"CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!."
This greeting on Easter morning is the best greeting we can ever hear. When we hear that Christ is Risen, we proclaim that Christ has conquered death forever. Death has lost its sting and Satan has been defeated.
However, the proclamation doesn't end with this greeting for when we say Christ is Risen, we are called to enter the mission field. We who follow Christ--who were saved by his death and resurrection and made a child of God at our baptism, should desire to go and tell others what God has done for us!
We hope that during worship on Sunday mornings everyone will feel equipped to GO and tell others that CHRIST IS RISEN! In a world where many have not heard any news about our Savior, Jesus Christ, this could be life changing news. In a world that denies death because they feel there is nothing after death--it is shocking that Christ died and rose to bring us to new life. It is renewing to hear John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
A Blessed Easter to you,
Pastor Nila Cogan
Many of you have seen me over the years throughout the mission district in various ways; as a pastor, a member of the mission district council, an assistant to the Dean, as coordinator of youth activities and as camp director, but let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Somerset County on a large dairy farm. My maiden name was Shaffer, hence my German Lutheran roots. I married my high school sweetheart, Larry Cogan in August of 1974, yes, I have been married for 50+ years. We are the proud parents of three daughters and one son and have been blessed with twelve grandchildren.
I felt a call from God when I was fourteen years old but had no idea what that meant at that time. I have always been involved in my church and I was very involved (prior to 2009) in the Allegheny Synod. Larry and I have always been involved in agriculture. In his younger days Larry worked for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and then in 1984 we purchased a large greenhouse and floral business near Somerset. In 1999 I attended classes offered by the Allegheny Synod to be a Lay Worship Leader and then attended Gettysburg Seminary in a program to be authorized as a youth minister. I started my seminary studies in 2005. While doing my seminary studies I served a small congregation in the outskirts of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Dunmyer Lutheran, and received a call to continue serving them when I was ordained in 2009. Dunmyer was one of the original churches of the NALC. When St Thomas Lutheran joined the NALC in 2011, their pastor stayed with the ELCA so Dunmyer graciously extended help to St Thomas by offering to have me serve them until they could call a new pastor. Ten months later I was installed as that called pastor. St Thomas Evangelical Lutheran is a rural congregation in northeast Somerset County, surrounded by farmland and is also the home location of our In-Tents Camps.
In 2018 Larry and I bought a small farm north of Somerset and we raise sheep and pigs and make hay. My passions are first – GOD, second – family and third – farming.