Contrary to popular belief, Salem United Methodist Church in Aquashicola is alive and well.

A recent sale of property connected to the church at 4145 Forest Inn Road has led some people to believe the church is closed.Not so, according to church Pastor Deborah McLean, who attempted to lay those unfounded rumors to rest."We are open," McLean said. "In fact, we have been operating for 171 years."McLean said the sale of the old Hunsinger property last month is what likely triggered the rumors that the church was closed.The Hunsinger property had been used by the church for mission work, while the Methodist Services from Philadelphia had also frequented the facility, McLean said."We were given permission in 2013 from our conference to sell it," she said. "What it meant was we had to take our big sign with electric and lights down."The property sold around December, McLean said.Unfortunately, the revenue received for the sale of the property was far less than what the church had originally paid for it, she said.McLean said the funds garnered from the sale "are simply to be held for an extreme emergency. It will not be used for anything ongoing."At present, the church has a congregation of about 50 members, she said.In an effort to make the church more visible, McLean said the church plans to do more marketing this year.She said she would like to invite people to worship with the church at 11 a.m. each Sunday.This Sunday the church will celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Reaffirmation Service, McLean said."Each person, as they feel led by the Holy Spirit, may come to the baptismal font, dip in their hands and remember their baptism and their connection to God," she said.It will also be second Sunday fellowship time, where folks are invited to stay after worship and have coffee and a light lunch, McLean said.In addition, the church also has children's Sunday school during worship. Also, Al-Anon meets at the church at 7 p.m. Mondays.For more information on the church, call 610-826-2577, or follow them on Facebook at

www.Facebook.com/SUMChurchPalmerton.