Today we worshiped at The Presbyterian Church of Prospect, 115 Church Street, Prospect, PA 16052, 724.865.2063, www.tpcp.net, Rev. Robert Allison, Pastor.
Bob’s thoughts:
We had a great idea to drive a little farther to church and enjoy the fall leaves; we might have missed the peak, but it was an enjoyable ride.
The church looks conventional from the outside but has some most unusual features. The pews are arranged in the center section at a 90° angle to the roof line and the floor slopes toward the chancel. The social area extends out from the Sanctuary which gives a very open feel even with the folding curtains. There is a pressed tin ceiling, a large brass cross, comfortable pews, and impressive stained glass. The architecture sort of grows on you; I was part way through the service when I felt like I was sitting side saddle. The piped music before the prelude sounded like country gospel.
We were welcomed by more than a few, offered coffee, and invited to stay for lunch.
The pastor was on vacation and the guest pastor was ill, so an elder stepped in. She delivered a message on perseverance in prayer from Luke 18:1-8.
The visitor packet contained a large selection of maps and local info and a folded insert on the church.
From the newsletter I learned they are moving towards being a missional church. This is a hard move from an internal focus, and I pray God carries them through. There is very minimal signage and some who wear too much perfume.
I pray we can return for a normal service.
Jan’s thoughts:
Today the pastor was on vacation and the pastor who had agreed to fill the pulpit was sick, so one of the elders led worship and preached.
The building and grounds are nicely kept and decorated. The only sign I saw was for restrooms, and it was unobtrusive (which is to say I missed it the first couple of times I looked for it). There was an obvious sign at the nearest highway exit which I did not miss.
The layout was unique – the fellowship hall was quite large and open with a kitchen in one corner, tables for people to sit together, and the walls contained bulletin boards and tables full in information. There was no wall separating fellowship hall and the Sanctuary, it was completely open. A large, beautiful stained glass window looked out from fellowship hall toward the parking lot.
The people were friendly, providing direction and conversation when we arrived and inviting us to stay after worship for food and fellowship.
The pews were interestingly arranged and comfortably padded. Strangely, the Sanctuary floor slopes toward the Chancel and the pew ends are shaped in such a way that how much of a slope to expect was unclear to my eye. The Sanctuary carpet and pew padding were light turquoise and the drape hanging on the rear wall of the Chancel was dark red, setting off the brass cross in front.
The organ and piano faced the same direction with one in front of the other, making it a simple procedure for the Organist to move between the two. The music was very traditional.
The bulletin was well done but had a lot of white space. I would have appreciated use of a larger font for things like the Confession of Sin which I had to read.
The “moment” for silent confession was just that – a moment. And during the Apostles’ Creed, I’m wondering whatever happened to “He descended into Hell…”?
The sermon was based on Luke 18:1-8 and was titled “Being Pushy.” Obviously the topic was the value of persistence in prayer.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
College Hill Presbyterian Church
Today we worshiped at College Hill Presbyterian Church, 3400 Fifth Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010, 724.843.7170, Rev. Dennis D. Burnett, Pastor.
Bob’s thoughts:
With two Geneva alums among our children, I looked forward to visiting this church; consequently I was disappointed not to see a student presence. However we received a warm welcome from many people, including one gentleman who left his adult education class to greet us and invited us to join the class.
There has been an attempt at signage and I don’t doubt you could reach a restroom from any of the Sanctuary exits, but signage for restrooms, nursery, etc. would help.
There is a large cross over decorative wall treatment on the Chancel wall, interesting stained glass, and an unusual ceiling. The bulletin required a bit of shuffling, and I’m sure Jan will offer advice.
Some of the choir smiled while singing and most sang with their mouth open. It was nice to see some enthusiasm; it made their presence felt.
The church seems to be experiencing some turmoil, moving out of a season of doubt but not quite into secure faith. Like most churches, they have focused on numbers – attendance/members and money – and know they want to change. I believe God is calling this church in a new direction with a new life. With such a wealth of young students in the area, what might College Hill provide for them?
The sermon, “Praise and Proclaim,” was built that God’s people praise God no matter what happens. The early part referred to Luke 17:11-19 – Christ healing the 10 lepers – and it struck me as odd that this story was relayed by Luke the Physician. I recognize that in that time and culture it was the priest who decided a case of leprosy (or its healing), although nowadays we would assume the first person to be consulted would be a physician. Perhaps modern man with his worldly knowledge is not as smart as we like to think we are. God still heals miraculously every day.
The rest of the sermon came from Psalm 66. To me it was more like two separate sermons, but it was warm and close in the Sanctuary and I had been up since 2 a.m. and was having trouble focusing.
