I like all music, really--jazz, gospel, impressionism, I like the French movement.

CC: What groups are you involved with at Lincoln Chapel?
Marcia: My main responsibilities are with Sunday School/Nursery and Kidsclub, also United Methodist Women. I sometimes serve as lector or usher, I just take my turn and try to help out wherever I'm needed.

CC: Where are women needed most in Lincoln Chapel's ministry?
Marcia: Everywhere! There's a place in all of our ministry for women. I think Lincoln Chapel does a really good job of providing equal opportunity for everyone of all ages, men or women, to serve. I know the committees are really careful with their nominations to make sure that all groups are represented, but this goes through all the way to the top with Methodism. As Jon mentioned at Church Conference, the Methodist church was formed around the same time as the United States Constitution was drafted, and it's pretty democratic. But, Jon also reminds me that Methodism is not a democracy, God is in charge.

CC: This is your fifth year with us, how are things different at Lincoln Chapel now than when you first arrived?
Marcia: There is the obvious move to two services, out of a need for more room for the congregation and visitors, and I'm really happy to see how many more people attend church at the 8:30 a.m. service, who couldn't come before. Also, when we first moved here, there was a larger group of teens, some of whom have gone on to get married, so now we seem to lack young people in that age group. There are a lot more younger children at this time, and I would like to see them nurtured through to their teens, so that they will still want to come to church when they are older. I would like to see more involvement with the adults in the congregation and our youth. It would be nice to have them come to Kidsclub occasionally, to visit with the children, not necessarily as teachers or leaders, but just to spend time with them.

CC: Something like a foster grandparents program?
Marcia: Yes, that would be a great idea. I know with my kids, they don't get to see their own grandparents as often as they would like to because we live so far away, and I am sure there are other children in the congregation who are in the same situation.

CC: Are there any other areas of ministry you would like to see people get involved with?
Marcia: There is a need for a youth leader. I would like to see us reach out to teens and adults as well, who don't go to church, and get them involved in Lincoln Chapel; I'd like to get the teens involved in some physical activities, perhaps something with community service. I have really good memories of my youth group as a teen, visiting nursing homes, going out into the community as a group. I would also like to see the Wednesday evening program started again, it could be a time when people could come to be fed, both physically and spiritually. It could be such a good opportunity for everyone to have their own age-appropriate learning experience.

CC: Do you enjoy any hobbies?
Marcia: I really like to read...I don't have that much free time, but when I do, I like to sit down with a good book. I enjoy spending time with my family, and even grocery shopping can be an outing for us, we go up and down every aisle, except for the dog food and cleaner stuff aisles. Sometimes we run into people we know and I wonder if they wonder why Jon isn't working! I also like to plant things, but I don't like to weed and water them, so this doesn't work out too well. Every spring, I get out my book and read about what plants go where, but I haven't had much success; my plants usually die. At least I do better than Jon; he can kill a plant just by putting it in the ground!

CC: What would be your favorite vacation destinations, with and without your children along?
Marcia: With the children, my favorite place to go is Prince Edward Island, it's like going back to the 1950s, things are slower there, and it is a very pretty place. It's just like the setting in the book, "Anne of Green Gables", the dirt really is red, the grass is really green and the sky is really blue... the colors are just beautiful. When we drive up there--and it is a very long drive--the car gets covered with this red dust. When we get home, we just leave it there for awhile as a reminder of our visit. Without the children, I would like to go to Israel, which is much too dangerous a place to take them to visit. I would also like to go to Rome, to see the art...I'd like to do the whole southern Italy tour, Florence, etc.

CC: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing women today?
Marcia: (thinks for a moment)...I would have to say time management, trying to juggle so many different things, makes it hard for us to stay focused. This is what makes it difficult for women to help out more than they do, there are only so many hours in a day, a week, or a month. We have to make sure the kids are fed well, get their homework done, get to bed on time...I think a lot of people don't want to admit that they can't do it all, which can lead to feeling frazzled and stressed out.

CC: One final, burning question from the congregation: Can you share with us what it is like to live with a cheapskate?
Marcia: (laughs long and hard) Yes and no!! But what most people don't realize is that I am an even bigger cheapskate than Jon is, so living with him is a piece of cake! He is willing to buy the brand name products sometimes, but I always buy generic. I still have shirts from high school, I'll wear them as long as they haven't fallen apart, just not the ones that are printed with the year I graduated!

CC: That's right--this would be top secret information!
We spend a few moments sharing a good laugh together, reflecting on the enjoyable conversation we've just had. It was a pleasure to get to know Marcia a little better, and one thing is for sure; she is a trustworthy companion for her husband. The congregation will have to continue to wonder: just exactly what is Pastor Jon's age.