Between the congregation and friends on hand to see yesterday's "unveiling," as one congregant called it, the event was shaping up like a before-and-after TV make-over seen by a room full of admirers.

	Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette The Rev. Scott McCormick sits on the alter of McKnight United Methodist Church in Ross while having his head shaved by Jennifer Cherevka. Click photo for larger image.

In the before, the Rev. Scott McCormick resembled a central-casting college professor with the requisite mustache, full beard, thick head of gray hair and wire-rimmed glasses. Only in his case, a pastoral collar replaced the tweed jacket.

In the after, he took on the look -- if not the mannerisms -- of The Three Stooges' Curly.

"You think I could join up and be in the Three Stooges?" he asked.

In the end, he was bare of hair but not spare with the humor.

"There's a chin," he cracked while gazing in a mirror as the congregation of McKnight United Methodist Church in Ross broke into laughter.

The public shearing honored a pledge McCormick made Easter Sunday to the youths of the church. If they raised the balance of the necessary $5,500 for a mission trip to Kentucky, he would shave his beard, mustache and hair during a church service. At the time, not quite half had been raised.

Yesterday, after the singing, the responsive readings and collection, McCormick set up a card table, clippers and mirror, removed his collar, and began shaving.

To cut his hair, professional barber Jennifer Cherevka stepped in. As the locks began to fall, one woman could be heard saying: "Oh my God, all that nice hair."

Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette Congregants at McKnight United Methodist Church in Ross hold up pictures of their minister, Scott McCormick, at the end of church services. The pictures show McCormick before he shaved his head and beard during yesterday's service. Click photo for larger image.

Still, the clean-shaven McCormick pointed out through biblical and personal references that change -- however distasteful to some -- is not necessarily bad and can be a good thing.

The change in McCormick's appearance represents a good thing for the Powered By Jesus youth group, whose members were motivated to raise the balance of the money needed for the trip to Red Bird Mission Work Camp in Beverly, Ky. The same Sunday he challenged them, church members chipped in $1,500.

Red Bird is an institution related to the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Eight teens and nine adults will spend June 26 through July 2 fixing up a house for a family.

Twins Brittany and Megan Bova, 16, of the North Side will go. The Bovas, Schenley High School students, are excited at the prospect of fellowship with other young people and at helping a needy family. Brittany initially offered to cut her hair as an incentive but she and Megan welcomed McCormick's offer.

The group looked at a number of missions before deciding on Red Bird, said youth group leader Gerri Czado.

To raise the $5,500, which includes the cost of the trip and supplies for the job, the group sold pies and refrigerator magnets, held luncheons, sponsored a winter snowflake dance and collected donations including one anonymous $500 gift, Czado said.

After the service, church members congratulated McCormick on his new look, stopping to chat and snap his photo.

What did his wife, Sylvia, think?

"I'm still in shock and awe," she said.

Having never seen her husband sans beard and hair, she was reminded of a photo he carries in his wallet.

A 3-by-5-inch picture captures a 17-year-old McCormick wearing black glasses and a buzz cut and looking a lot like comedian Drew Carey.

"At this point, the only thing I feel is a little cooler up here," he said running his hand across the stubble atop his head.