Page 10 - 2026 April / May Newsletter

Page 10 Southern Pennsylvania District

Mechanicsburg

COB

Celebrates

100 Years

Mechanicsburg COB recent CROP Walk participation.
For nearly 100 years, the Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren (MCOB) has served the spiritual
and material needs of the surrounding community. On May 3, the church at 301 Gale St. will mark its centen-
nial with a 10:30 a.m. worship service centered on its anniversary theme “Yesterday’s Vision: Today’s
Strength, Tomorrow’s Hope”.” Jeff Carter, President of Bethany Theological Seminary, will deliver a keynote
sermon on the theme. Since 2013, he has led the Church of the Brethren seminary based in Richmond, Ind.,
MCOB Pastor Eric Seibert will serve as worship leader.
During Sunday school, Jeff Bach, Director Emeritus of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies
at Elizabethtown College, will offer remarks related to the congregation’s 100th anniversary.
Nashville recording artist Anita Stapleton Anderson will kick off the centennial weekend with a free con-
cert Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m. Anderson, who began her performing career singing in the Mechanicsburg
Church of the Brethren children’s choir, has been a background vocalist in the recording studio and live stage
performances for country music notables that include Patty Loveless, Connie Smith, Charlie Daniels, Lee
Greenwood, Moe Bandy and Gene Watson. She has appeared on Grand Ole Opry Live, Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee, Austin City Limits, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, among other TV programs. In addition to
playing music, she conducts guided tours of Nashville, sharing the music and history of the city. Joining her on
May 2 will be her brother Brent Stapleton.
Throughout its 100 years, the Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren has been an impactful church not only
locally but in the denomination. In the 56 years of Southern Pennsylvania District executive leadership, two
Mechanicsburg members, Stanley Earhart and Warren Eshbach served as District Executives for 30 years, and
newly elected Executive, Traci Rabenstein begins her service on April 6. Others have been district conference
moderators and served on the district board.
On the national level, Eshbach was General Board chair, Colin Scott was Mission and Ministry
Board chair, Wayne Scott was Brethren Benefit Trust/Eder Financial chair, Theresa Eshbach was Bethany
Seminary’s Director of Institutional Advancement, Traci Rabenstein was Executive Director of Mission
Advancement, and Del Keeney was Denominational Executive Director for Congregational Life Minis-
tries. Vernne Greiner and Margie Fultz served on the Association of Brethren Caregivers Board.
Please join us to celebrate 100 years!
For more information and complete press release, go to https://www.mechanicsburgcob.org, call 717-766-8880,
email: mechanicsburgcob@verizon.net