Lancaster Church of the Brethren
Worship—How we worship
Maranatha (bilingual)
Ministries—How we reach out
How we reach out
Events—How to participate
General Information, Tools, and Resources
Watch our sermons on YouTube
Robert D. Kettering, Interim Executive Pastor
Bob began serving LCOB on January 15, 2018 as the Interim Associate Pastor. He is a graduate of Elizabethtown College and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries. Bob pastored two Church of the Brethren congregations in Mount Joy and Lititz for 28 years and served a total of 11 years the Associate District Executive for the Atlantic Northeast District and on the national staff of the Church of the Brethren. Following his retirement in 2015, Bob is now in his fourth interim pastoral role. He and his wife, Lib, live in Manheim. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Email Pastor Kettering: bobket@juno.com
Don Fitzkee, Interim Pastor
Don began serving as interim pastor in December 2018. He was employed the previous 17 years in fundraising and communication roles at COBYS Family Services, most recently as Director of Development. A graduate of Elizabethtown College and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer), Don is an ordained minister who served 20 years as part of the non‐salaried ministry team at Chiques Church of the Brethren, near Manheim. He is author of Moving Toward the Mainstream, a 20th century history of the churches of the Atlantic Northeast District (Good Books, 1995), and has written two other books and various articles for Messenger magazine and other Brethren publications. He has served the denomination as a member of Standing Committee and recently chaired the Church of the Brethren Mission & Ministry Board. He has visited more than 20 countries, beginning with a year of study abroad in Marburg, Germany. Don, his wife, Carolyn, and children Galen, 19, and Marianne, 18, live near Manheim.
Email Pastor Fitzkee: donfitzkee@gmail.com
Alix M. Sable, Associate Pastor
Alix M. Sable, an Associate Pastor, has been Pastor of Maranatha Multicultural Fellowship since January 2012. Alix and his wife Arelis coordinated the local outreach and international mission ministries since the fellowship began in 2004.
Alix holds a Master's Degree in Bilingual Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pratt Institute, and an Associate Degree in Architectural Technology from New York City Technical College. He completed the ACTS training through the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center and is an ordained minister. Alix is also a teacher at the Reading Intermediate High School.
Email Pastor Sable: alix063sable@gmail.com
J. Calvin Wenger, Pastor of Caregiving
The caregiving responsibilities of the church are lead by J. Calvin Wenger. As a long time member of Lancaster Church of the Brethren, he is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. He also is a practicing doctor of chiropractic.
Email Pastor Wenger: calvinshirleywenger@gmail.com
Emery Dewitt, Director of Music
Emery administers the music programs at Lancaster Church of the Brethren. He conducts the adult ensembles in traditional worship and is responsible for the Starlight Tea Concert Series. He holds degrees from Mississippi College, Villanova University and Penn State University. Along with his responsibilities at LCOB, he conducts the chamber chorus Musical Associates, sings with the Wheatland Chorale and plays oboe with Allegro: Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster.
Email Emery: emery.dewitt@comcast.net
Jamie L. Nace, Director of Children's Ministry and Director of Children's/Youth Music
Jamie has been the Director of Children's Ministry since 2011 and the Director of Children's/Youth Music since 2005. She received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Millersville University and her Master's degree in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College. She is currently a licensed minister in the Church of the Brethren and is taking classes to deepen her ministry skills for her work with the children and young families of LCOB. Along with her responsibilities at the church, Jamie teaches music part‐time at The New School of Lancaster.
Email Jamie: jnace77@gmail.com
Linda Byers, Director of Youth Ministry
As Director of Youth Ministry, Linda is excited to encouraging youth in Jr. and Sr. High School to grow and develop a closer relationship to God.
Before returning to this ministry in June of 2018, Linda was called in 2015 to serve with Bahamas Methodist Habitat on the island of Eleuthera. There she worked to coordinate mission trips for youth, young adults and adults from across the United States. Linda was first called to work with the youth at the Lancaster CoB in 2011. Before working in vocational ministry Linda was self‐employed as a coordinator of International Exchange Student, in addition to being a freelance artist and graphic designer. Linda's first job after graduating from Kutztown University was as a Cartographer, where she was inspired to explore the world through maps.
Linda enjoys being creative in many ways. She is working on developing some mean harp (harmonica) skills in her spare time and never gets enough time in her kayak (H‐20). Linda is a mom to Mason and has been married to her favorite husband David for 30 years (in 2019)
Email Linda: lancob.youth@comcast.net
Albert (Albie) von Schaaf, Morning Psalm Director of Music
Albie is the Morning Psalm Music Director at Lancaster Church of the Brethren. He has extensive experience as a band leader and is a veteran touring/recording songwriter, musician and vocalist. Albie also teaches guitar, bass, songwriting and is active in the local music community in the Lancaster area. In addition to leading the Morning Psalm Praise band, Albie curates the newly launched 'Songs in The Chapel' concert series and is the director for Lancaster Church of The Brethren's Youth Praise team program as well.
Email Albie: blackfuel1@hotmail.com
Join Us for Vacation Bible School
6 p.m.—8 p.m.
Children ages 4 through 5th grade are invited to attend Roar VBS! This epic African adventure engages the whole herd. At Roar, kids explore God's goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. We hope you can join us! Click here to register.
Barnstormers Game
Bible Study Group
Contemporary Worship
10:15 a.m.*
*Childcare Available
Traditional Worship
Informal: 8:00 a.m.
Liturgical: 10:15 a.m.*
Español/English: 10:15 a.m.*
9:00 a.m.*
Lancaster Church of the Brethren 1601 Sunset Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601 — Get Directions | (717) 397-4751 | lancastercob1958@gmail.com
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