SHAMOKIN - A farewell luncheon for two ministers who will leave the Shamokin area was held Thursday in conjunction with the monthly meeting of the Shamokin Area Ministerium of Churches.
Honored for their service to God and the community during the event at Brewsers were the Rev. Navin Satyavrata, pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church, West Arch Street, and the Rev. Robert Smith, pastor of Primitive Methodist Churches in Shamokin and Mount Carmel.
Satyavrata, who has served at St. John's for five years, will leave later this month for a new assignment in Bangor. Smith will retire after more than 40 years in the ministry, including the past seven years serving the at two Primitive Methodist churches.
Both have served as officers of the ministerium in recent years, Smith as former president, and Satyavrata as the current treasurer. Appreciation for their services was extended to them by the Rev. John Silliman, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ, current president, and other officers of the ministerium.
During a business meeting earlier at Johnston City United Methodist Church hosted by Pastor Beverly Petrovich, the Rev. Kay Painter of Trevorton and Oak Grove United Methodist Churches, was appointed interim treasurer to succeed Satyavrata.
The ministerium will participate in a religious service for the annual Anthracite Heritage Festival at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 29, and an annual baccalaureate service at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, planned by students of Shamokin Area Junior-Senior High School. Ministerium members' participation in the festival will include having all churches of the community ring bells for five minutes preceding prayer and special music at the bandstand on Market Street at Arch.
Appreciation was extended to all Christians throughout the community who supported two public programs during recent months including mid-week Lenten services and a community Good Friday service.
In keeping with a policy of previous years, meetings will be suspended during the summer months. The next scheduled meeting will be Sept. 8 at a site to be announced.