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.

Born and raised in Rockland County, NY, Judy began taking piano lessons at age 8, and played piano for Sunday School at Grace Baptist Church. Judy attended The King’s College and began taking organ lessons. In 1971 she moved to South Hamilton, MA and worked at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary as Faculty Secretary; played organ and directed choir at South Lynnfield Baptist Church. Judy moved to Elmira Heights NY in 1974 and played organ and directed choir  at Elmwood Baptist.

She became Minister of Music at Bethany Lutheran beginning in 1981, directing the Chancel Choir and Gloria Deo Handbell Choir. She has served occasionally as substitute organist at Bethany, and at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Other jobs Judy held were secretary at Lederle Laboratories; customer service at Xerox Education Division; and 28 years in Emergency Medical Services as secretary and office manager.

Judy’s is an avid knitter, member of Chemung Valley Fiber Arts Guild, Knits-n-Knots, and Bethany Lutheran Prayer Shawl Circle.  She also loves reading mysteries and cooking.

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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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