Anna Tinsman

Alyce Thompson

Ruth Kuder

The beginning of Lutheran evangelism here in Media can be attributed to Anna Tinsman's desire to start a Lutheran Sunday School in 1947. Together with Alyce Thompson, on April 13, 1947, the ladies conduct the first Sunday School class in the Tinsman home, with five children in attendance. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Springfield gives its moral support to the Media Sunday School effort, contributing nine small chairs for the classes. Later the same year, the Tinsman family joins St. Matthew's and subsequently, Anna, Alyce and Ruth Kuder teach Sunday School there, all the while keeping the Media program moving forward on Sunday afternoons. The Media Sunday School offerings are contributed to St. Matthew's, with all operating expenses being covered by the teachers.
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Sam Montgomery

On Reformation Sunday, October 29, 1950, The Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church is formally organized with 80 people signing a petition for a charter. The first congregational meeting is held the following Friday evening and Sam Montgomery is elected President of Council. A short time later, a choir is organized and directed by Mrs. Cecil Thomason with Mrs. Sidney Weber as organist.

The ELCA Board of Home Missions is instrumental in assisting the early Church with financial support. In 1951, a parsonage is purchased at 14 Letitia Lane in Media. Many meetings are held here during the next three years, including Church Council, Confirmation classes, and various auxiliary organizations.

Also in 1951, 3.9 acres of land for a future Church site are purchased at the corner of Rose Tree and Providence Roads, at a cost of $6,000. By December 1952, the Church Council has collected $20,000 in cash and pledges, an amount sufficient to get a building program underway. A ground breaking is held on May 7, 1953, for the Church School building and six months later, the new Church School is dedicated on Nov. 1. Theodore Kuder and Robert Atkins, serving as successive Building Committee chairmen, are pivotal in bringing this effort to completion. The final cost is $72,000, including furnishings, landscaping and a parking lot. By now, the Church has increased in size to 187 adult confirmed members.

By 1956, the Church is financially self sufficient and assumes full responsibility for Pastor Anderson's salary. The same year, Eugene Hinkle becomes Choir Director and Organist. By now, the Church School is growing faster than the congregation, and more space is required. In 1957, a three year building campaign is organized under the direction of William Roemer.

In 1958, our now distinguished Day School Nursery starts up, with Mrs. Geniveve Baker serving as the first director.
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By June 1959, all mortgages on the Church School buildings are paid off, but pledges and contributions for the new sanctuary are insufficient to start new construction. To finance the program, ten year bonds are sold to make ground breaking possible on January 31, 1960. On December 4, ten months later, the new sanctuary building is dedicated.

By 1960, Reformation Church has grown to approximately 450 adult confirmed members, at which point the congregation holds fairly steady over the next twenty years.

In 1964, David Leibig becomes the Choir Director and Organist, a position he holds for 28 years, until his untimely death in 1992. During this time, the choir grows to 35 + voices and is recognized as one of the premier church choirs in the community.

In 1966, Barbara Creighton becomes the Day School Nursery Director, a position she holds for 25 years. The Day School becomes a role model, with over 1,000 children matriculating from the program during her tenure.

The Reverend Richard Hess becomes Associate Pastor in 1969, with primary responsibility for the youth of the Church. He moves on to take another Call in 1971. Diana DePugh then becomes the first lay Youth Director.

The third and final phase of the original construction plan calls for a Youth Center and Education Wing. The building phase is completed and dedicated in October 1972, for a cost of $280,000. A special room is named after Alyce Thompson in honor or her many years of teaching in Sunday School.
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In the Spring of 1979, Pastor Anderson suffers a stroke and retires officially a year later with a retirement dinner at the Log Cabin Inn. Pastor Willie Hackenberg steps in as interim pastor. Jane Cooper, as Vice-President of Church Council, provides capable leadership during the transition between full time pastors.

Pastor William F. Scholl is Called in June 1980, and becomes only the second pastor in the Church's 30 year history.

The early and mid-1980s represented some dynamic changes for the Church in terms of Stewardship, Worship and Christian Education programs. The Synod adopts a new hymnal and worship service, which is introduced into our worship program, hut not without its share of controversy. A formal Stewardship program is established in 1981, with an every member visitation to launch it. The same year, a two-year Catechetical program is established. Council reorganizes itself into six committees, with two members on each, and Pastor no longer as the Council President. Joanne Horton is elected as the first woman lay President.

By mid-1982, the Church leadership believes Reformation to have sufficient financial support and pastoral need to bring in Pastor Rinda G. Rogers as Associate Pastor. Significant numbers of young people and families begin to appear among the now aging congregation, a vital sign for new growth.

