St. Paul's Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 132 East Union Street, P.O. Box 261, Somerset, PA 15501, 814.445.5341, Rev. Keith M. Fink.


Bob’s thoughts:

We were just passing through the area on our way to Virginia, but it was worth the 90 mile trip just for the violin. I think we all associate the organ with church (and maybe hockey games), but for me the violin really speaks to me in worship. It was very well done and enjoyable.

We walked in just as the second service was starting so we didn’t get to meet anyone before the service, but on the way to thank the violinist afterward we did meet a few people. The worshipers seemed to embrace both the praise songs and the hymns. The congregation consisted of a good age mix. The Chancel boasted a very nice large central cross, and the Sanctuary was pleasing.

Some signage would be helpful as we had to ask the location of the restrooms. Also the offering was taken before the Word was preached.

The message was “Reversal of Fortune” based on Esther and the transference of blessings from Haman to Mordecai. The pastor’s enthusiasm was apparent and his passion easily took us to our own reversal of fortune of death in sin to life with Christ. Good message and well delivered.

Jan’s thoughts:

Sunday morning we were en route to northern Virginia for medical reasons, so we pulled off the turnpike and visited St. Paul’s. We arrived just a few minutes after the service began, and the folks who greeted us seemed friendly. The Sanctuary was nearly full, so we found seats in the back.

Some gracious ladies greeted us after the service and took time for some conversation.

The Sanctuary is nicely decorated and well coordinated with white walls and ceiling, dark wood trim around all the windows that matched the wood pews and the wood in the Chancel. The stained glass is traditional and quite beautiful.

We were blessed to hear a gifted young woman perform “Ave Maria” on the violin, and then to participate in some contemporary praise music – the best of both worlds.

The pastor is preaching through the book of Esther, and the sermon was based on chapter 8 of that book which is one of my favorites. I appreciated that he forewarned the congregation that he’d be reading the entire chapter, that it was rather lengthy, and suggested that they “discipline their minds” to attend to the Word of God. Perhaps this idea is proposed more often than I realize, but more often I hear concerns about reading “too much” Scripture so I appreciated his suggestion.

The sermon title was “Reversal of Fortune,” and contrasted the “Thens” and “Nows” of the book of Esther. I.e., Then: signet ring given to Haman (3:10) and Now: signet ring given to Mordecai (8:2), along with several other contrasts. Then the real point of the sermon, the “Thens” and “Nows” concerning life in Christ, i.e., Then: Dead in sin (Eph. 2:5), and Now: Alive in Christ (Eph. 2:5), etc. I sincerely appreciated the pastor’s enthusiasm…something sorely lacking in many pulpits – and hearts not in the pulpit – these days.