I am writing this letter to introduce myself to you as your Pastor.  My home from birth was southern York County.  It was there that my late grandfather taught me the skills needed to take over the family business, Gardner's Garage.  Gardner's Garage was a full automotive repair and sales facility.  After taking over the shop, I felt a call during a Lenten worship service, which I struggled with for several years before answering God's call.  While studying and developing my skills as a pastoral leader, I have come to acknowledge that my spiritual gifts are preaching and teaching.  Nothing in this world touches my heart more than seeing someone encounter the Living God for the first time or taking steps as a result of growth on their spiritual journey.

As an ordained elder in our Church, I live out my calling through ministries of service, Word, Sacrament and order.  My ministry of service is a primary representation of God's love and includes, but is not limited to, preaching and teaching the word of God, administration of the sacraments, ordering the church for its mission and service, and administration of the discipline of the church.

What does that mean?  I am honored to be appointed to serve and minister to the Berwick community through Bethany United Methodist Church.  As your pastor,  I believe God has called me to enable and challenge you to grow spiritually as He, through the power of the Holy Spirit, continues to transform us.  Together, God is going to continue to show us how to reach nominal and unchurched individuals so that they may experience the love and grace of the risen Christ.  We serve a God who loved the people of our world so much that He sent His only Son to die on a Roman cross, so that anyone may be saved.

For several years, I have been praying that God will bring revival through people called United Methodist.  God is answering that prayer!  At our Annual Conference, the Bishop invited Rev. Adam Hamilton to lead three  sessions demonstrating how to lead beyond the walls.  I passionately feel that through Rev. Hamilton, God was calling clergy and laity alike t0 embrace and affirm a renewed love and passion to be the heart, hands, feet and voice of Jesus Christ.  Wow!

While he was teaching, my heart was being strangely warmed.  Through the Holy Spirit, God affirmed that I have been called to the body of Christ called Bethany United Methodist Church.  Through the gifts that we collectively bring to the table, God is going to do more than we could ever hope or imagine.

I look forward to worshipping with you every week, with your Bible in hand.  I am excited to come and know you and your families, to celebrate your joys and walk hand-in-hand with your sorrows and disappointments.  Yes, I want to be your pastor.  More than that, I want you to see and experience God's grace, love, power and presence in ways we might be afraid to hope for.  Yes, God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us!  Amen.

Pastor Dwaine Krebs