ABOUT US

Patton Trinity Methodist is a church committed to bringing others to Christ and nurturing and loving all through fellowship and action. PTM has a rich history and is located at the corner of N. Fifth and Beech Avenues in Patton, PA. We come together to worship on Saturday evenings at 6:30 pm and on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. We worship through Biblical teaching, music, and fellowship. Nursery is available during the Sunday worship service for children who are newborn through age 2.

Additional activities at PTM include Adult Bible Study, Children’s Bible Ministry, fellowship activities, Community and Chancel Choir, Vacation Bible School, and more. Patton Trinity Methodist is affiliated with the Global Methodist Church and the Global Methodist Church Allegheny West

OUR PASTOR - Rev. Gary Grau

Pastor Gary has served as a minister over the last 40 years. Pastor Gary felt the call to ministry when he was a teenager and planned to study religion in college. However, due to outside influences, he decided to study mathematics instead. This decision led to what he calls his “17-year wilderness journey” which took place from 1966 – 1983. During this journey, Pastor Gary met his late wife Mary Ann at a fraternity party in 1968. On September 13, 1969, they were married. He worked in store management during his wilderness journey for both Gold Circle and Zayre. In 1977, his oldest daughter Amy Lynn was born on January 17th. Three years later on March 21,1980, his youngest daughter Becky Jo was born. In 1983 his wilderness journey came to an end when he was challenged by Mary Ann who asked him, “Don’t you think it is time?” finally answering God’s call on His life.

Pastor Gary attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary from 1983 – 1987 where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. During this time, Pastor Gary served as a student local pastor at Garfield Street United Methodist Church in Johnstown, PA. From 1987 – 1998, Pastor Gary served for the first time at Patton Trinity United Methodist Church. In 1998, Pastor Gary was appointed to Windber Calvary United Methodist Church where he served until 2009. During his time at Windber Calvary, Pastor Gary’s oldest daughter married her husband Ken Ivory in May of 1999. In January 2007, Pastor Gary was blessed with his first grandson, Aidan. Then in April of 2008, Pastor Gary’s youngest daughter married her husband, Mike Roberts.

In 2009, Pastor Gary was appointed to First United Methodist Church in Waynesburg, PA where he served until 2016 when he entered into a retired relationship with the United Methodist Church. During his time at First United Methodist, Pastor Gary was blessed with his second grandson, Ian in February of 2010. In 2018, Pastor Gary served the Coalport Charge of the United Methodist Church. Then in 2020, Pastor Gary returned to Patton Trinity United Methodist Church. Sadly, on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, God called his wife of 51 years home. Pastor Gary continued to serve Patton Trinity United Methodist Church until 2023 when the decision was made to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church which was finalized on June 14, 2023. Pastor Gary now serves Patton Trinity Methodist Church, part of the Global Methodist Church. Pastor Gary’s passion is to “serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wherever He calls me to and in whatever way He wants me to.”

Faith Statement

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven

and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally

begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God

from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father;

through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He

came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the

Virgin Mary and became truly human.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered

death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in

accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is

seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no

end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who

proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and

the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the

prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church. We

acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for

the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

* Universal

MEET OUR STAFF

Susan Yeager

Lay Leader

Bill Garay

Church Council Chair

Tony Poliski

Trustees Chair

Bill Millar

Staff Parish Relations Committee Chair:

Pam Holtz

Finance Chair

OUR HISTORY

The history of Patton Trinity Methodist began when General John Patton came into possession of 5,600 acres of land on Chest Creek. This was purchased from him by his son A.E. Patton as well as another 6,000 adjoining acres. A.E. Patton founded the town of Patton, naming it after his father. Part of the land was cleared in 1891, streets were laid out in 1892, and on September 11, 1893, the borough was incorporated.

On January 23 of 1893, the Patton Union Sunday School was organized. On May 21 of 1893 Rev. Charles Wasson, the minister in charge of the Hastings Methodist Episcopal Church, delivered the first sermon in Patton. Rev. Wasson was key in the establishment of a Methodist Episcopal Church in Patton. Rev. Wasson and the Protestants in the community worked to raise the funds necessary to begin the process. The Chest Creek Land and Improvement Co. gave two lots at the corner of Palmer and Sixth Avenues. The cornerstone of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church was laid in November 1893 and the doors opened on Easter morning, March 25, 1894. The church was dedicated on August 10, 1894, with only 10 members.

In 1900 the trustees of the church sold the parsonage and Church to procure a larger and more suitable location at the corner of N. Fifth and Beech Avenues. The church was erected between 1901 – 1902. The cornerstone of the building was laid on September 22, 1901, and on Sunday, June 22, 1902, the church was dedicated. Unfortunately, disaster struck in May of 1949 when the Church was destroyed by a fire. On May 27, 1949, the decision was made to rebuild the Church and work began in September 1949. The rebuilding of the church was completed in May 1951.

In 1968 the Church was changed from a Methodist Episcopal Church to a United Methodist Church and the name of the Church became Patton Trinity Methodist Church. In 2023, the church voted and began the process of disaffiliating from the United Methodist Denomination due to concerns with the direction the United Methodist Church was going in. The Church also voted to join the Global Methodist Church once the disaffiliation process was complete. On June 14, 2023, the disaffiliation was granted during a special session at the 2023 Western Pennsylvania United Methodist Annual Conference. On July 1, 2023, the church officially became affiliated with the Global Methodist Church and was renamed to Patton Trinity Methodist.

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