The Rev. George J. Miller
July 30, 1935 -- May 3, 2020
The Rev. George J. Miller, our brother in faith, Pastor Emeritus and member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Robesonia, 84 of Wernersville, PA passed away peacefully at the Phoebe Berks Healthcare Center the morning of May 3, 2020.
The Rev. Miller served 26 years as the 5th Called Pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Robesonia (from September 1, 1975 until his retirement on January 31, 2002). Initially, he began serving here as pastor of the Robesonia-Wernersville Charge (serving both St. Paul's UCC in Robesonia and First Church UCC in Wernersville simultaneously), until that charge dissolved in 1988, when he became the first full-time sole pastor of St. Paul's UCC. Following his retirement he was honored by the congregation as "Pastor Emeritus." He continued to actively, faithfully, and lovingly serve as a member of St. Paul's UCC throughout his retirement.
Son of Lester J. and Grace (Hess) Miller of Northampton, PA, he is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Alberta, son James Miller and his wife Hyonhi, daughters Beth Miller and her husband Steven, Nancy Grander and her husband Matt and Sally Miller and her wife Greta and his beloved dog Joe. He is survived by seven grandchildren; Jacob (Katie), Allison, Lee (Kelsey), Ben, Lauren (Michael), Ethan, and Grace; and two great grandsons, Wyatt and Asher. He is also survived by his sisters Dorothy and Esther.
Rev. Miller graduated from Northampton High, Bloomsburg State College, and Lancaster Theological Seminary. His first parish was in Delmont, PA and was followed by a merged parish in Zion, PA before moving to his longest parish at St. Paul’s UCC in Robesonia, PA / First Church UCC in Wernersville, PA and later after a reorganization, he continued at St. Paul’s UCC in Robesonia until his retirement in 2002. Upon retirement he was named Pastor Emeritus of St Paul’s UCC. After retirement Pastor George served as an interim pastor for 5 different churches and continued in the ministry until 2011 when he retired after 50 years of service.
Rev. Miller later completed chaplaincy requirements and became a professional chaplain volunteering his services at Reading Hospital. He also established and served the Conrad Weiser Ministerium, volunteered for after school homework programs and started the first local Kids Klub and day camp. Pastor George also served on various committees of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, Heidelberg Association, and Western Berks Versammling.
Rev. Miller initiated and actively pursued a low rent housing facility for the elderly which became Furnace Creek Manor in Robesonia. He was also instrumental in helping to develop Phoebe Berks Village and found the property on which it stands today. Rev. Miller served on the Phoebe Board for 14 years.
He enjoyed the outdoors; gardening, hunting, and taking care of his property at Lake Wynonah. After retiring to Phoebe Berks, he cleared and developed a nature trail for everyone to enjoy which is now known as “George’s Trail.”
A private burial service will be held at the Heidelberg Cemetery in Robesonia on Thursday, May 7, with a memorial service to be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be sent to St. Paul’s UCC in Robesonia, 301 W. Penn Ave. Robesonia PA 19551 or to Phoebe Berks Village, 1 Reading Drive, Wernersville PA 19565.
Lamm & Witman Funeral Home, 243 W. Penn Ave., Wernersville, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.lammandwitman.com.
In his honor and remembrance, the church was draped in black from May 17, 2020 to the end of the month, and then draped in white for June 2020.
The Miller Fellowship Hall is named in his honor. Memorial gifts donated were used to redo the flooring of the hall
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 social distancing needs, we were unable to have a public viewing, public time of visitation, or public services in May 2020. Due to group size restrictions, the graveside service was private, with a parade of cars driving by the cemetery and the ringing of the church bell. We are now able to have a public time of visitation, which will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 12:00noon to 2:00pm, with a Celebration of Life worship service at 2:00pm in the sanctuary of St. Paul's UCC, which will also be streamed to the Miller Fellowship Hall and old social hall; it will be streamed to Phoebe-Berks; and you will be able to watch the service from the safety and comfort of your own home on our St. Paul's UCC YouTube Channel, on our St. Paul's UCC Facebook Page, and listen to the audio on our toll free Live Phone Stream (1-888-649-5770). Those who are not staying for the worship service are encouraged to come for visitation at 12:00noon; those who are staying for the worship service are encouraged to come for visitation at 1:00pm.
Dates & Times:
Burial: Private (due to COVID-19 social distancing needs)
Thursday, May 7, 2020
at the Heidelberg Cemetery, Robesonia
Visitation: Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 12:00pm
at St. Paul's UCC in Robesonia
(Those not staying for the service are encouraged to come at 12:00pm;
Those who are staying for the service are encouraged to come at 1:00pm)
Celebration of Life Service: Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 2:00pm
at St. Paul's UCC in Robesonia
This service will be live streamed on our YouTube Channel, on our St. Paul's UCC Facebook Page, and the audio on our Live Phone Stream (1-888-649-5770). Click on this Rev. Miller - Celebration of Life - Live Stream link to go to directly to the live stream.
For the bulletin, click on this Rev. Miller - Celebration of Life - Bulletin or Large Print Bulletin link.
Prayers of Remembrance: Sunday, May 17, 2020
during the 10:25am Live Stream Worship Service
at St. Paul's UCC, Robesonia
Draped in White
For the last three Sundays of May, the church building has been draped in black as we share in our common loss and common grief of the death of the Rev. George Miller, who served as the Pastor of St. Paul's UCC for 26 years and Pastor Emeritus for 18 years.
The church building had previously been draped in black following the death of the Rev. Thomas Leinbach 111 years ago, in May 1909.
In June we changed those black cloths to white. We left the white cloths up through Sunday, August 16. We had white cloth draped from the bell tower, across the sign in the front of the building, over the cross along the side of the building, over the "Miller Fellowship Hall" sign (named in Rev. Miller's honor), and over the lecturn and pulpit.
Black is liturgical color for mourning and grief; white is the liturgical color for baptism and resurrection. We celebrate the resurrection that Rev. Miller shares with Christ through his baptism, the same resurrection joy which Rev. Miller had proclaimed to us when he preached in the pulpit, stood by the graveside at the funerals, sat by the hospital bed side in prayer, shared while pouring the waters of baptism, and in so many other places and settings throughout his life. We intentionally left the white cloths up for more than twice as long as the black; for our hope is stronger than our grief. Death and grief do not have the final word for the Rev. George Miller or for any of us; resurrection and life are victorious through our baptism in Christ!
As we hear from the Apostle Paul, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55,57).
