Bio of Pastor Allen L. Heckman

Pastor Heckman was born January 3, 1949 in Beaver Falls, PA and graduated from Berlin Brothersvalley High School in 1967. Following two years of classes at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA. he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy from October 1969 to July 1973 as a Sonar Technician 3rd class aboard the USS Fortify MSO 446.

On July 12, 1974 Mary Jane Hicks joined Pastor Heckman in marriage at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Hermitage, PA.  In May of 1976 Pastor Heckman received his bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Yankton College, Yankton, South Dakota. He received his Master of Divinity Degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA. in 1979. While attending Lancaster he was called as student pastor of Zwingli United Church of Christ, East Berlin, PA. Upon graduation he was ordained and installed as the first full time pastor of Zwingli Church. While at Zwingli Pastor Allen served as Chairperson of the Gettysburg Association Church and Ministry Committee.

"Jane" has two degrees in education, one from Grove City College, Grove City, PA. and The University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. She has taught in elementary and secondary schools around the Country and has been the Director of two Preschools: Zwingli United Church of Christ Preschool and Kindergarten and First Presbyterian Preschool, State College, PA. She currently is a partner in a quilt shop in Lehighton named The Quilted Crow.

Nine Years after the 'Call' to Zwingli, in May 1986 Pastor Heckman was appointed to active duty as an Air Force Chaplain and assigned to Norton AFB, California. His Air Force assignments have included, Warren AFB, Wyoming, Kunsan Air Base, Korea, Dover AFB, Delaware, Stavanger, Norway and Minot AFB, North Dakota. Pastor Heckman also served tours of duty in Guantanamo, Cuba and Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. He retired from the Air Force in September 2002.

Following his Air Force Career Pastor Heckman served as Pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ, in Boalsburg, PA for five years before being 'called' to Zion. He served as Chairperson of the Penn Central Conference New Church Starts Initiative while in Boalsburg.

Pastor Heckman has been published in several quarterly magazines to include: Air Force Smart Families, Daily Meditation, Evangel and The Gem.

The Heckman's  daughter, Sarah, lives in Florida with her husband Ed Tittlebaum and their son Joshua Allen.

Monthly Newsletter

Dear Friends,

I remember riding in the car with my Father one New Years Eve when I was seventeen or eighteen. My Father was a Pastor and I had accompanied him on a visit to someone in the hospital. As we were returning home I asked Dad why we made such a big deal out of the New Year turnover when every day was the beginning of a New Year in our lives. It was a good question. But as a typical teenager I didn’t pay enough attention to the answer to be able to remember it today. Forty-five or forty-six years later I still have the same question. Why do we make such a big deal out of the New Year turnover? How many of us make the same resolutions we made last year? How many of us have made significant changes in how we treat others in the last year? How many of us use the New Year simply as another reason to party hardy?

My proposal for us all this year is to make a big deal out of a different New Beginning. My proposal is for us to celebrate our New Life in Jesus Christ. Here is how my proposal works. First, try to remember the first time you really thought about Jesus Christ being your Savior-your door to eternal peace. Second, make a list of all the changes that have occurred in your life because you have accepted Jesus as your Savior-the one who showers grace on you. And third, give thanks for the changes in your life due to Christ-your constant spiritual companion-by doing something loving for someone else each day.

Let’s make a big deal out of the new life that is ours every day through Jesus Christ. Now, the next time you are driving somewhere in your car you can make a big deal out of being alive and living with Jesus Christ-the giver of life eternal.

Happy New Life

Pastor Allen           

Sunday Message

The message was presented by the eighth grade confirmation students

PA: Welcome to ‘Who Wants to Go To Heaven’, the show that gets you through the Pearly Gates. I’m your host PA and now let’s meet our contestants.  We have three contestants with us today. All three have been hard at work in their confirmation journey and will soon become adult members of Zion United Church of Christ. Let’s meet them now.

Kristen: I’m Kristen Shupp and I want to go to heaven.

Brock: I’m Brock Heckman and I want to go to heaven.

Kayla: I’m Kayla Heffelfinger and I want to go to heaven.

PA: Okay. You all know the rules. The first one to ring their bell gets to answer the question. I will ask you a question and you will have thirty seconds to give and answer. If you do not know the answer you may choose to ‘Call your parents’ and ask for help one time. You also may ask ‘the congregation’ for help, one time. The questions will continue to become more difficult as the game goes on. If no one rings the bell contestants will be drawn at random to answer. Wrong answers will be subtracted from your score. Are you ready to Go to Heaven?

Kirsten, Brock, Kayla: Ready

PA: Here is the first question; What is the name of the first book in the bible. Kayla rings bell. Kayla. The question once again is: What is the name of the first book in the bible? Is it a. Obadiah, b. Genesis, c. Romulus or d. Matthew?

Kayla: Romulus is not a book of the bible and the answer is b. Genesis which means “Beginning’, my final answer.

PA: That is correct. Kayla you now have 5 points.

The second question is: What is the name of the last book of the bible? Kirsten rings bell Kirsten. The question once again is: What is the name of the last book of the bible? Is it a. Revelation, b. Zephaniah, c. Josephus, d. Titus

Kirsten: My final answer is Revelation not Revelations.

PA: That is correct. Kirsten you now have 5 points. Next question; Who built the Ark? Was it Brock rings bell. Brock, Who built the Ark? Was it a. Joseph, b. Peter, c. Rahab or d. Noah.

Brock: God asked Noah to build the Ark before the great flood, final answer.

PA: That is correct. Brock you now have 5 points and the game is tied. The next question is: What does the word Gospel mean? Is it a. Good night b. Good spelling, c. good news or d. good praise? Kirsten rings bell

PA: Kirsten

Kirsten: Gospel means Good News and that is my final answer.

