The Rev. Andrew W. Meckstroth is serving as the full-time Pastor of the Ziegels Lutheran congregation. He grew up in east Allentown and graduated from Dieruff High School in 1976. He attended Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1986. He was ordained as a Moravian Pastor in March of 1988.Pastor Andy served as the Chaplain of the Northeast Ministry – an ecumenical mission within a housing project in Bethlehem – for eight years. At the “Ministry” he worked with youth and educational programming, as well as with those struggling with addictions, mental health issues and domestic violence situations. In 1992, he began service with the Tremont Terrace Moravian Church in the Bronx for 6 years and the Oakland First Baptist Church (in California) for 5 years. Most recently he served in a team ministry for the past 12 years with his wife, the Rev. Dr. Lynnette Delbridge, at Castleton Hill Moravian Church in Staten Island. He has done shorter stints of ministry at the St. Paul’s Moravian Church in Maryland and Grace United Church of Christ in Allentown (where he was baptized in 1959). Through the years, Pastor Andy has served on many denomination and ecumenical social service agencies and boards, in Allentown, Bethlehem and other places. Currently he sits on the Finance Committee for the Moravian Church Northern Province.
Coming to Ziegels is a kind of home-coming for Pastor Andy, as his great-grandfather, William Lewis Meckstroth (for whom he received his middle name) was the pastor of the congregations of Ziegels Reformed Church and Longswamp Reformed Church from July 7, 1907 until his death on October 3, 1933. Pastor Andy’s father, Edwin Meckstroth, used to ride in the horse buggy between the Churches on Sunday mornings, and reports walking up to sit by the pulpit when the sermon should be over, now.
Pastor Andy was married in 1995 to M. Lynnette Delbridge, also an ordained Moravian pastor, currently serving as Pastor at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dr. Delbridge earned her Ph. D. in New Testament from Union Theological Seminary in New York and has worked at churches in North Carolina and New York, as well as teaching at the American Baptist Seminary of the West (full-time) and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (adjunct). They have two amazing daughters, Helen, who attends Moravian University, and Carol, who attends Liberty High School. The family resides in Fountain Hill.
When he can, Pastor Andy spends time cooking or reading, and gardening with his family, and has been known to find solace in the stillness of a trout stream where he amuses the fish with his delusions that they will bite.
The Rev. Dr. Larry D. Pickens, Esq. serves as the designated pastor of Ziegel Union Church of Christ. He is a native of Chicago, where he grew up in the Englewood community. Dr. Pickens has served The United Methodist Church for over 30 years in ordained ministry. Rev. Larry also enjoys dual standing in the United Church of Christ.Larry also serves as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. Larry is also an attorney, licensed in the state of Illinois; he seeks to merge justice and mercy as a framework for ministry and social engagement; this is the cornerstone of his ministry. He believes that all of God’s people have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” and therefore have a unique contribution to share with the world and the church. Larry believes that change is effectuated by addressing the systemic causes of injustice and the Holy Spirit’s ability to change the hearts and minds of God’s people.
Larry has represented the Church in many capacities. He has served as a pastor in urban and suburban settings, and as the ecumenical staff officer of The United Methodist Church. His ecumenical experience included representation of The United Methodist Church on the Executive and Central Committees of The World Council of Churches and leadership in the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. He served as the general secretary of The United Methodist General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. He also served as a member of the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church.
Larry is a graduate of North Park University, where he majored in Political Science, completed theology work at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Chicago Theological Seminary and the Ecumenical Institute Graduate School at Bossey. He also has a law degree from DePaul University College of Law.
It is exciting to begin this ministry together and Rev. Larry looks forward to being your pastor.
Kristin has been a member of the Lutheran Congregation since 2008. She has served as the Vice President of the Sunday School, a member of the Christian Education Team, and was Sunday School teacher in the 2nd and 3rd grade class, as well as the Confirmation Class.
In March of 2015, Kristin accepted the position of Director of Christian Education. In April of 2018, Kristin completed her coursework at The United Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg and received her certification in Congregational Faith Formation. Kristin has written and implemented the current curriculum being used in the Sunday School.
Kristin lives in New Tripoli with her husband, Josh, and their dog, Lucy. In her free time she enjoys being with her family, baking and crafting.
Jill Bruckart is happy to serve as the Director of Music Ministry here at Ziegel’s Union Church.
She has been a church musician since high school, playing for her father’s congregations. She attended Moravian College as a music major. Jill has served various denominations including Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, UCC, Episcopal and Moravian. She has also directed various groups including bells, children’s choirs, small instrumental ensembles and, her favorite, adult choirs. She was the founding director of a Moravian community chorale based in the Lehigh Valley (50 voices) that recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Jill has dabbled at choral composition and has been blessed to have three of her works published by the Moravian Music Foundation. She also has a part-time customer service position at the Moravian Church publications department with offices in Bethlehem.
Beyond music, Jill enjoys quilting, knitting, cooking, reading, travel and dogs! She and her husband reside in Bethlehem and are parents to two married daughters, and grandparents to three boys.
Lori has been a member of the Lutheran Congregation of Ziegels since 1999. She served as a Den Leader for the Cub Scouts, assistant in the third and fourth grade Sunday School class, as a leader in “Thunder” the children’s youth group and as Vice-president of the Lutheran Church Council. She has also served as Chairperson of the Union Mission Response Team since 2003. Lori has been on many mission and disaster relief trips which have been very rewarding experiences for her.
In April of 2005, Lori accepted the position of Director of Learning Ministries. She received her Certification in Church Leadership through the United Church of Christ in 2008 after three years of study. She has taken many on-line classes through the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Lori has also been recognized as a Designated Church Educator in the United Church of Christ.
Lori served in this capacity until December of 2014 when she accepted the position of Parish Administrator for the Lutheran Congregation.
Lori lives in Fogelsville. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her two boys and her extended family. She also enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, baking, music and relaxing in the sun.
Marlene enjoys her position as Ziegel UCC Administrative Assistant and also Ziegel UCC Financial Secretary – which she has done for many years.
Marlene looks forward to vacation trips, cruises, day trips and the Allentown Fair. Marlene also LOVES lobster!
Caretaker
Ziegels Union Church is seeking a full-time person whose job would include cleaning the church and general upkeep of the church and the property. Housing would be included as part of the salary.
