Members of a 6:30 a.m. Bible study meet at Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople. The group has four loyal members who join the Rev. Pat McElroy each Wednesday morning. From left, Larry Meeder, McElroy, Barry Stickel, Bob Brown and Gary Dindinger.

ZELIENOPLE — At this hour, even the birds are hardly stirring.

But a group of men still gather at 6:30 a.m. each week at Park United Presbyterian Church for a prayer and Bible study.

The church on East Grandview Avenue offers the study course each Wednesday, something it has done since November.

The Rev. Pat McElroy leads the 30-minute service and said there has been a loyal group of four men who have regularly attended from the onset.

He said the service is aimed at men and women who have to work during the day and don't have time to get out to church at night.

The service opens with a prayer and then breaks off into a discussion about a scriptural passage. It then ends with another prayer.

"Asking somebody to be there at 6:30 a.m. is a tall order but those that do are a real spiritual group," said McElroy.

Coffee and doughnuts are included, not that any of those attending need amenities to be there. They are serious about their faith.

Barry Stickel of Zelienople said he enjoys the practical, everyday focus of the teachings he can apply daily, rather than the overarching message of the Sunday service.

"There's not a whole lot of theology going on," said Stickel.

Larry Meeder, also of Zelienople, said he enjoys the inevitable fellowship that has formed since it's an intimate setting.

"We're more supportive of each other, the more we know each other," said Meeder.

Stickel agreed. "The number one thing is you get to know the individual better. You see how they interpret Christ in their lives."

"I figure everybody thinks and reacts the same way as Ido ... but they don't,"said Stickel.

Gary Dindinger of Marion Township, Beaver County, said the service is a nice pick-me-up during the week when he feels in need of a spiritual recharge.

"Sunday through Sunday is a long time. This helps sustain the faith and my desire to serve the Lord," said Dindinger.

McElroy said the service started after these men approached him about it. He said he previously went to a church that offered a midweek service for men only at 5:30 a.m., which attracted more than 100 people.

"The thing with midweek services, the thing that really needs to happen is that you get into the routine of going," said McElroy.

Bob Brown of Jackson Township is retired but makes it a point to attend because he said it feeds his spiritual appetite.

"We all have reasons to get out of bed. This is a good reason," Brown said.