Larchmont Avenue Church Ordains New Minister

On September 18, 2022, in a special service conducted by the Presbytery of Hudson River, Anna Grace Claunch was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and installed as the new Associate Pastor for Youth and Children’s Ministry at Larchmont Avenue Church. 

As required by the constitution of the PC(USA), the liturgy included pledges of faith and support by both the pastor and the congregation followed by a “Prayer of Ordination” that was accompanied by the laying on of hands by ordained officers of the church. During the service, a sermon entitled “Earthenware Treasures” based on a passage from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was given by Rev. Dr. Paul Seelman, Senior Pastor of Huguenot Memorial Church in Pelham. A warm and supportive charge to the newly ordained pastor was given by Rev. Anne Apple of Memphis, TN, and the charge to the Larchmont Avenue Church was delivered by the senior pastor of that congregation, Rev. Dr. Peter Bynum. As a symbol of her ordination and a love gift from the church, a liturgical stole was presented to Rev. Claunch by the search committee that recommended her to the Larchmont Avenue congregation.

Now that she is ordained and installed, Rev. Claunch will be devoting much of her ministerial time to Larchmont Avenue Church’s ministry to children, youth, and families. With a team of nine adult teachers, she will be organizing weekly Sunday School classes for kids from age 3 through fifth grade. Once a month during the worship hour, she will personally lead hour-long classes about what it means to be loved by God. On Wednesday evenings, she will meet in LAC’s youth suite with middle and high school youth groups. Called “TGIF” and “SHIFT” respectively, these fellowship groups share dinner, discussion, and plenty of fun at the ping-pong and foosball tables. 

This year, the church’s ministry to children and families will also be offering monthly movie nights in the Carhart fellowship hall. Free for the entire family, beloved movies like Encanto, Hocus Pocus, Home Alone, and Soul will be shown. Refreshment sales will support the church’s ministry partners. 

A passion for these kinds of activities, as well as the church’s emphasis on programs for children and youth, are among the many things that led Rev. Claunch to accept the call to Larchmont Avenue Church. “I particularly feel called to work with young people,” she says, “so the fact that I get to spend my time at LAC working with youth and children is a blessing that I get to live out every day. Kids have so much to teach us about God and the mysteries of faith, and I am so excited to work with the wonderful kids here at LAC.”

Larchmont Avenue Church (www.lacny.org) is an inclusive, welcoming community church affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Located at the corner of Larchmont Avenue and Forest Park Avenue in Larchmont, the church is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. In-person worship services are held each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., and all are welcome. For more information, call the church office at (914) 834-1800 or email lacoffice@lacny.org.