Jan’s thoughts:
It wasn’t till we were on our way that I realized we were headed very near Geneva College on Homecoming Weekend. However, since we arrived with more than an hour to spare (I’m math challenged but am usually much better than that with time…), we viewed this as an opportunity to tour the building more extensively and meet some people.
The signage was not bad, and some signs even stuck out from the wall so as to be visible down the hall. There are numerous exits from the Sanctuary, however, and no way for a visitor to guess which one leads where.
The folks were quite friendly, some greeting us before and during worship and even again afterward. We sat in the very back row, and during the Greeting Time many approached us, including several members of the choir. Very friendly indeed.
The main door leads immediately into the Sanctuary. All the colored glass windows are alike in colors and patterns, but non-traditional in design. An uneven ceiling, indirect lighting, and out of the ordinary pattern on the rear wall of the Chancel gave the Sanctuary an interesting feel.
The bulletin contained a “Welcome to Worship!” box that included a paragraph with directions for visitors about when to sit/stand, and nursery location. This is something that makes a visitor feel like they really are welcome at a church.
The bulletin was very well laid-out and looked great; however, it was awkward to use, so, as a former church secretary, I would humbly offer my 2 cents regarding user-friendly bulletin design. I suggest keeping the Order of Worship on the one folded outside page and including everything not worship-related (prayer lists, announcements, etc.) in the form of unfolded inserts. That way when the bulletin is folded for use during worship, the Order of Worship is visible and everything else can be inserted into the folded portion to be read later.
We were privileged to be present for the observance of Pastor Appreciation Month. It’s heartening when a congregation lets the pastor and his wife know how much their ministry means to them.
The choir had a much larger sound than I expected, given their number.
The sermon was centered on Jeremiah 29:1,4-7,10-14, Luke 17:11-19, and Psalm 66, and was called “Praise and Proclaim.” He began by referring to the 10 lepers who were healed as they obeyed Christ’s command to go and show themselves to the priest, with only one returning to Him to extend gratitude. We are to praise God and proclaim His activity in our lives, but we do a lot more lamenting than praising.
My guess is that if our faith moves God’s heart, it’s our gratitude that makes His heart smile.
Bob’s thoughts:
With two Geneva alums among our children, I looked forward to visiting this church; consequently I was disappointed not to see a student presence. However we received a warm welcome from many people, including one gentleman who left his adult education class to greet us and invited us to join the class.
There has been an attempt at signage and I don’t doubt you could reach a restroom from any of the Sanctuary exits, but signage for restrooms, nursery, etc. would help.
There is a large cross over decorative wall treatment on the Chancel wall, interesting stained glass, and an unusual ceiling. The bulletin required a bit of shuffling, and I’m sure Jan will offer advice.
Some of the choir smiled while singing and most sang with their mouth open. It was nice to see some enthusiasm; it made their presence felt.
The church seems to be experiencing some turmoil, moving out of a season of doubt but not quite into secure faith. Like most churches, they have focused on numbers – attendance/members and money – and know they want to change. I believe God is calling this church in a new direction with a new life. With such a wealth of young students in the area, what might College Hill provide for them?
The sermon, “Praise and Proclaim,” was built that God’s people praise God no matter what happens. The early part referred to Luke 17:11-19 – Christ healing the 10 lepers – and it struck me as odd that this story was relayed by Luke the Physician. I recognize that in that time and culture it was the priest who decided a case of leprosy (or its healing), although nowadays we would assume the first person to be consulted would be a physician. Perhaps modern man with his worldly knowledge is not as smart as we like to think we are. God still heals miraculously every day.
The rest of the sermon came from Psalm 66. To me it was more like two separate sermons, but it was warm and close in the Sanctuary and I had been up since 2 a.m. and was having trouble focusing.
Jan’s thoughts:
It wasn’t till we were on our way that I realized we were headed very near Geneva College on Homecoming Weekend. However, since we arrived with more than an hour to spare (I’m math challenged but am usually much better than that with time…), we viewed this as an opportunity to tour the building more extensively and meet some people.
The signage was not bad, and some signs even stuck out from the wall so as to be visible down the hall. There are numerous exits from the Sanctuary, however, and no way for a visitor to guess which one leads where.
The folks were quite friendly, some greeting us before and during worship and even again afterward. We sat in the very back row, and during the Greeting Time many approached us, including several members of the choir. Very friendly indeed.
The main door leads immediately into the Sanctuary. All the colored glass windows are alike in colors and patterns, but non-traditional in design. An uneven ceiling, indirect lighting, and out of the ordinary pattern on the rear wall of the Chancel gave the Sanctuary an interesting feel.
