ABOUT US
While our numbers aren't large, we are a diverse group. On any given Sunday morning you will see young families, senior citizens, teens, couples, and singles. Our members come from many countries, religious and non-religious backgrounds, all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQIA and 12 step communities. COME AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE WELCOME HERE.
We love our community. From hosting support groups at our church to making sandwiches for the homeless and offering support to local organizations, we strive to spread God's love to our community and beyond. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." — John 13:34
ABOUT US
While our numbers aren't large, we are a diverse group. On any given Sunday morning you will see young families, senior citizens, teens, couples, and singles. Our members come from many countries, religious and non-religious backgrounds, all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQIA and 12 step communities. COME AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE WELCOME HERE.
We love our community. From hosting support groups at our church to making sandwiches for the homeless and offering support to local organizations, we strive to spread God's love to our community and beyond. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." — John 13:34
ABOUT US
While our numbers aren't large, we are a diverse group. On any given Sunday morning you will see young families, senior citizens, teens, couples, and singles. Our members come from many countries, religious and non-religious backgrounds, all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQIA and 12 step communities. COME AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE WELCOME HERE.
We love our community. From hosting support groups at our church to making sandwiches for the homeless and offering support to local organizations, we strive to spread God's love to our community and beyond. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." — John 13:34
ABOUT US
While our numbers aren't large, we are a diverse group. On any given Sunday morning you will see young families, senior citizens, teens, couples, and singles. Our members come from many countries, religious and non-religious backgrounds, all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQIA and 12 step communities. COME AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE WELCOME HERE.
We love our community. From hosting support groups at our church to making sandwiches for the homeless and offering support to local organizations, we strive to spread God's love to our community and beyond. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." — John 13:34
ABOUT US
While our numbers aren't large, we are a diverse group. On any given Sunday morning you will see young families, senior citizens, teens, couples, and singles. Our members come from many countries, religious and non-religious backgrounds, all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQIA and 12 step communities. COME AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE WELCOME HERE.
We love our community. From hosting support groups at our church to making sandwiches for the homeless and offering support to local organizations, we strive to spread God's love to our community and beyond. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." — John 13:34
ABOUT US
While our numbers aren't large, we are a diverse group. On any given Sunday morning you will see young families, senior citizens, teens, couples, and singles. Our members come from many countries, religious and non-religious backgrounds, all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQIA and 12 step communities. COME AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE WELCOME HERE.
We love our community. From hosting support groups at our church to making sandwiches for the homeless and offering support to local organizations, we strive to spread God's love to our community and beyond. “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." — John 13:34
NOVEMBER 2020
NOVEMBER 2020
PRINTABLE SERMONS
November 1, 2020 - Beware the Hypocrisy of Leaders
November 8, 2020 - Really Prepared
November 15, 2020 - Action Matters
NOVEMBER 2020
December 6, 2020 - Prepare The Road
December 13, 2020 - How Can This Be?
December 20, 2020 - A Savior Has Been Born For You
DECEMBER 2020
December 6, 2020 - Prepare The Road
December 13, 2020 - How Can This Be?
December 20, 2020 - A Savior Has Been Born For You
DECEMBER 2020
December 6, 2020 - Prepare The Road
December 13, 2020 - How Can This Be?
December 20, 2020 - A Savior Has Been Born For You
November 1, 2020 - Beware the Hypocrisy of Leaders
November 8, 2020 - Really Prepared
November 15, 2020 - Action Matters
NOVEMBER 2020
LEADERSHIP & STAFF
We have a passionate and loving team at Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church and Preschool. From blossoming our youth to spreading His word, God is using our leadership and staff to do amazing things. Meet some of our key members below.
REVEREND DR. LISA FARRELL
Rev. Dr. Lisa C. Farrell was born and raised on the Main Line. She attended Franklin and Marshall College and won an Andrew Mutch Scholarship to attend the University of Edinburgh for her junior year. Lisa felt called to the ministry as a freshman in college but kept this to herself. Having grown up Presbyterian, she rebelled and became an atheist as a teenager, and coming to faith in her freshman year the thought of ministry was still quite alien. It was a male dominated field and Lisa had never met any women ministers. While at Edinburgh University she decided to take a class in New Testament to test her sense of call. She was permitted to do so only because she was an “Andrew Mutch Scholar.” The providence of God not only provided the means to study in Scotland, but it opened doors that would otherwise have been closed. By the end of the year she had transferred from Franklin and Marshall to the University of Edinburgh to do a joint B.A. B.D. degree. A B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) is the Scottish equivalent of an M.Div.