PA: That is correct. The next question is: What does the word Epistle mean? Does it mean a. Edible, b. special friend, c. chalice imbedded with jewels or d. letter? Kayla rings bell

Kayla: My final answer is d. Epistle means letter.

PA: Correct. Next, What is a disciple? Is it a. a follower, b. a grammatical marking, c. an apprentice or d. a preacher? Brock rings bell  

Brock: My final answer is a. a follower, especially a follower of Jesus.

PA: After the second round our score is tied at 15 points each. Are you ready for round three?

All: Yes!

PA: The question is, The United Church of Christ is a reconciled and a reconciling church. What does this statement mean? Is it a. the church is right, or b. the church is on a journey of healing and acceptance, c. the church is reorganizing or d. the church is righteously recreated? Pause No one has rung the bell. Our random pick of a contestant has chosen Kayla.

Kayla: I would like to use a call to my parents.

PA: Okay Kayla make your call. The call

Greg: Hello

Kayla: Dad I’m on ‘Who wants to go to Heaven?’ And I need your help.

Greg: Okay what’s the question?

PA: The United Church of Christ is a reconciled and a reconciling church. What does this statement mean? Is it a. the church is right, or b. the church is on a journey of healing and acceptance, c. the church is reorganizing or d. the church is righteously recreated?

Greg: Well, that is interesting. What do you think Gail?

Gail? That is a tough one. I think it is c. the church is reorganizing.

Greg: Kayla, your mother and I think it is c. the church is reorganizing.

Kayla: Thanks

PA: Kayla what is your answer. Your parents think the answer is c. the church is reorganizing.

Kayla: I don’t know. Sometimes my parents just don’t know much. I think the answer is b. the church is on a journey of healing and acceptance, that is my final answer.

PA: That is correct. Next question; What is the United Church of Christ definition of liberal? Is it a. generosity, b. being politically left wing, c. being politically correct, d. freeing pause No one has rung the bell so our random choice to answer the question is Brock.

Brock: I have an idea but I want to call my parents. Makes the call

Robin: Hello Brock.

Brock: Mom, I’m on Who wants to go to heaven and I need help with an answer.

Robin: Okay  Brock what is the question?

Rod: We’ll do our best.

PA: What is the United Church of Christ definition of liberal? Is it a. generosity, b. being politically left wing, c. being politically correct, d. freeing

Robin: Oh that is easy the answer is b. being politically left wing.

Rod: No, that is not correct. The answer is d. freeing

Brock: Really? Hangs up Parents!!!

PA: What is the answer? Your parents gave you two different ones.

Brock: Parents! My final answer is a. generosity-Jesus on the cross is the most liberal act anyone can commit for others.

PA: That is correct. Next question-There are two basic ways to understand the scriptures. Is the answer a. a map or a test, b. a rule book or a map, c. a rule book or a street corner or d. a test or fiction novel?

Pause No one rang a bell so our totally random selection draws Kirsten.

Kirsten: I guess I better call my parents. I hope they can do better than the other parents! Makes call

Heather: Hello.

Kirsten: Mom, I need your help I’m on “Who wants to go to Heaven’ and I need an answer.

Heather: Jason it’s Kirsten.

Jason: What does she want?

Heather: She is on ‘Who wants to go to Heaven’ and needs our help.

Jason: Teenagers, they always need help.

Kirsten: Will you help?

Jason: What is the question?

PA: There are two basic ways to understand the scriptures. Is the answer a. a map or a test, b. a rule book or a map, c. a rule book or a street corner or d. a test or fiction novel?

Heather: I never heard that before.

Jason: I have no idea what the answer to that one is. Sorry.

Kirsten: Really! Okay, here is my final answer. B. a rule book or a map and in the UCC people see the bible used both ways

PA: That is correct. The UCC is a very diverse faith group. Again, our contestants are tied with a score of 30 each. Next, each contestant will now be asked to share a faith statement that is very important to them for extra points. In our totally random choosing process Brock has been chosen to share his faith statement first.

Brock: I believe God gives me the chance to live with him though I don’t deserve it.

PA: Very good. That is worth ten extra points. Now Kirsten, your turn.

Kirsten: God takes us for who we are.

PA: Excellent that is worth ten extra points. Okay, Kayla.

Kayla: God helps us go through life and can hear us when no one else can.

PA: Very well said. Ten extra points for you as well. Here is our final question, How do we earn a trip to heaven? Is the answer A. attending church 50 times a year, or b. giving all your money to the poor, or c. memorizing the bible or d. we can’t.

Kayla, Kirsten, Brock: We need to ask the congregation.

PA: Okay congregation we need your help. What is the answer to the question, ‘How do we earn a trip to heaven?’ Raise your hand if the answer is A. attending church 50 times a year, raise your had if the answer is b. giving all your money to the poor, raise your hand if the answer is c. memorizing the bible, raise your hand if the answer is d. we can’t.

PA: The congregation believes the answer is d. we can’t. Contestants what is your answer?

Kirsten: the answer is d. we can’t. Only Jesus can make it happen.

Brock: Yes, Jesus is the only way to heaven, he is God incarnate.

Kayla: God incarnate means God limits God to live with us as a human.

Kirsten: Jesus is both human and divine.

Brock: He dies and is resurrected to forgive us..

Kayla: So we sinners can live with the perfect God.

PA: I believe you are all winners. Thank you for playing and being winners for Jesus.

 

Parking Spaces: We have a limited number of parking spaces. We hope to rectify this issue some day but until that fix becomes reality search out someone who might car pool with you to church. Come to church with friends instead of by yourself. Invite one of our more senior members or couples to ride with you. You might even make some great new friends.