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The Rev. Henry S. Miller, the first pastor, was born October 30, 1801 in Hanover Township (Lehigh County), PA.  His father was Peter Miller, a tenant farmer, and his mother was the daughter of Conrad Seipel.  Moving to Easton with his parents in 1811, he attended the only Lutheran Church there at the time.  On January 20, 1818, being only 17 years old, he began to study for the ministry. 

 

Since there were no Lutheran colleges and seminaries, he studied at home and received his instruction from his Pastor.  His first pastoral charge was in Bucks County, which consisted of the following churches:  Springfield, Nockamixon, Tinicum, Keller's, and Durham.  It was during this pastorate that a new church known as "Apples," a union church, was built.  He became the Pastor of the Lutheran congregation thereof and continued in that capacity until 1838 when he moved to Trappe.  Pastor Miller was a minister of the Gospel for 64 years.  He was secretary of the Synod from 1840 to 1842.  He died August 29, 1887 and is buried in Norristown.

 

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THE REV. BENJAMIN GERMAN (Served from 1838 to 1848) 

 

The Rev. Benjamin German was born September 5, 1789 in Womelsdorf (Berks County), PA.  He began studying theology when he was 19 years old and studied under the Revs. Von Huff, Thelmuth, and Schaeffer.  He was ordained in 1815.  In 1838, he became Pastor of Apples, in addition to three other congregations.  He died August 22, 1848 at the age of 58.  It is written that Pastor German was a powerful preacher, eloquent, and fearless.  He was most emphatic against the use of intoxicants.  Through him certain funeral customs were reformed.  He was not without enemies but that is often the result of being faithful to truth and duty.

 

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THE REV. WILLIAM GERMAN (Served from 1848 to 1851)

 

The Rev. William German was born in Womelsdorf on September 16, 1798, the brother of the Rev. Benjamin  German.  He studied privately and after he was examined was received into the synod.  When his brother died he became Pastor of Apples and four other churches.  It is written of him that he was a tall man, but not robust in body, rather weak, and ailing much.  His pastorate was short, his administrations often interrupted by sickness, and yet he is kindly remembered for his self-sacrificing work.

 

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THE REV. JACOB VOGELBACH (Served from 1851 to 1857)

 

The Rev. Jacob Vogelbach was born in Germany and received his ministerial training there.  He came to America as a young man.  In 1852, he became Pastor of Apples, one of the four congregations that then formed the charge.  In 1853, he also became the Pastor of St. Paul's in Allentown.  He died November 20, 1880.  One history book describes him as an able preacher, remembered for his spiritual and evangelical sermons.

 

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THE REV. WILLIAM RATH (Served from 1857 to 1886)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rev. William Rath was born in Upper Saucon (Lehigh County), PA near Friedensville on September 23, 1826.  He was the son of the Lutheran congregation in Friedensville.  As a boy he worked on his father's farm near Hellertown and later, in 1844, began to learn the blacksmith trade.  However, when his mother died on May 4, 1844 leaving behind nine children, he changed his plans.  In the winter of 1845, he began to teach school.  In the fall of 1846, he went to Philadelphia as a salesman in a dry goods house on Third Street.  While in the City of Brotherly Love, he regularly attended St. John's Lutheran Church on Race Street.

 

Finally in 1850, he began to study for the ministry in his home and was tutored by the Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, who lived in the parsonage of Jordan Lutheran Church, South Whitehall Township (Lehigh County), PA.  In June 1852, he passed his examination and was licensed by the Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania. In May 1857, he received and accepted a call to the charge consisting of four congregations, i.e., Salisbury, Zionsville, Blue Church, and Apples.  During this time he also served St. Paul's in Catasauqua.  In the fall of 1859, he became Pastor of the Lower Saucon Lutheran congregation and served there until 1870.  During 1858 and 1859, he preached at Mickley's.  And during 1861 and 1862, he served the congregation at Cedarville.  He organized the congregation in Hellertown in 1870 and served it until 1881.  He also organized and served at St. John's in Emmaus.  He resigned as Pastor of Apples in 1886 and died on July 16, 1889.

