On June 17, 2007 we were honored to welcome back the Rev. Paul L. Reaser to Bethany Lutheran Church. Rev. Reaser, now 99 years of age, served as Bethany's pastor from 1939 through 1944.

Church archivist Mrs. Susan (Ziegler) Taneyhill, who was baptized by Rev. Reaser, placed mementos from Pastor Reaser's family and tenure as Bethany's pastor on the desk between the chapel and sanctuary.

We also welcomed Pastor Reaser's daughter and son-in-law -- Carola and the Rev. Robert Rohrbaugh (retired ELCA pastor) from Pine Grove Mills. Pastor Reaser’s son Joel and his wife were also in attendance.

Near the end of the service Pastor Reaser lovingly spoke to the congregation about some of Bethany's history -- including the day the legendary Billy Sunday once climbed up on the pulpit at Bethany to preach to the overflow crowd from another church where he'd spoken that day!

Pastor Reaser is in good health at the age of 99, noting that in Genesis 6:3 our days "shall be a hundred and twenty years." This means, he says, he's got 21 years to go.

All photos by Jeff Robison

Pastor Paul Reaser and Pastor Betty Landis