You will soon know why some of my friends call me "Pastor Pigeon-Train."

I am currently the pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Springfield, Pennsylvania (LC-MS) and my non-professional interests include pigeons and trains.

I have been the Pastor of St. John, Springfield, Pennsylvania since November 19, 1994 -- this is my 3rd parish. Prior to moving here, I was Pastor of Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, Palisades Park, New Jersey for 9 years, November 1985 through November, 1994. My first parish was Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, and I served there from April 1990 through November, 1985.

St. John celebrated its 155th Anniversary June 6, 2003. Imagine a church hanging around for 155 years and all the things the members experienced during that span. Countless blessings! Be sure to visit St. John's Website -- this terrific site, the work of Larry Panek, includes everything from current activities to the history as compiled for the 150th Anniversary celebrations just 5 years ago.

During the years I lived in Palisades Park, my hobbies gave me several opportunities to present train and pigeon displays for the students at the Lindburgh Elementary School. Particularly memorable was the interaction with children I did not know. During one model train presentation a Kindergartner innocently asked, "If you like trains so much, why don't you work for a railroad?" That was easy to answer. After informing the group that I was the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, I simply stated that every day I already do the one thing I enjoy the most in the whole world -- I get to tell people how much God loves them.

My primary pigeon interest is the raising & exhibiting of Dragoons, an old English breed. I also thoroughly enjoy my other pigeon breeds: Racing Homers, Domestic Flights, Parlor Tumblers, and Clean-leg Ice Pigeons.

In my spare(?) time I enjoy modeling the New York Central Railroad in N-Scale and participating in N-Trak modular layouts.

Links

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Springfield, PA
Up Close and Personal
Pigeon Interests
Train Interests
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