First Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at First Presbyterian Church, 200 North Park Street, Rochester, PA, 15074, 724.728.7000, Rev. Lee Bittner.


Bob’s thoughts:

God led us to church today. Most Sundays we feel God’s leading in deciding where we are to go, but today we knew where we were going and printed a Yahoo map so we knew how to get there. We were early, and so did some shopping before church, and upon leaving the store, waiting for the light to change, we looked up and saw a similarly-named church. I didn’t notice till I checked the bulletin to write a check for the offering. We saved the directions for another Sunday.

This is an average-sized church with great wood beams and panels, really beautiful stained glass, and a cathedral ceiling. A small brass cross on the paneled rear wall of the chancel looks larger because of the bare panels and the spotlight on it. Some amazing stained glass above the cross had been covered over at some point, so when the Chancel was redone it had been a special surprise.

Signage at the main entrance was good – directional arrows. I didn’t see any outside or elsewhere inside.

We were welcomed by a number of people whose interest seemed genuine.

Their music person, Mike Neely, played and sang some contemporary music before the service and is a real asset to worship.

The offering was taken prior to the Word preached, but I understand this is not always the case.

While we were blessed to take Communion, it was served silently. The invitation was well put, that it is open to all, weak and strong, hungry and sated, etc.

The sermon was “God’s Abundant Table”; in prayer we ask God to “give us our daily bread” without a thought of how much more we are asking for and without a thought of how much more our Father provides. My favorite was “Don’t question the Cook.” Being the cook in the family, I was of a kindred spirit. That our God provides the bread that sustains us, not the pastries of the world that don’t last.

Most of the church that we saw seems to be in good repair. The kitchen is open to the social area with accordion doors to close it off when desired. Do not know how handicapped-accessible the social area is, but it could be a real asset.

There is very limited parking, so the main appeal should be to locals. The most important change for this church would be in attitude. They don’t seem to be a particularly inward church, only a defeated one. What I got from those I spoke with is we are a dying church; not a good place from which to start.

I would recommend this church prayerfully consider stepping out in faith. Clean the stained glass and let Jesus shine out into the community. Offer free dinner to the local residents. Give them God’s daily bread. If you are doing God’s will in the neighborhood, people will want to worship with you. Just being Presbyterian is not a good enough reason to keep doing it like we always have. A stagnant church is a sign of death. You can be Satan’s friend and do nothing or God’s servant, but you can’t serve Christ and be still.

I spent a good portion of the day in prayer, wondering why God sent us to this church. I believe He does not want you idle in His Church. As a Marine, we have a simple creed: improvise, adapt, and overcome. Step out in faith and God will bless your efforts.

Much as we find our prayer for daily bread already answered, you are already blessed with much. Will you use it to God’s glory?


Jan’s thoughts:

Today was another one of those mornings when God put us into a church other than the one we planned to attend. That’s always so awesome!

Parking is sparse but we were able to locate a spot on the street. The building is very old and as we took our self-guided tour I saw handwritten notes and reminders that made me feel like we were in someone’s home.

The only signage I saw was in the narthex and consisted of a list of locations followed by directional arrows.

The stained glass is very intricate and striking, and looks like jewels, and if they were cleaner they’d be incredible.

The people were friendly, and we ended up talking for some time with one particular woman who had belonged there most of her life and so was able to convey much of the history of that church. As with so many churches (Presbyterian and otherwise), the time has passed when the pews were packed every Sunday and those in attendance heard powerful sermons from a pastor they had known all their lives. Today there were about 30 in attendance, and the woman with whom we spoke was clearly mourning the losses – human and otherwise.

The bulletin is one folded 8 ½ x 11 sheet containing the Order of Worship, the calendar, greeters’ names, prayer concerns, and church staff, with room left over.

Usually the seating options in a Sanctuary are either chairs or pews, but today we experienced something different: actual padded auditorium seats. Unfortunately the rows were situated uncomfortably close together, leaving me feeling squished.

The sermon was entitled “God’s Abundant Table” and tied in with the service of Communion. He spoke of all the abundance of food in our culture and how we pray for our daily bread “only to find our prayer already answered.” He also reminded his listeners that some days we are given a plate full of dessert and other days a plate full of broccoli, but they’re both given by a loving, all-knowing Provider who knows and gives us what we need each day. It was a good tie-in, as well as a good reminder.