The First United Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at The First United Presbyterian Church, 408 Bridge Street, Bridgewater, PA 15009, 724.847.0748.


Bob’s thoughts:

I’m not one to look for omens, but cold coffee from Giant Eagle on a rainy morning and cold coffee again at the church did not bode well.

The Sanctuary was very pleasant, a lot of dark wood surrounding the organ pipes and a large central cross with a purple drape. I’m not sure of the age of the building but I’d guess over 200 years due to the original pressed tin ceiling. It was all nicely tied together.

The pew spacing was tight but no one needed to pass. When we sit in the back I always wonder whose seat we're sitting in. Did not notice any interior signage but we were enthusiastically greeted at the entry by an usher and a greeter and offered the location of the coat rack, restroom, and coffee area.

The bulletin was laid out well and center-folded for the service. There was a request for deacons and elders to meet with the pastor for prayer before the service and a note that there would be Communion and footwashing on Maundy Thursday.

We met, I believe, the Church Secretary, who was the only parishioner who greeted us, and came from the other side of the Sanctuary to do so. Her enthusiasm barely allowed me to get my name out so I was unable to compliment her on the bulletin.

This was another church that solved the hymnal dilemma by keeping them all – three this time, and it was noted in the bulletin which hymnal was to be used during this service. I noticed no pew Bibles. There was a simple visitor card/prayer request/wish card given at the door along with a pen prominently indicating the pastor’s name and the initials after, THB.

I am always disappointed when the offering is taken before the Word.

I was greatly impressed at the start of the service with the passion and theological insight. This pastor seemed to really “get it,” but somewhere after the Children’s Message it went away. The Children’s Message was well done – he responded to their comments and encouraged them when they were on track. It was a good, simple message with a simple metaphor of a lamp to Christ’s light. The pastor touched the head of each of the children and young adults as he prayed his blessing upon them. Though he came across as a pastor who believes (this should not be an oddity), the delivery could've been less personal and more focused on God.

The Prayer of Illumination was supplanted by an explanation of why there was not an Ash Wednesday service. I was disappointed with the explanation that it was for show since I never viewed the imposition and wearing of ashes as a display.

A great addition to the service was two young girls who performed a duet on a flute and clarinet.

Jan’s thoughts:

I located this church online via the Beaver-Butler Presbytery website, but couldn’t locate the church’s website even after Googling it. There are also at least two other First Presbyterian Churches in the area.

This is a pretty little church on an easy-to-find corner barely into Bridgewater. It was pouring rain when we arrived, but the greeters were enthusiastic and warm. It struck me as unusual to walk in the front door and the first thing I saw was the large cross draped with a purple cloth at the front of the Sanctuary, but that’s exactly what I saw and it was arresting.

The inside was nicely decorated and presented beautifully: dark wood throughout, touches of purple everywhere – the liturgical color of the season and my personal favorite. The stained glass windows were narrow and gave the Sanctuary a delicate feel, along with the subtle coloring on the hanging light fixtures. The Sanctuary was small but filled to probably 75% capacity.

I observed no signs, but the pastor’s wife was one of the greeters and before we could even ask, she anticipated our needs and cheerily directed us toward the restroom and an area where we could hang our coats.

There was no choir, and I’m not sure where they would sit if there was one. But the pianist was enjoyable as were the two girls who did a duet on the flute and clarinet during the service. There was no opportunity to greet the other worshipers during the service, but prior to worship an elder who is also the church secretary made it a point to introduce herself. She asked what brought us there today and I responded that we were simply visiting. She commented that she would say then that God had brought us. I would have appreciated the opportunity to tell her that there was more truth to that than she could know and, as a former Church Secretary, perhaps chat about the challenges of being a Church Secretary in your own church. Besides the usher and greeter, she was the only other person to greet us.

The bulletin was a folded 8 ½ x 11” sheet, simply laid out and typed. The other printed announcements were on inserts, including one dedicated to prayer requests. And the bulletin contained a request that all deacons and elders join the pastor for prayer prior to the worship service.

According to the website, the pastor is a Commissioned Lay Pastor, and according to his wife he had been a Marine and had served 2 years in Viet Nam. Consequently it was truly unfortunate that we had a prior commitment and couldn’t stay and chat following the service as I’m sure he and Bob would’ve had a lot to talk about.

I wanted to ask him about the initials after his name in the bulletin: “Th.B.” If anyone reading this knows what that stands for, I’d be grateful if you’d email me (Jlynnchess@aol.com) and let me know.

During a portion of the service the bulletin indicated was for the Prayer for Illumination, the pastor chose to address the congregation about a question someone had asked at some point the previous week about Ash Wednesday. If I understood correctly, he informed the congregation that this church doesn’t use ashes on Ash Wednesday because it is considered outwardly pious and too much like the Pharisees. I wanted to remind him that only God was qualified to judge others’ hearts.

The sermon detailed how to attain a saving faith, i.e., prayer, Bible reading, serving the church and the community and leading our families, and standing firm and not wavering. It then wandered into the concerns of the day such as financial issues. I wanted to hear him say at some point that a relationship with God was important because our faith is a gift from Him. However I suspect that, like God’s bringing us to this church in the first place, that was supposed to be a given.

Maybe it was the Marine in him delivering the sermon, but I prefer preaching that’s less of a spotlight on the pastor and does not use a sledgehammer approach.