The Church acquires a new "look" and a new "sound" in 1983-84 with the introduction of a new pulpit, lectern and altar dedicated to the memory of Lany Smith by his wife Barbara, and the new electronic Allen ADC 8000 organ. The organ costs $70,000 and is funded through a separate congregational money raising effort.

In 1984, an Adult Forum is introduced and held between the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services, with both clergy and lay persons leading this program.

The Church's long term financial security remains a concern, with the mortgage indebtedness continually strapping the yearly operating budget. The creation of an Endowment Fund through a "Miracle Sunday" campaign by the Stewardship Committee is established in 1984, with an initial goal of $100,000. Over $60,000 is raised that year, and under the able management of Cal Deininger, the fund grows to over $200,000. The mortgage is paid off in 1985 and for the first time, the Church is financially able to pay its full 100 % share of the ELCA's benevolence quota.

In 1985, Doris Waters, a member of Reformation, celebrates her ordination on January 3. The following year, Patricia Johnson, another Church member, is ordained on October 25.

1986 marks another year of dramatic change for the Church. Both Pastors Scholl and Rogers leave, in April and June respectively, for other assignments. Recently retired from St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Pastor William Elbert agrees to serve as interim pastor for one year.
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In June 1987, Pastor Albert I. Douglass answers our Call and begins his ministry as Reformation's third full time Pastor. The Church continues to grow and flourish, adding many new members during his ensuing eight years of pastoral leadership. The Sunday School and Christian Education programs grow in size and scope during these years, as does the evangelical outreach program to the local community.

Thirty seven years after her helpful role in starting the Church, Ruth Kuder continues to play a leadership role, starting the Aid-for-Friends program (meals prepared in the church social hall and frozen, for distribution to elderly and/or needy families).

In July 1989, Pastor James A. Daniels becomes the Assistant Pastor, reflecting the Church's growth and need for expanded spiritual leadership.

With the increase in working mothers and dual income families, the Church is able to meet another community need with the Stay and Play program. "The Church's Day Care Center and Social Hall now provide facilities for adult supervision of primary school aged children both before and after regular school hours, while the parent(s) work. The program begins in September 1990, under Barbara Creighton's leadership. During the same year, a large cross was mounted on the face of the sanctuary building, in memory of Marion Diament by her husband William.

A very active Property Committee has been busy and completes an extensive renovation of the Social Hall in 1991, including new paneling, ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures.

Following the sudden death of our beloved Choir Director, David Leibig in 1992, our Church successfully recruits Marian Horn Miller as the new Minister of Music in 1993. Together with Patti Rahi, Youth Choir Director, the music program continues to he a keystone in Reformation's spiritual foundation under the capable leadership of these dedicated women.

Pastor Daniels officially retires as the Assistant Pastor in 1993, but continues on as Chaplain at Elwyn Institute, a program begun a few years earlier as an extension of Reformation's outreach.

In the Fall of 1994, Lee Miller, a student at the Lutheran Seminary in Mt. Airy, becomes Reformation's Youth Director and later begins to help teach the Confirmation classes. In the same year, Reformation becomes the Companion Church with the Pangani Parish in Tanzania, Africa. In December, the Anderson Memorial Carillon is installed.

In 1995, Pastor Douglass receives a Call and resigns as our Pastor in April. Pastor Edward Treichel, recently retired from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ardmore, steps in as interim pastor.
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In June, 1996, Rev. Larry V. Smoose became our fourth pastor, bringing with him impressive experience as Synod Secretary, ELCA Church Council member, and pastor of God's Love Church in Newtown. Since his arrival, innovations have included additional services, experimentation with contemporary worship, new ministries (Fellowship and Global Mission) a church administrative year that begins in the summer, new education and outreach projects and programs, and a three- year Confirmation program.

Physically, the church's office wing was renovated and the computer and telephone systems updated. Strategic long-range planning, begun in 1998, produced a new mission statement and task forces to explore church program and facilities needs for the new century.

Personnel additions and changes dominated the last three years. In 1997-98, we were fortunate to have the services of a Seminary Intern, Vicar Jennifer Hitt; in 1998, Linda Furia became the Director of Music; in 1999, the Rev. Mark Crozier- Christy was called as Chaplain to Elwyn, and we welcomed another Seminary Intern, Vicar Leah Schade, along with Justin Johnson as Youth Director.

As we begin the 21st Century and celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we are envisioning a building renovation and expansion program, and positioning our Church and its members to:

We Invite All People, Serve Our Neighbors, Build a Living Faith