Minister’s Blog

Now that I’ve been working as your temporary pastor (Commissioned Ruling Elder) for a couple weeks, I thought perhaps I should tell you a little bit about myself.  I have met some of you in person, but not all of you.

I’ve been a Presbyterian all my life – grew up in First Pres. in Lancaster, and am currently a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Lebanon.  I was ordained as an Elder in 2006, completed Commissioned Lay Pastor training in 2010, and received a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in 2019.  I have served as a Commissioned Ruling Elder (Lay Pastor) at St. Andrews, Progress-Immanuel, Faith Immanuel, and Centre Presbyterian Churches.  I have also been a volunteer chaplain at Krislund Camp for the last eight years and am on the Camp Board (Joint Camp and Conference Committee).

My original training and career adventures were in the legal field, and I still work part-time for the Lebanon County Court as a Child Support Hearing Officer.

Nick Burkholder and I had been married for 35 years at the time he died in 2019.  We have two grown daughters, Lindsay (27) and Elizabeth (24).  I enjoy reading, making music (vocal, string bass, and hand bells), going to the Renaissance Faire in costume, savoring yummy food and a good craft beer, and all things outdoors.  I have a quirky sense of humor.

Learning names is a challenge for me under the best of circumstances, and only seeing half of people’s faces doesn’t make it any easier.  (Thank you, ‘Rona – NOT.)  If you have a chance, I would appreciate it greatly if you could each email me a family photo with a little information about yourselves so I can start to get to know you a little better.  (If you don’t have a photo in digital form, snail-mail it to me at the church.)  Thanks in advance!

And yes, my last name really IS Presby!

Blessings,

Rosamond (Roz) Presby

Commissioned Ruling Elder/

Temporary Pastor

St. James Presbyterian Church