The bulletin contained a “Welcome to Worship!” box that included a paragraph with directions for visitors about when to sit/stand, and nursery location. This is something that makes a visitor feel like they really are welcome at a church.
The bulletin was very well laid-out and looked great; however, it was awkward to use, so, as a former church secretary, I would humbly offer my 2 cents regarding user-friendly bulletin design. I suggest keeping the Order of Worship on the one folded outside page and including everything not worship-related (prayer lists, announcements, etc.) in the form of unfolded inserts. That way when the bulletin is folded for use during worship, the Order of Worship is visible and everything else can be inserted into the folded portion to be read later.
We were privileged to be present for the observance of Pastor Appreciation Month. It’s heartening when a congregation lets the pastor and his wife know how much their ministry means to them.
The choir had a much larger sound than I expected, given their number.
The sermon was centered on Jeremiah 29:1,4-7,10-14, Luke 17:11-19, and Psalm 66, and was called “Praise and Proclaim.” He began by referring to the 10 lepers who were healed as they obeyed Christ’s command to go and show themselves to the priest, with only one returning to Him to extend gratitude. We are to praise God and proclaim His activity in our lives, but we do a lot more lamenting than praising.
My guess is that if our faith moves God’s heart, it’s our gratitude that makes His heart smile.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Old Union Presbyterian Church
Today we worshiped at Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046, 724.538.8672, www.OldUnionChurch.com, Rev. Dr. Peter deVries, Pastor.
Bob’s thoughts:
Expecting a more sedate country church, I was pleasantly surprised with a modern, vibrant worship center. We arrived right before the service was to start. One woman did come over to welcome us.
Although I noticed no signage, we did locate a social area and restrooms, which I must add were clean, bright, and well laid-out.
There is a large wooden cross on the rear wall of the Chancel, some attractive banners, and one excellent painting I noticed. The congregation stood as the Communion elements were carried in by the serving Elders. We sat in an offset from the main Sanctuary so I was unable to see the whole choir, but the face of worship was evident on one woman as she sang.
The sermon title of “By Hook or by Crook” got the attention of this old Marine who sometimes needed to acquire weapons that were not in our budget by any means possible.
The sermon caused me to reflect: it is amazing how easy it is to disagree or be offended when someone’s theology or style of worship is different than ours. I find myself in this very position. I have been uncomfortable in the large, loud churches and I guess I have been quick to judge them as leading people astray from God’s Word. That if they offer “feel good” worship it cannot be honoring Christ. But if Christ is preached and it is done with loud cymbals, Christ is still preached. We need to know in our heart that whatever the worship style in the other church, it is still worship of Jesus. I may never be comfortable in a mega-church, but I cannot judge the sincerity of their worship. These are people for whom Christ died also.
Communion was introduced using Paul’s words “I received from the Lord what I now share with you.” I was disappointed that the elements were shared silently.
We were greeted by only a few people but the student pastor remembered us from a visit to another church a year ago.
The church seems to have an active mission involvement and I was please to see Northside Common Ministries as one they support as it is still close to my heart.
I really appreciated their ministry to the military. There is a world deployment map on the rear wall with some biographical information. During prayer time the list of service people they hold in prayer was read aloud by the congregation and I was told how some have a member praying just for them.
Jan’s thoughts:
This is a clean, well-kept facility, nicely decorated with some unique touches such as some distinctive stained glass created by a member of the church and a large quilted wall hanging that was a gift from American Indians visited by members on a mission trip.
I thought the parking lot was a bit confusing. Also I was surprised that there was so little signage: the only signs I saw anywhere were on the front of the restrooms. The ladies room was quite spacious, lacking only a place to hang or lay my wrap while I used the facilities. It looked almost barren, and the entry space to the rest room could use some decoration also.
A few people only nodded hello and said nothing, but a few went out of their way to introduce themselves and welcome us. Shortly after we took our seats in the Sanctuary a woman came over and introduced herself and told us how glad she was we were there, all the while rubbing my shoulder, which I thought was rather sweet.
I was perplexed during the Lighting of the Candles when everyone sang some music but we were left scratching our heads because the music was not listed or identified in the Order of Worship.
The organ was well done during most of the service, but during the Prayers of the People it was playing very quietly but almost all I could hear was a deep bass reverberation that left me dizzy due to my ear condition. A nice touch during the Prayers was the reciting aloud of the names of the 26 members of this church who are actively serving in the military, along with a bulletin board indicating their locations on a map and including photos and notes, all clear indications that this church has not forgotten those who fight for freedom.
