Worship in the Woods is the summer vespers series of the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center. Join us Sundays at 7 PM from June 25 through August 6 in our beautiful, outdoor, wooded amphitheater!

Our service on July 30 will feature Jennifer Keeney Scarr as speaker, with dulcimer players Dinah Ansley and Lori Lineweaver providing special music.

Jennifer Keeney Scarr was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and is a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren. She shares a home with her beloved husband, Jonathan, and their two cats, Midnight and Leo. In her spare time Jennifer enjoys hiking, reading a good book, going for long walks, and mentoring fellow preachers in crafting effective sermons. 

Jennifer completed her undergraduate work at the University of Laverne in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts with a minor in Religion. In 2015, Jennifer completed her graduate work at Bethany Theological Seminary achieving a Masters of Divinity in Peace Studies with an emphasis in Conflict Transformation. She is currently studying with Backstory Preaching, an ecumenical organization inspired to mentor pastors into being the good news they preach. 

Jennifer’s other experiences include service on the On Earth Peace Board as current chair of their Board Governance Committee.

Before joining Bridgewater CoB as Pastor of Pastoral Care and Outreach, Jennifer served as the pastor for Trotwood Church of the Brethren near Dayton, Ohio as well as on a variety of boards including the Southern Ohio/Kentucky District Board and Womaen’s Caucus. One of her most formative experiences occurred serving with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. 

Dinah Ansley and Lori Lineweaver are local dulcimer players who have been playing together for more than a decade, often in a group of four or more, as part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players.  They specialize in “sweet, that is ‘dulci’ music,” especially finger-picking.  Their repertoire ranges from plaintive Celtic ballads and hymns to old time dance tunes.  They are eager to introduce this Appalachian Mountain Instrument to folks in the Valley.  Their instruments are hand-crafted by master luthiers in California.

Please bring your own lawn chair for seating. An offering will be taken to support the ongoing mission of the Heritage Center. Parking is available in the field at the top of our hill. Golf cart assistance is available for those who wish it; if handicap parking is needed at the bottom of the amphitheater, please request it when you arrive.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Log House and parking signs will be relocated to that area.