First Presbyterian Church members are living God’s love in all kinds of ways. One of them is Marsha Heimann, who has served in a variety of leadership roles here and in the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly. Here is her story, in her own words.


I was born in the middle of the United States. Te Midwest values and work ethic were instilled in me at a very early age. For as long as I can remember, I was told to do the job well, to the best of your ability, or don’t do it at all. So I always choose to do it well. Tat has followed me in everything I do.


I was raised Lutheran in a family of Norwegian heritage, only three generations away from my great- grandparents, who came from the Old Country at the end of the 19th century. Tey brought their strength and faith in God with them as they traveled to South Dakota and Iowa to buy land to farm.


Growing up and spending summers on the farms, I was able to observe the meaning of depending on God to show you the way, to trust in him and keep faith. My uncles and cousins worked long hours in the fields in every possible type of weather, meeting every challenge to do a job well for their family and their community.


My faith was strong and active in the Lutheran church, but as a high school junior, I “wandered” over to the Presbyterian Church, where friends were sharing a different type of worship and youth program and a more meaningful experience. I attended new member classes as a high school senior, joined the Presbyterian Church, and went off to


4 college with an even stronger faith.


Following college, I moved to Minneapolis, joining Westminster Presbyterian Church, where I was elected a deacon and became the outreach representative for the church. Tis time instilled in me the importance of the church being a telling presence in the community and helping support those in need.


Moving to Allentown in the early 1990s, I was elected to serve as a deacon for three years, one as president, and then elected as an elder. I was asked by Rev. Dr. Jeff Aiken to serve as the Clerk of Session, another opportunity to do a job well, as I was honored to have been asked to share my talents in this role.


Having this experience led me to be elected to serve as the highest elected ecclesiastic officer of the Lehigh Presbytery. As Stated Clerk of the Presbytery, I was given the opportunity to serve the greater church.


To be involved at the General Assembly level is an amazing opportunity to be part of the denomination’s decisions and policy-making and to support all Presbyterians around the world. During my tenure with Lehigh Presbytery, I was honored to serve on numerous task forces, commissions, committees, and ad hoc committees both for the Synod and


the General Assembly.


In this position as Stated Clerk, my faith grew even stronger. I was challenged, sometimes scared of outcomes, but truly blessed in so many ways. I learned the value of early morning devotions and meditation before my day begins, and I learned that I have strengths I didn’t even know I had but God did. I found the challenges test me in a job well done, knowing that God would see me through.


I was blessed to get to support seminary students pursuing a call as Minister of Word and Sacrament following graduation and walk with them through that process. I also had the pleasure of installing newly called ministers to serve churches in our Presbytery. I learned how hard it is when you “know too much” about the church, the Presbytery, and the greater church and try to return to being a devoted member of your own church.


I continue to work on being a better member of my church and a better follower of Jesus and to find the peace within that I know is waiting for me. As I continue to find my place, I look forward to my new role as a trustee on the board of directors of the Presbyterian Historical Society, an agency of the General Assembly, which will provide me a new opportunity to do a job well.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12