The Service - May 27, 2018

Welcome

Prayer………………………………………………………………...…...Pastor John S Banks

Faithfulness

                 Great Is Thy Faithfulness # 43

                 History Video   

                 Be Thou My Vision # 382

                 Offering:  …………………………………….Special………... He’s Been Faithful

 

Foundations

Message…………………………………….....……………….…...…...Dr. D Paul Williamson

How Firm Is The Foundation?

Family

The Church’s One Foundation # 227

Video : What is TBC Now

 

Future

What Does Our Future Look Like?.....................................................................Pastor Banks

It Is Well With My Soul # 493

 

Focus

Video: Core Value

How Do We Achieve These Goals?....................................................................Pastor Banks

He Will Hold Me Fast




Click here to view the Anniversary Booklet




History Video



Our Church Family Video

Press Release

Tabernacle Bible Church of 455 Grove St., Honesdale, PA will celebrate their  75th Anniversary with a special ‘Homecoming Service’ on Sunday, May 27th at 10:30 a.m.  Dr. D. Paul Williamson, former pastor (1997-2009), will be the featured speaker.  A celebration lunch, open to the public, will follow the service. 

 

All friends, past and present, are invited to join us for the celebration!

         

Tabernacle Bible Church (formerly known as Honesdale Gospel Tabernacle) is the “Lighthouse on the Hill,” overlooking Honesdale from its location on 455 Grove St., across from the Wayne Highlands Middle School. 


The Tabernacle’s current pastor, John S. Banks, was voted in by the congregation in November, 2011.   

“From its inception, this church’s priority has been sharing God’s Word, spreading the Good News and leading people to Jesus Christ,” says Pastor Banks.          

“Looking to the next 75 years, I pray that this church fellowship will continue to be compassionate and caring.  It is my desire that it will become widely known as a safe haven where the hope of Jesus Christ is available for all nations, young and old.  It is my desire that the heartbeat for people will continue to grow as we love others with Jesus’ grace.”

 

“We have all known hurt in this life.  Some of our own making and some not.  Finding a new direction for our lives with new friends who have ‘been there, done that,’ can make all the difference as we find a new identity in Christ.  The good news of Jesus Christ brings real purpose for living." 

 

Current programs available at the Tabernacle include worship services on Sunday morning and Sunday evenings at 11:00 am and 6:00 pm.  Community Fellowship Breakfast at 9:15 am followed by Sunday School at 9:45 am for all ages.  Several adult fellowship classes are available at 9:45 am each with a different focus.  A staffed, experienced and trained nursery is always available.


Weekly year-round Wednesday night Bible Study and Prayer Meetings for adults, and children’s programs over the summer months including VBS in June, as well as AWANA during the school year.  Also available year-round is a high energy Teen Program for ages 13-18, including outings, service opportunities, super fun activities including Volleyball Tournaments, several summer picnics with swimming each year, Snow Camp and an over-night game night both put on by Word Of Life. 


Other opportunities include a vibrant Mom 2 Mom group where the older women mentor and help the younger, Widows Fellowship with monthly luncheons and outings, Home Builder’s Fellowship for parents of school age children and First Place 4 Health weight loss accountability group.   The Tabernacle also has an on-site counselling service through partnership with Foundations Christian Counselling.

 

The fellowship is excited to have purchased a five acre parcel right next door and across from the Wayne Highlands School District administrative offices.  Plans are being made to use the location for ministry and community outreach.


Interestingly, through the years, the Tabernacle has never conducted a fund-raiser!  The church expenses have always been totally met through the generosity of its congregation.  As special needs arose they were met with prayer as they are today.

          

A brief history follows:   

Honesdale native and author Richard Gregory came out of retirement to lead the church from 2009 to 2011 while God’s leading for a permanent pastor was sought.  Under Gregory’s leadership the fellowship established a vision for “10 from the Tabernacle,” a desire to see members dedicate their lives to full-time ministry.  Dr. Gregory spoke often of ‘finishing well’.  After more than 50 years in full-time ministry himself the Tabernacle had the privilege of hosting his funeral when he went on to meet his Lord in person.

         

Prior to Gregory, Dr. D. Paul Williamson led the church form 1997-2009. Under his leadership the church branched out with missionary efforts not just locally but also globally.  The church’s motto became “God’s Word Honored, Christ’s Love Shared.”  During this time the assistant pastor position was held by Sal Santoli who headed up the local community outreach team.

         

Rev. Anthony Raffa (1995-96) served as the fellowship’s fourth pastor.  He is the one who coined the Grove St. building the ‘Lighthouse on the Hill’.  He had a strong evangelistic outreach approach, desiring to help people find hope.

          

Raffa was preceded by Rev. Stephen Young (1984-1994), who oversaw the sale of the churches first property on Court Street and the acquisition and construction of the current church facility on Grove Street, as well as the 50th anniversary.

          

Young was preceded by Rev. John McAndrews (1977-84) who brought the Wednesday night AWANA youth program to the church.   The program, attended by many children from the community each week, continues to this day and will begin its 40th year in September 2018.      

          

It was Rev. William Ross Pisauro, then the pastor of Union Church in Lake Ariel, who fostered the idea of a series of special meetings to be held in Honesdale.  At the time of the first meeting, May 25, 1943, America was in the middle of World War II, a year ahead of the D-Day Invasion.   After the success of 6 weeks of Gospel talks held on the second floor of the Honesdale Hose Company Number One on Main St., Pisauro began leading regular Sunday afternoon get togethers and midweek services for young people of the area.

            

By November 1944 Pisauro resigned from Union Church and moved to the Honesdale area to pastor the newly formed fellowship.  While the church was growing and before setting down roots temporary meeting locations included the Bentley Building, where the Trackside Grill is today; the Dolitsky Building, 823 Main St. and 814 Court St.  The fellowship purchased and renovated the Dimmock Building (formerly Dimmock Mansion and the site of the early Wayne County Hospital) next to the Wayne County Court House and made it their home from 1952-1994.  Pastor Pisauro served the fellowship from 1943 to 1977. 

            

Today, 75 years later, Pastor Pisouro’s vision for reaching the people of Honesdale with the message of the Cross is still vibrant.