 

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THE REV. ELIAS A. YEHL (Served from 1888 to 1893) 

 

 

The Rev. Elias A. Yehl was born in North Whitehall Township (Lehigh County), PA on May 17, 1860.  He entered the Philadelphia Theological Seminary graduating three years later.  Immediately following his ordination, he became Pastor of the charge then consisting of St. Paul's (Blue Church), Upper Saucon; St. John's, Coopersburg; St. John's Chestnut Hill, Lower Milford; and Apples.  He was energetic in work, active in pastoral visitation and eminently practical in his pulpit ministrations.  He had a fine presence, a courteous manner, and a well modulated voice.  His health gradually failing, he was compelled to resign his charge in 1893.

 

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THE REV. W. W. KISTLER (Served from 1894 to 1933) 

 

 

The Rev. W. W. Kistler was born on September 12, 1861 in West Penn (Schuylkill County), PA.  In June 1891, he graduated with honorable mention from Muhlenberg College.  The following September he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and graduated in May 1894.  Whereupon he received and accepted a call to the charge made vacant by the resignation of Rev. Mr. Yehl.

 

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THE REV. DANIEL D. KISTLER (Served from 1933 to1949)

 

The Rev. Daniel D. Kistler was born November 22, 1901 in Coopersburg, PA.  He graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1921 and the Philadelphia Seminary in 1924 and was ordained the same year.  He received his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1960.  His first parish was Trinity Church in Everett, WA (1924-1933).  While he was there, he served as President of the Pacific Synod.  After he left the New Jerusalem charge in 1949, he was called to Holy Trinity in Lebanon, PA (1950-1960).  He died suddenly while attending a Christian Seminar in Scotland on December 12, 1960.

 

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THE REV. RICHARD A. BECK (Served from 1950 to 1957)

 

The Rev. Richard A. Beck was born on December 24, 1903 in Nova Scotia, Canada.  He graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1926 and the Philadelphia Seminary in 1929.  He received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1946.  His first parish was the Bowman-Dinkey Parish (1929-1950).  After he served New Jerusalem, he accepted the charge at St. John's in Honesdale, PA (1957-1964) at which time he retired and moved to Allentown and passed to his eternal rest.

 

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THE REV. EARL E. ZEINER (Served from 1958 to 1961)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rev. Earl Zeiner was ordained in May 1955.  His first charge was the combined parishes of Salem Lutheran in Mooresville and St. Peter's in Seemsville.  They were union churches and he served them both from 1955–1957.  In 1958, he was called to serve as assistant pastor in Williamsport.  He came to New Jerusalem in December 1958 and served until December 1961 when he was called to Good Shepherd Lutheran in Tuckerton, which was also a union church until 1980.

(Excerpts from the 125th Anniversary Booklet, 1834-1959

and the Bi-Centennial Celebration Booklet, 1783-1983)

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THE REV. AUGUSTUS V. TIETBOHL (Served from 1962 to 1990)  

The Rev. Augustus V. Tietbohl graduated from Susquehanna University in 1948 and from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg in 1951.  His first parish was Faith Lutheran Church in Phildelphia, PA.  He married Josephine (Kammerer) Tietbohl in May, 1953 and had 3 children.  His second call was

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nanticoke, PA.  In 1962, he was called to New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church.  He served God and this congregation for 28 years until his retirement.  After his retirement, he served as Visitation Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Quakertown, PA; St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Perkasie, PA; and after moving to Lititz, he also served as Visitation Pastor at

St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA.

 

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THE REV. PAUL NYE (Served from 1990 to 1995)  

 

The Rev. Paul Nye graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY.  He received his Master of Divinity degree and Doctor of Ministry degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.  He is currently employed as Vice President of Mission Support at Peter Becker Community in Harleysville, PA.

 

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THE REV. TRICIA MC MACKIN (Served from 1996 to Present)

Rev. Tricia McMackin is a native of Reading, PA.  She graduated from The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA in 1991, receiving her Master of Divinity degree.  She served Trinity Lutheran Church in Bowmanstown, PA from August 1991 to November 1996.  She currently serves New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, PA.  She is secretary for the Hellertown Club of the Greater Federation of Woman's Clubs.  Free time interests include singing, playing the piano, having fun with nieces and nephews, and adding to her pig collection.

 

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