Pastor Ed Sheehan

Hebron Evangelical Lutheran Church of Leechburg is looking for some new ideas. After all, the church is only 156 years old! Pastor Edward Sheehan said they put together a “New Ideas Team” about six months ago. Their mission is to look at the overall church and programs to discover if some new ideas may help improve what they are doing as a congregation.

The Team’s first step was to conduct a congregational survey. That brought a lot of information back from members. Pastor Sheehan indicated that the team is already giving suggestions to the youth program and these have been put into place. Anticipation and excitement fuel the team as it initiates more and creative programs and activities. The team has five members representing the diversity of the membership.

Hebron is a very active church with many programs. Many of the youth group members participate in local service projects. Recently they responded to a Lutheran missionary in Iraq who requested supplies for troops and Iraqi children. The youth worked to gather the needed items and were able to send a large volume of supplies. The youth have worked service days at a church camp, taken overnight trips, and currently are developing crafts for shut-ins. These kids are so excited about their new activities that they’ve even requested to meet more often.

The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) group is a busy group of ladies. They meet twice a month, and one of their main activities is quilting. They make 50 plus new quilts a year and send them oversees for the needy. Other services they provide include cooking funeral dinners to assist families who have lost loved ones and making quilts for newly baptized babies. They are dedicated and loyal to the work of the church and earn high praise from the pastor.

The church has a full Sunday School program for age three to the sixth grade. The seventh and eighth graders go into Catechism Classes to prepare them for confirmation. There is an adult Bible Study on Mondays and during the year Pastor Sheehan holds special short-term studies.

Hebron Lutheran Church

In recent times Hebron had one of its members go into the Lutheran pastoral ministry. Sharon Vak completed seminary and has been ordained and now is pasturing at an eastern Pennsylvania church.

Pastor Edward Sheehan is only the sixth pastor at the church since 1900s. This past summer completed his 18th year and the transplanted New Jersey native doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere soon. He’s very comfortable at Hebron with his Pennsylvania wife and three children. Two of his boys are in college and his girl is in eighth grade.

Hebron Evangelical Lutheran Church may be 156 years old but it isn’t showing its age. Known for its stability in the community and long-term pastorates, the church is looking to continue its Christian witness in the area and the New Ideas Team is a serious step to ensure their meeting the spiritual needs of today.

Hebron Evangelical Lutheran Church 201 Main Street, Leechburg, PA 15656 724-845-0801 Sunday Informal Service is at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship is at 11:00 a.m.

Watch the video interview with Pastor Edward Sheehan.