Staff

Rev. John Helgeson
Interim Pastor
revhelgeson@yahoo.com

I, John F. Helgeson, was born in New York City, but rarely lived there, as my father was in the Navy for 20 years, and we moved around. Thus, as a child I lived in naval bases in the US as well as on the island of Trinidad (that base is now gone). We eventually settled in Asheville, NC, which is the where the world’s meteorological weather records are kept, as my father was trained by the Navy to be a meteorologist. Eventually, my parents divorced and I was raised by my mother. I kept in touch with my father, though he moved around as much with the US Weather Service after retiring from the Navy, as he did in the Navy. After high school, I went to Western Carolina University, where I majored in history and political science. I then went to law school for a year at the University of North Carolina, but decided law was not for me. Thus, without going into the full story, the next year I went to seminary at Union Theological Seminary of Virginia in Richmond, from which I graduated in four years (staying an extra year to get my Doctor of Ministry degree in sequence when that was still possible).

I suppose I should point out that during college I worked for the state of NC as an intern and during seminary I worked for Congress also as an intern. I have served a number of regular or installed pastorates before I became an interim minister. I started my career in PA, at the Wyoming Presbyterian Church (near Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). During that time, I also studied at Princeton Seminary in Princeton, NJ, where I received a Th.M degree. I was accepted into a Ph. D. program at another school, but due to finances and the birth of my first daughter that did not happen. At a presbytery meeting while I served in Wyoming, I met my wife Nancy Loushay. We have been married since and have three daughters-Rachel (coming to preach January 15, as she is in her senior year at Louisville Seminary and will be graduating in May), Sarah (who has my first grandson Zayne and is expecting another around March 1), and Noelle (serving in the Army National Guard in New York).

I have served a number of churches in PA, plus churches in NY, OH, MI, and NJ. My wife is from Athens, PA. I have three sisters (yes, I am the oldest and the only boy),one lives in Morganton, NC, and the other two in the greater Los Angeles area. Oh, and I have relatives that I know about in NJ, NY, MN, PA, CA, AZ, and one cousin in Australia. My mother’s side is English. My father’s is German and Scandanavian (mostly Norway).

I love the church. I grew up in the church, though I often went to church by myself or with my sisters. My father eventually grew into the church, and my mother in her own way was a devout Christian and lived the life of faith. I believe in the church and I believe Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. One of my favorite books in the Bible is Colossians, and I especially love chapter 1, verses 15-20. In those verses we are told that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and in Him all things were created. He is before all things and holds all things together. He is the head of the church, the beginning and the firstborn from the dead. In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God reconciles. That in a nutshell is my faith and I preach it. I love being a pastor. I am a nomad. And I will only be with you for a limited time, because that is the ministry God has chosen for me for now.

Rev. Dr. Raymond K. Anderson
Parish Associate

Helen Wingert
Organist

Helen Wingert began her study of piano and organ with Helen Miller Lohman of Marion. Later, she studied organ with Robert Clippinger of Harrisburg and Wayne Mowrey of Chambersburg. She has served as church organist for over fifty years in the local area including Lutheran Churches in Fayetteville and Greencastle PA as well as the Church of the Brethren in Chambersburg before coming to Central as Organist in 1994. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Elementary Education from Shippensburg  University and lives in Marion PA with her husband, John H. Wingert, also a church organist. Helen enjoys playing the 1940, 34 rank Casavant Pipe Organ in the sanctuary for the Traditional Sunday morning worship service and accompanies the Chancel Choir.

Erin Regan
Contemporary Worship Leader and Youth Ministries Director
cwandyouth@centralonthesquare.org

Erin Regan, a Delaware native, graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre in 2009. Post graduation, she hit the road for 2.5 years where she worked as a professional actress/singer/dancer in multiple venues. She has been singing, playing, and dancing in various churches since the 4th grade and is thrilled to accept God’s calling to do it full-time! Her experiences with youth theatre camps and productions have fed her love for young adults and have led her to embracing youth ministry with enthusiasm and joy! If there’s one lesson she’s learned in this crazy life, it’s to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and rely not on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

Sandy Wilson
Children’s Ministry Director
kidsmin@centralonthesquare.org

Sandy Wilson has been on staff at Central since January 2008. She and her husband, Gene, moved to Chambersburg from Geneseo, Illinois. A pastor’s wife for 26 years in Illinois, Sandy has been deeply involved with church ministry. She has a heart for children and a desire to see them develop a life-long personal relationship with Jesus. Helping children apply Biblical truths in every day life is very important to her. Gene and Sandy have two grown sons and one grandson. Spending time with family & friends, exploring outdoors, stitching, baking cookies and finding joy in the journey of life are the things she likes best!

Lee Merriman
Director of Children’s and Youth Music
cpc@centralonthesquare.org

Lee Merriman is a Chambersburg native, and has been active in theater for over forty years. He has performed with the Chambersburg Community Theater, the Winter Palace Dinner Theater, Totem Pole Playhouse, and Theater Project of Hagerstown. Lee was a Music Education/Voice major at West Chester University. He also studied Theatre & Theatre Arts at Wilson College & Shippensburg University. He directs Kid’s Praise, Junior Bells, and is frequently featured as a soloist and dramatic actor in worship. Lee is married to the acclaimed pianist Valerie Merriman, & has four children, Vanessa, Katie, Isaiah & Jocelyn.

Danielle Hollen
Director of Traditional Music�
dhollen@centralonthesquare.org

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory where she studied piano and voice. She travelled with Missoula Children’s Theatre for a year teaching a musical to up to 60 children each week. Before coming to CPC, Danielle was the Jr. Choir Director at Trinity United Church of Christ in Waynesboro, PA. She has sung with church choirs for over 10 years and have participated in Handbell choirs for over 15. Danielle is continuing her education at Wilson College in the Teacher Intern Program to become a certified elementary teacher. She is very excited to start this journey with Christ and Central Presbyterian.

Roberta Lawyer
Secretary
rlawyer@centralonthesquare.org

Ronald George
Custodian
custodian@centralonthesquare.org