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First Catholic Slovak Ladies present scholarships

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Michael Andrew Collins

EXETER TWP. — Ruth Eyet was baptized at the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church when she was 13 years old.

Since then, the church has been the place of precious memories for the 85-year-old woman.

On Sunday Eyet faced a day that she prayed would never come to be — her beloved church would be closing its doors for good.

“I can’t even begin to tell you,” Eyet said, fighting off tears. “My heart is broken.”

Eyet was among approximately 40 other parishioners who gathered for the last service held in the historic building. Many were visibly emotional as Rev. Marian Hartman, district superintendent of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District of the United Methodist Church, led the service.

Hartman told the congregation that it was an “honor” to be with them on the sunny, warm morning. She was particularly pleased with the turnout for the service, which included songs, prayers and communion.

“I was glad to see so many people here,” Hartman said.

She added that those in attendance included people from neighboring churches and those who had connections from the past that came to offer their support and to say goodbye.

According to church history, Methodists settled in the area in the early 1800s and a church was built in 1835. The current building was constructed in 1869.

Like the building that has seen nearly 150 years of use, the parishioners have also aged with the changing of times.

The Rev. Leslie Halchak, 61, a former minister at the church, explained that the average age of the parishioner was about 70 years old.

“You might have one child, once a month, or something,” she said. “There’s no new blood coming in, and that’s a problem with a lot of our churches.”

Hartman added that the changing of the times have also kept new members from joining the congregation.

“The reality is children grow up and move away from here now because there are not jobs,” she said. “So you have a smaller population, a smaller congregation that can’t afford the upkeep on a building.”

Hartman said that the future of the building will be determined by the current property owners.

<strong>Mourning a loss</strong>

During the service, Hartman encouraged parishioners to share memories of their time at the church. One woman recalled how the church was the center of her community and was a place of recreation and worship.

Others recalled fondly of the Thanksgiving service, or Christmas events over the years that have involved children.

Halchak was a minister at the church for three years, with her tenure ending in June. For her, like most of the rest of the congregation, parting was not an easy thing to do.

“Their hearts are breaking,” she said. “This is something that is truly very difficult for them, and they’re going to miss this place.”

After the service concluded, members of the congregation stood around and chatted. Some of that chatter included fond memories of days long gone, while others said their farewells before leaving the building for the last time.

Eyet said she plans to attend the Center Moreland United Methodist Church in Tunkhannock, but vowed that the memories of Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church would never leave her.

Hartman stood near the entrance of the small church to greet the parishioners as they left. While the church was closings its doors with an uncertain future, she said the building meant much more to those who spent decades gathering and worshiping within its walls.

“They’re grieving,” she said. “They’re grieving the loss of a dear friend.”
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_1.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Rev. Marian Hartman, district superintendent of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District of the United Methodist Church, delivers her message during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_1.jpgRev. Marian Hartman, district superintendent of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District of the United Methodist Church, delivers her message during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_2.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Shirley Pearn of Orange wipes away a tear during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_2.jpgShirley Pearn of Orange wipes away a tear during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_3.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Parishioner Ruth Eyet, 85, of Wyoming, right, sings a hymn with her granddaughter Michelle Turk of Falls during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_3.jpgParishioner Ruth Eyet, 85, of Wyoming, right, sings a hymn with her granddaughter Michelle Turk of Falls during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_4.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Former pastor Rev. Leslie Halchak talks about her three-year tenure at the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church during its closing service in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_4.jpgFormer pastor Rev. Leslie Halchak talks about her three-year tenure at the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church during its closing service in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_5.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Pianist Penny Reid of Beaumont plays a hymn during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_5.jpgPianist Penny Reid of Beaumont plays a hymn during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_6.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Parishioners hold hands as Rev. Marian Hartman says the final prayer during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_6.jpgParishioners hold hands as Rev. Marian Hartman says the final prayer during the closing service of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township on Sunday morning.</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_7.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Parishioners leave the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township for the last time after the closing service on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL083115DymondHollowChurch_7.jpgParishioners leave the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church in Exeter Township for the last time after the closing service on Sunday morning.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">Historic church closes its doors after nearly 150 years</div>
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By Travis Kellar

tkellar@www.timesleader.com

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Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews

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Saying goodbye to an old friend