The offering was taken “African-style” which made me smile after an enjoyable dinner with two Malawian friends the evening before! The congregation was invited to come forward and place their offering in a basket toward the front of the Sanctuary while some lively music was played. It was different from most Presbyterian churches – in the United States, anyway!
The Sermon was entitled, “By Hook or by Crook” and was based on Isaiah 45:1-8 and Philippians 1:12-18a. It had to do with perspective – when Paul was in prison he was not sitting around complaining, feeling sorry for himself. Instead he saw it as an opportunity to espouse the Good News to a (literally) captive audience. Paul acted as a “force multiplier” – the important thing is that Christ is preached.
I also appreciated the point made by the pastor that God can and does use whom He wishes to use, regardless of whether that person acknowledges God or is the least bit inclined to work for God’s purposes. I’m so grateful for this, as it means that even when I make a mistake, He can still bring good from the situation. Remembering that is always so encouraging, and believing it makes it even more so!
Bob’s thoughts:
Expecting a more sedate country church, I was pleasantly surprised with a modern, vibrant worship center. We arrived right before the service was to start. One woman did come over to welcome us.
Although I noticed no signage, we did locate a social area and restrooms, which I must add were clean, bright, and well laid-out.
There is a large wooden cross on the rear wall of the Chancel, some attractive banners, and one excellent painting I noticed. The congregation stood as the Communion elements were carried in by the serving Elders. We sat in an offset from the main Sanctuary so I was unable to see the whole choir, but the face of worship was evident on one woman as she sang.
The sermon title of “By Hook or by Crook” got the attention of this old Marine who sometimes needed to acquire weapons that were not in our budget by any means possible.
The sermon caused me to reflect: it is amazing how easy it is to disagree or be offended when someone’s theology or style of worship is different than ours. I find myself in this very position. I have been uncomfortable in the large, loud churches and I guess I have been quick to judge them as leading people astray from God’s Word. That if they offer “feel good” worship it cannot be honoring Christ. But if Christ is preached and it is done with loud cymbals, Christ is still preached. We need to know in our heart that whatever the worship style in the other church, it is still worship of Jesus. I may never be comfortable in a mega-church, but I cannot judge the sincerity of their worship. These are people for whom Christ died also.
Communion was introduced using Paul’s words “I received from the Lord what I now share with you.” I was disappointed that the elements were shared silently.
We were greeted by only a few people but the student pastor remembered us from a visit to another church a year ago.
The church seems to have an active mission involvement and I was please to see Northside Common Ministries as one they support as it is still close to my heart.
I really appreciated their ministry to the military. There is a world deployment map on the rear wall with some biographical information. During prayer time the list of service people they hold in prayer was read aloud by the congregation and I was told how some have a member praying just for them.
Jan’s thoughts:
This is a clean, well-kept facility, nicely decorated with some unique touches such as some distinctive stained glass created by a member of the church and a large quilted wall hanging that was a gift from American Indians visited by members on a mission trip.
I thought the parking lot was a bit confusing. Also I was surprised that there was so little signage: the only signs I saw anywhere were on the front of the restrooms. The ladies room was quite spacious, lacking only a place to hang or lay my wrap while I used the facilities. It looked almost barren, and the entry space to the rest room could use some decoration also.
A few people only nodded hello and said nothing, but a few went out of their way to introduce themselves and welcome us. Shortly after we took our seats in the Sanctuary a woman came over and introduced herself and told us how glad she was we were there, all the while rubbing my shoulder, which I thought was rather sweet.
I was perplexed during the Lighting of the Candles when everyone sang some music but we were left scratching our heads because the music was not listed or identified in the Order of Worship.
The organ was well done during most of the service, but during the Prayers of the People it was playing very quietly but almost all I could hear was a deep bass reverberation that left me dizzy due to my ear condition. A nice touch during the Prayers was the reciting aloud of the names of the 26 members of this church who are actively serving in the military, along with a bulletin board indicating their locations on a map and including photos and notes, all clear indications that this church has not forgotten those who fight for freedom.
The offering was taken “African-style” which made me smile after an enjoyable dinner with two Malawian friends the evening before! The congregation was invited to come forward and place their offering in a basket toward the front of the Sanctuary while some lively music was played. It was different from most Presbyterian churches – in the United States, anyway!
The Sermon was entitled, “By Hook or by Crook” and was based on Isaiah 45:1-8 and Philippians 1:12-18a. It had to do with perspective – when Paul was in prison he was not sitting around complaining, feeling sorry for himself. Instead he saw it as an opportunity to espouse the Good News to a (literally) captive audience. Paul acted as a “force multiplier” – the important thing is that Christ is preached.
