Pastor Dan May began  serving at Bethany on May 1, 2023.  He was ordained back when Jesus was just a child, June 18, 1988.  He has served parishes in Liberty, PA, Turbotville, PA, andScotia, NY, as well as a term as Assistant to the Bishop in the Upper Susquehanna Synod in central PA.  He has two children (32 and 34 as this is written), who are both married and live within driving distance!Pastor Dan is here as an Intentional Interim Minister.  This means that he will work with us "in between" regularly called pastors, and help deal with some of the hurts and hurdles accumulated over the past 10 years or so.  We have so much to celebrate here at Bethany!  As Pastor Dan says:  "I look forward to serving and celebrating with you in the years ahead!"

If you would like a call or visit, please contact the church office.

Frances is the daughter of Dr. William F. Orr, a long-time seminary professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa.  She was married to Rev. John McLaren, former pastor of Lake St. Presbyterian Church in Elmira, NY for fifty years.   She has two children, Dr. Heather McLaren Stanton and Matthew McLaren and  four grandchildren.

Frances received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in music with a major in piano performance from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Graduating with honors from Carnegie Mellon University, she continued to graduate school where she was the winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Auditions.

Frances has been the organist at Bethany Lutheran Church for ten years.  Previously, She was the organist and Director of Music at St. Casimir's and St. Charles Borromeochurches in Elmira.  

Frances is the accompanist for the Cantata Singers and Common Time Choral Group. She teaches piano from her home and at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, NY.

Frances is a composer of forty piano pieces published by Sheetmusicplus.com.  

Her pastimes include reading historical books, watching old movies and documentaries.  Frances loves to go to Chautauqua and Pittsburgh.  

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