As 2 churches merge, working class congregation praises gay, young pastor
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Pastor Jon Vanderbeck, 30, ushers visitors into Trinity Reformed Church where socially distancing volunteers make free pancakes for any one who drops by in honor of Mardi Gras (or Shrove Tuesday). Vanderbeck is Asian American, the first openly gay person of color to be ordained in the denomination. Trinity s congregation was dwindling when he arrived 3 years ago. Now, it has a bright future and is merging with Messiah Lutheran.Lynda EdwardsShow MoreShow Less
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Congregation members handed out strings of sparkling beads in Mardi Gras colors of green, purple and gold along with boxed pancakes to anyone who visited the church on Shrove Tuesday. The merged churches run a food pantry and huge community garden for their Rotterdam NY community.Lynda EdwardsShow MoreShow Less
Newly unified Rotterdam congregations host first joint event, are hopeful for future expansion dailygazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailygazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.