European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes religion saturday september 24,1994 Pope visit cancellation saddens . Catholics by David Briggs a religion writer Pat arid Debbie Wahlmeier and their nine children were coming from Nebraska for the Chance of a life time an Opportunity to meet Pope John Paul h in new York next month. But they and tens of thousands of other  catholics will have to wait at least another year the 74-year old Pope called off his . Trip to allow More time to recover from hip replacement surgery the Vatican announced thursday we re certainly disappointed but it was just Over whelming just to think we d come that close to meeting the Pope soft spoken Debbie Wahlmeier said in a Telephone interview from her Home in Juniata neb., a town of about 800. I would be so humbled to meet the Pope. I would be humbled to breathe the air that he breathes and 1 know my family feels the same Way she said the Pope was due to leave oct. 20 for a visit to the United nations in new York Yonkers . Newark . And Baltimore. A trip to Asia in january is still on. -.  Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro said the Pope had not fully recovered from a fall in his bathroom april 29 and needs further physical therapy. He said the pontiff was disappointed he had to Call off the visit. The Pope intends to visit the United states in no vember 1995 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United nations the Vatican said. Both the United nations and the Catholic Church have declared 1994 the International year of the family. The Pope had hoped to use the . Visit As a worldwide forum to expand on some of the issues such As abortion and contraception that the Vatican battled Over at the population Summit earlier this month in Cairo Egypt. At dioceses in new York Maryland and Baltimore which had made extensive preparations for stadium masses youth rallies arid downtown parades saddened churchgoers resigned themselves to the cancellation. " disappointed in t the word to describe to Dor Othy Sorokos said As she left mass at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore where the Pope was to Stop oct. 23. It s like a Shock. We be been so wound up about  \ /. A. At St. Hedwig Catholic Church a polish american Parish in Trenton ., 200 congregation members had vied for .5.5 tickets to a papal mass. The Lucky ticket holders had planned to attend in polish dress. I was so sorry that he did t come said the Rev Henry f. Schabowski. It was a combination of things. First it s that the Pope is the Pope and second for us As polish americans it was a very special occasion be cause he s a polish  even the announcement the Pope had rescheduled his visit for 1995 was Little Consolation to Many. I Don t mean to sound selfish but that s next year. If you re looking for some peace in your turbulent world right now that s another year you la have to wait for that Blessing said Geri Lagrua of new York City who had planned her family s weekend around the papal visit. " y v " .7 \. Another new yorker 6-year-old Kristina Scarlotta cried when she heard the Newi on television. My daughter was getting ready for school and saw it first and started to cry and i sat there and cried with her said her Mother Theresa choking Back More tears. I cried for her because shews so excited about the visit. I know they said next year but next year is a Long Way off for a  Church Singer s a Ord lives on after his death in us air crash a in the months before he died in a plane crash Church Singer Kirk Lynn Felt compelled to share his religion with others. His pastor called him a winsome witness a de Vout person who was shy about spreading the word of god and Story of Jesus  26, was planning to devote More Tinie to a religious music ministry at the time he and 131 others died in the sept. 8 crash of us air flight 427 near Pittsburgh International Airport. But death it seems has not stopped his calling. A tape recording of As we sail to heaven s Shore i Ballad Lynn Sang in Church Hldays before the crash is touching the hearts of relatives of i Light 4.27 s victims As Well As people with no connection to the Accident. It s ironic that his Faith and testimony in that song arc reaching More people in his death than he Ever could have imagined said the Rev. Michael Alfieri adult ministries pastor at first evangelical free Church where Lynn was head soloist. The song tells of a journey to heaven on Stormy seas with god s hand guiding the  s performance and the lyrics by Phill Mchugh Pavc moved Many to tears including dozens at a Small service monday for several passengers from Rural South Western Pennsylvania. The tape also was played in Pitts Burgh four Days after the crash for thousands of people at an outdoor memorial service for crash victims. As Lynn s voice echoed off nearby buildings his family and fellow churchgoers bowed their Heads just As Lynn asked them to do aug. 28 when he . He wanted us to think about the song As a prayer said his father Glenn Lynn of White Oak a Pittsburgh suburb. The song is keening volunteers Busy at first Vangeli Cal a protestant Church in Mckeesport near Pittsburgh. The Church is giving away copies of the tape to More than 1,000 people who have Callea and written from As faraway As Colorado Alabama and Florida. Us air requested six dozen tapes of Lynn s Tenor a hich. Is accompanied by his Mother in Law on piano. Christian bookstores in the Pittsburgh area sold out of contemporary Christian Singer Steve Green s album Lind Lynn As we sail to heaven s shore7 Mere Are the lyrics to As Vic sail to heaven s Shore with words by Phill Mchugh and music by Greg Nelson copyright 1986 River Oaks music co. Storms May Rise on seas unknown while we journey toward our Home surely Well learn what Grace is Foras we sail to heaven s Shore Send us strength of  grim guide sin would drown us in its tide be close at hand and go be Oreas we sail to heaven s Shore holy spirit Lead us on give us courage bring the song lord we Trust your father s care will convey us safely there open or Seal off every door As sve sail to heaven s Shore straighten our course with every prayer let heaven s  us to vere and Grant us mercy evermore c As we sail to heaven s Shore draw us near o finest Friend from Dawn s Light to evening s end Kadi passing Day we love you More As we sail to heaven s Shore As we sail to heaven s Shore thes press us i Niihau a which includes another version of the song. When Pittsburgh radio stations went silent for 15 seconds exactly one week after the crash top 40 radio Sta Tion Wozz returned to play Lynn s Type. Several television news reports have included the song. Signs pointing the Way for Many congregations ".-. From the associated press Birmingham Ala. Along the Road to salvation Are Many slogans. The sign in front of Adamsville Church of god says salvation Don t leave Earth without  a Short distance away at a Busy intersection in Adamsville Midway United methodist Church pastor Bobby Shaw considered the heavy traffic in front of the Church an Opportunity for a sentence Long Sermon. The Church s 8-foot-tall sign features a message that changes weekly. It s a Way of getting messages out across the Community and it Speaks to them 24 hours a Day Shaw said.  " " Christian booksellers who Market quotation books used for the signs say the sign craze has hit a Boom phase. It s All the rage now and we Are getting request from All Over said Ted o Brien marketing director for Riverside Book and Bible a worldwide distribution company based in Iowa Falls Iowa i think it s part of a trend Over the last couple of years to make things remembered arid to make people think a Little bit As they re driving  another of the messages is your seat in eternity will it be smoking or nonsmoking Church facilities saved Minneapolis Kan. There were not enough people to keep the Bethany free Church going in the traditional Way but a group raised enough Money to save the Church some hymnals and pews and even a cast Iron school Bell. Jettie Condray the curator of the Ottawa county historical museum got contributors and fund raisers together to come up with the $2,350 needed for the winning bid on the Church and connecting school House at a recent auction.-. Contributors pooled enough Money to also buy the schools cast Iron Bell for $1,500 and several other building fixtures. The group bought the pulpit 30 to 40 hymnals and More than a dozen pews All of which will stay in the Church to maintain its original character Condray said. Earlier this month George Dixon the Church s pastor of 11 years decided to close it. Dixon conducted his final service there sept. 4. There just weren t enough people in the Community he said. You can t have a Church without  fund Rig since fairs axed Chauvin la. For 25 years Lagniappe on the Bayou has raised Money As much As $100,000 last year to help support St. Joseph Catholic Hurcle. Is but Church officials who say partying and gambling Are not worthy ways to support a Church plan to end the tradition that has attracted 30,000 people to Bayou Little caillou each year. The festival oct. 7-9 will be the Church s  Church is following an order by former Catholic Bishop Warren Boudreaux to end All Church fairs by 1996. Everybody s going to miss it said monsignor Frederic Brunei the St. Joseph pastor. It caught the flavor of the cajun  pilgrims attract complaints Emmitsburg my. Residents of this tranquil Maryland Community say the hundreds of worshippers who trek Here thursday nights when Gianna Talone Sullivan says she sees visions of the Virgin Mary Are a mixed Blessing. The to rfcs of pilgrims usually show up hour before the weekly prayer sessions and stroll main Street spending Money at the few restaurants an stores in town. But with growing crowds which number upward of 800 at some services there have been increasing complaints about traffic parking and litter. What has particularly disturbed residents in recent weeks Are reports of visitors picnicking an children playing in the cemetery surrounding St. Joseph s Catholic Church the site of the. Visions. When people Are spreading blankets and chairs in the cemetery things Are getting out of hand says Kathleen Shorb a parishioner who lives across from the Church. We have parents and grandparents buried there. It s  Talone Sullivan 37, reported seeing the visions last november participants on some thursdays Are now nearly triple the Church s 370-person capacity