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Lisa met and later married a fellow seminary student she met at the University of Edinburgh. They had three children, Anna, Mark, and Paul. For a number of years she was a highly qualified full-time minister’s wife. The marriage unfortunately ended in 1990, and Lisa returned to her family home in Wynnewood. At this low point in her life it was time to seek God’s guidance once more, and once more God said “Ministry.” Having already graduated from seminary in Scotland she came under care of the Philadelphia Presbytery, completed additional requirements for the PCUSA, and worked part-time at a church in Northeast Philadelphia. She was installed as the pastor of Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church in 1995. In 2013 she completed a further course of study at the Lutheran Seminary of Philadelphia earning a Masters in Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Ministry.
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Lisa is passionate about the need to approach scripture in its historical context. Without a correct understanding of context many scriptures are misunderstood. Translation is also a challenge, and human bias can affect the outcome. Her Master’s Thesis completed in 2013 is on “Translation Bias in the Texts Relating to Homosexuality.” Lisa believes that the Word of God in scripture is inspired, but it is the living Word of God, Jesus, who we worship. The bible points to God. It should never be placed above God.
On November 25, 2017 Lisa married the love of her life, Vicki Darring, with the blessing and support of the Session of the Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church. Rev. Kevin Porter, the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Philadelphia presided. They currently live in Drexel Hill with their two dogs, Fiona and Sabrina, and cat, Phil.
REVEREND LOISANN FURGESS-OLER
Parish Associate
Pastor LoisAnn is a graduate of Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Nursing and holds a BSN and MS. from the University of Maryland and an M.Div from Wesley Theological Seminary. She was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament by the Baltimore Presbytery.
LoisAnn describes herself as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament with nursing roots. Following her ordination as Associate Pastor at First and Franklin Street Presbyterian, LoisAnn served a few years as Chaplain of an Adult community in Towson, Maryland and more than a decade as Interim Pastor for the United Church of Christ. After relocating to Narberth, she found a spiritual home at Penn Wynne Presbyterian and is our Parish Associate. She is available for spiritual counsel and support, and fills in for Pastor Lisa as needed.
HEATHER CRONAN
Church Administrator
As the Church Administrator Heather oversees all aspects of the church office including bookkeeping, managing vendors and contractors, scheduling and community communications as well as providing general support to the Pastor. Along with Rob Berley, Clerk of Session, Heather is also the genius behind our front lawn signs. In addition to church operations Heather is heavily involved in pastoral care as well as occasional preaching. Heather is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary’s Urban Theological Institute with a certification in Christian Ministry.
FRANK COATES
Music Director
Based in Philadelphia, Frank is a pianist and composer that has composed music for film, ballet, and theater. Frank specializes in contemporary classical and orchestral jazz and has served as music director for several artists and churches in Washington DC and Philadelphia.
Frank has over 15 years of experience in education. He is the founder of Music Play Patrol, a music enrichment program for children, and he recently launched Mr. Boom Boom's Music Room, an interactive music education series. He received his B.A. in Music Composition and Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Frank recently founded the Penn Wynne Presbyterian Children's Choir. Please contact Frank here with interest in joining.
BLESSING OSAZUWA
Clerk of Session
Blessing grew up in Southeastern Pennsylvania. She first came to Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church at age 14 via the youth group and has been part of the community ever since, singing in the praise band and serving on various committees. Blessing graduated from Lower Merion High School in 2016. She received her Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Music from Montgomery County Community College in 2020 and her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Music and African-American/African Diaspora Studies from Columbia University in the City of New York in 2023. Blessing loves music and activism. She currently works full-time as the Metro Organizing Director for POWER Interfaith, a faith-based social justice organization. In addition to serving as the Clerk of Session, Blessing is a member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia's Commission on Resources and Creative Ministries. In her spare time, she releases original music!
KIMBERLY PORSCH
PWPS School Director
​Kimberly went to Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. After college, she moved to North Carolina, where she taught a combination of grades K-2, with a primary focus on 1st grade. She then took graduate courses in Special Education at Meredith College in Raleigh. Both of Kimberly's children attended Penn Wynne Presbyterian School. She started working at PWPS in 2017 when her younger daughter started school there. She then moved up to the position of Assistant Director, and started as Director in the Summer of 2024. Kimberly is currently in school to earn her Director's Certificate. In her free time, Kimberly likes to spend time with her husband and two children, hiking, working on jigsaw puzzles, and helping at the farm.