As a full-time minister serving two United Church of Christ congregations, Ray Holland tries to be present and support people through their ups and downs. 

When he took on the added job of personal services assistant at Northern Dauphin Library in 2014, he was surprised to find himself in another form of ministry. He learned that he and his Library colleagues get the opportunity “to interact on a personal level with so many local people.” 

“You’re still dealing with people with needs and concerns,” he says. “They may need to know how to print something out, but they may have also just suffered the loss of a child, and they need someone to talk to. It’s been very rewarding for me, and as far as I can tell, very helpful to the folks who come in here.”  

Ray is also a classically trained musician who shares the gift of music by playing mountain dulcimer for Library events. 

What are you reading? 

I spend a lot of time driving, so almost all of my reading is audiobooks. In fiction, I’m working my way through the Mrs. Jeffries Victorian mystery series, by Emily Brightwell. I also read Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Because of my ministry, I try to alternate fiction with nonfiction. I recently read Embodied, by Preston Sprinkle, and The Bright Ages, by Matthew Gabriele. And obviously, I read the Bible. 

What do you like in fiction? 

The Mrs. Jeffries series is set in the Victorian age. I find that a very charming age. Whether it’s accurate or not, I enjoy the setting. Plus, they’re cottage mysteries. They’re not gruesome. Good Omens has a lot of interesting theology. I found that very entertaining. It’s about an archangel and a demon, and the arrival of the antichrist. They decide to derail God’s plan so the world can keep going. It’s very clever. 

What do you look for in books related to your ministry? 

Sometimes, I read biographies of saints or reformers. I like history, particularly as it pertains to phases in the development of the church over the last 2,000 years. I’ll read about current social issues. Embodied was a conservative Christian consideration of the transgender issue. I didn’t agree with some of the conclusions, but I learned a lot. It sharpens my perspective.  

What does The Library mean to the community? 

Here in Lykens, The Library is a resource for a variety of forms of information and entertainment. It provides technology that people may not have at home. I can’t tell you how many people say, “I don’t have a computer,” or, “My printer’s on the fritz.” It is also a place for people who might not have one otherwise to interact. It’s comfortable. Everybody knows your name, just like Cheers. We are small enough and local enough that when folks come in, I can look up and say, “Morning, Joe.”