TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Seffner congregation celebrates 75 years

ADVERTISEMENT

By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 11, 2009

Brandon native Raymond McCoy has been attending the Presbyterian Church of Seffner, 1906 S. Lenna Ave., since 1942; he was 5 years old at the time.

Today, along with his wife, Johanna, he's helping the church recognize 75 years of ministry in the community.

"This is great, wonderful, better than ever," he said. "It's nice to say, 'Look at what we've achieved' - but even more important to see where we're going from here."

The Rev. Loli Reiter has been pastor just 14 months. She represents a new generation of leadership but holds a deep respect for the past.

"I feel I've come into a family with a long history," she said. "Now I'm journeying with them. It's exciting to hear the stories. We can serve Christ and this community together. There's so much wisdom and tradition and hope and strength."

The Presbyterian church of Seffner was chartered Nov. 7, 1934, with 42 signatures. In 1944, the church merged with the Mango Presbyterian congregation and moved Mango's auditorium to Seffner in two sections.

In his history, written in 1958, the late Lee Longstreth described the severing of the sanctuary.

"Alone and single-handed I placed the shoring and bracing in the center of the building and cut the building in half with a hand saw...."

In the late 1990s the church was remodeled extensively but retains the charm of the original Mango building.

"We've been celebrating all year," Reiter said. "People have been coming out with old pictures and stories. We started in May at Pentecost with a birthday celebration on the birthday of the church.

"We've produced an anniversary cookbook. Then, Nov. 8, we'll have our big celebration."

A combined 11 a.m. worship service, a huge potluck luncheon, and a 2 p.m. Thanksgiving in the sanctuary were planned for the day.

"There will be singing, praying, and stories," Reiter said. "Then we're going to circle the church outside and pray that God will continually bless this church."

"There will be display boards covering many parts of church life including pictures, past and present. Memory booklets will be available too," said Johanna McCoy.

For Raymond McCoy, who taught at Brandon High School for 40 years and who has been familiar with the life of Seffner Presbyterian for 67 years, things have never looked brighter.

"The greatest thing is we have an alive youth group and 'The Well,' our alternative worship on Sunday night," said Raymond McCoy. "Plus we've managed to achieve some diversity. This church is more alive and involved than it ever was before.

"I like the stability of 75 years," Raymond McCoy added. "But I also like the fact this lady (Rev. Reiter) has bought a lot of vitality and new ideas and energy."
Reiter is irrepressibly enthusiastic about the value of a Presbyterian presence in the community. "We take God's word very seriously," she said. "We study it, and our history has been to look at the world around and to see how we can fit God's word to the needs of the world today. That is an important witness, and we're faithful."
Reiter and McCoy said the 75th celebration is just the beginning.

"We're going to keep the party going. We're here, in this community, at this point in time," Reiter said. "What does God want us to do?"

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT