A 50-year old time capsule was cracked open this week to honor the history of the oldest church in Northeast Pennsylvania. First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre is celebrating 250 years of bringing families and individuals together from various denominational, social and cultural backgrounds. Congregants gathered to see the contents of the time capsule that was set inside the church cornerstone in 1972. Inside, about 40 items were recovered, including church programs, newspapers, photos and a bible from the 1800s. David Correll was at the time capsule display ceremony last Sunday and says it was a nostalgic walk down memory lane. Correll says, “We saw a lot of pictures from church members who passed, family members who passed so that was very special to see, there’s a bible from 1887 and all this memorabilia from the flood and a lot from the era of 1972." PAHomePage.com shared the news with local residents.
Church member Rick Schroeder says, "This congregation is all over the valley. You look at a street sign, and there is another name of a member of the congregation." He adds that the time capsule highlights the continued mission of the centuries-old church - to bring people from all walks of life together for spiritual comfort, challenge and direction. Schroeder says, "Keep coming back. Build on what was here and what was given to us by the previous settlers, previous members of the community."
The time capsule contents will be displayed for six months before the church collects additional items and seals the capsule again this fall. Organizers are planning its next opening in 2072.
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