I also appreciated the point made by the pastor that God can and does use whom He wishes to use, regardless of whether that person acknowledges God or is the least bit inclined to work for God’s purposes. I’m so grateful for this, as it means that even when I make a mistake, He can still bring good from the situation. Remembering that is always so encouraging, and believing it makes it even more so!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church
Today we worshiped at Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church, Church Lane, Shippingport, PA 15077, Rev. Robert W. Kennedy, Pastor.
Bob’s thoughts:
We sometimes refer to a country church as small in size or number. Including us today brought the total worshiping together to seven humans.
This is a church that is small enough that it wouldn’t benefit from additional signage.
The triple-hung windows have a band of color at the edge. A large wooden cross hangs on the rear wall of the Chancel, and the wooden pews were much more comfortable than they looked.
A couple of things here I thought were special: When the offering was dedicated, the minister stepped down from the Chancel and faced the cross; the pastor spoke with the congregation and discussed by name some members who weren’t present.
This church is all but in the shadow of the cooling towers of the power plant; they are literally surrounded by this massive power generating station at Shippingport. What came to me while I prayed for this church and pastor was that the real “Power” was in this little church and that Christ is calling this church to a prayer ministry for those who work for the power company. I believe they should let the employees know they are doing this and solicit prayer requests. They may not experience great growth in members, but great growth in the Kingdom.
Jan’s thoughts:
This facility is older and well kept, much like a treasured family heirloom. The pastor pointed out two wooden beams in the basement ceiling, both of which were salvaged following a fire that demolished the original building.
As we entered literally everyone with whom we worshiped today introduced themselves and greeted us. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, and this church seems to personify the term “church family.”
The arched windows were textured and were outlined with a light pink row of glass.
The only signage was an indication which restroom was which.
During the service, the pastor’s wife was preparing to read the Scripture readings and asked the pastor if he wanted one story or another, and he replied, “Both.” I deeply appreciated this because, it is sad to say, but so often an attempt is made to limit Scripture reading. The pastor followed his instructions with the comment that it is good to read Scripture. I couldn’t agree more.
The sermon was untitled and based on Psalm 91 and (mostly) Luke 16:1-13 about the rich man and Lazarus. The points he made were:
Once life is over you cannot salvage things – share them now.
Once life is over you cannot seize opportunities – seek God now.
Once life is over you cannot save others – speak up now.
“Now is the time” seems like the message. Amen.
Bob’s thoughts:
We sometimes refer to a country church as small in size or number. Including us today brought the total worshiping together to seven humans.
This is a church that is small enough that it wouldn’t benefit from additional signage.
The triple-hung windows have a band of color at the edge. A large wooden cross hangs on the rear wall of the Chancel, and the wooden pews were much more comfortable than they looked.
A couple of things here I thought were special: When the offering was dedicated, the minister stepped down from the Chancel and faced the cross; the pastor spoke with the congregation and discussed by name some members who weren’t present.
This church is all but in the shadow of the cooling towers of the power plant; they are literally surrounded by this massive power generating station at Shippingport. What came to me while I prayed for this church and pastor was that the real “Power” was in this little church and that Christ is calling this church to a prayer ministry for those who work for the power company. I believe they should let the employees know they are doing this and solicit prayer requests. They may not experience great growth in members, but great growth in the Kingdom.
I sometimes hesitate to share what comes to me in prayer but was encouraged by the pastor’s sermon to share, to see, and to speak up now. The pastor also shared how God sometimes has to throw a brick at us to get our attention, and I have often said it sometimes takes a third brick before I get the message. I look forward to hearing exciting news from this church.
Jan’s thoughts:
This facility is older and well kept, much like a treasured family heirloom. The pastor pointed out two wooden beams in the basement ceiling, both of which were salvaged following a fire that demolished the original building.
As we entered literally everyone with whom we worshiped today introduced themselves and greeted us. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, and this church seems to personify the term “church family.”
The arched windows were textured and were outlined with a light pink row of glass.
The only signage was an indication which restroom was which.
During the service, the pastor’s wife was preparing to read the Scripture readings and asked the pastor if he wanted one story or another, and he replied, “Both.” I deeply appreciated this because, it is sad to say, but so often an attempt is made to limit Scripture reading. The pastor followed his instructions with the comment that it is good to read Scripture. I couldn’t agree more.
The sermon was untitled and based on Psalm 91 and (mostly) Luke 16:1-13 about the rich man and Lazarus. The points he made were:
Once life is over you cannot salvage things – share them now.
Once life is over you cannot seize opportunities – seek God now.
Once life is over you cannot save others – speak up now.
“Now is the time” seems like the message. Amen.
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