North Branch Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at North Branch Presbyterian Church, 139 North Branch Road, Monaca, PA 15061, 724.774.0711.


Bob’s thoughts:

We seldom know where we are going to worship but it is always very clear if God sent us to a particular church. Today was one of those moments when we were listening to God’s directions.

We got the service start times from the Presbytery website which, unfortunately, had not been updated. So we showed up early to find the service well underway. I believe this was the devil trying to keep us from God’s message.

From the parking lots on inside, the signage was poor. The service was in progress but no one seemed to notice us in the Narthex. A young man came through and we were able to find out about the service time mix-up. He managed to find a bulletin for us and with the Sanctuary rather packed we climbed to the balcony. It provided a very interesting perspective to the large cross with unusually long white drape and flowers – a very good focal point. There were some excellent banners also. During the offering, which was taken before the Word was preached, there was an excellent worship by the bell choir.

The service was conducted by, I believe, an Elder and there was an older pastor, I assumed to preach. Much like Susan Boyle, the Scottish sensation on YouTube from England’s Idol-type show, I prejudged him, expecting a retired minister reading a dry sermon. But the Holy Spirit was indeed in this place and the Rev. Dr. Richard Morledge was/is filled with the Spirit. Christ made sure we heard the exact message we needed to hear through him. We were blessed. Dr. Morledge knows the power of the Spirit within us and he believes in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is awesome to hear someone preach from that perspective.

I thought of how hard it is to relate to another believer the joy when you know the Spirit is present and how poorly we do when we try to explain it to a non-believer. I have asked for and received miracles, but only when I believed my prayer would be answered.

Elders are available for prayer after the service. I would encourage the Church to worship and fellowship together and most importantly pray for discernment: what does Christ want North Branch to be about now? I pray they find an interim pastor who will carry them forward to the glory that Christ has planned for this church. In Him they can be the beacon on the hill. Think enormous!

Jan’s thoughts:

According to the Beaver-Butler Presbytery website, North Branch had a traditional service at 9 and a contemporary service at 11:15, and we planned to attend the latter service. We arrived with plenty of time to walk around the building then find a seat for worship, but while approaching outside we could hear the organ and singing through the open windows and we knew our plans had gone awry. Once inside we asked a young man and it turns out the worship time was changed to 10 a.m. However it was too late to go elsewhere, so we stayed. And we were very glad we did.

North Branch Church is more than 150 years old, and the current building was built in 1961. We didn’t get to see as much of the building as we had planned, obviously. We entered directly into the narthex; the restrooms were nearby and easy enough to find although the only signs were on the front of the doors.

The supply of bulletins had been exhausted, so someone kindly gave us theirs and directed us toward the balcony as there were almost no seats available in the Sanctuary. But it gave us a good view of the Chancel area which was artistically decorated with flowers and a large cross draped with white.

The pastor of 14 years recently accepted a call in Ohio, and the guest preacher was the Rev. Dr. Morledge, Pastor Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, PA, and former Dean of Chapel at Grove City College. I actually recall meeting him at Grove City when Jill was a student there.

We missed a baptism unfortunately, but were treated to some excellent bell-ringing.

We were so blessed, though, to hear the sermon. Dr. Morledge spoke with power, enthusiasm, and passion about the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. About expecting great things from God and about our part in it when God does great things through us. I believe it was precisely the sermon the congregation needed to hear at this point in their corporate life. I knew even as I was hearing it that God was speaking to me because I was convicted of having low expectations. It was a blessing to be there and to hear that message.