BETHLEHEM: My Father's House brings new hope to Lebanon County

By Pat Walter, January 26, 2011 [Episcopal News Service] My Father's House, a refurbished apartment attached to the former rectory of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was recently dedicated for community service. For this project, St. Luke's partnered with two county agencies, Community Action Partnership and the Coalition to End Lebanon County Homelessness.

The apartment at the rear of 519 Chestnut Street will be used for transitional housing for people in need in Lebanon County. The pilot project received grant money from the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem through a New Hope Campaign in which funds were solicited for a companion diocese in Sudan, as well as the needy in Pennsylvania.

On hand for the blessing were representatives from each of the agencies and the Lebanon Ministerium. In its history, St. Luke's Church has given to the community the Good Samaritan Hospital and Lebanon's first library.

The Rev. Terrence Wible, rector, led the dedication. The project was developed by the church's outreach committee.under the chairmanship of Todd Snovel.