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Welcome
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About Hope
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Our Mission:
The
Church on the Hill,
Built on the Rock of Jesus Christ,
A Place to find help,
hope, and a home.
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We are the Church on the Hill, because we sit high on a ridge
next to the valley
of the Schuylkill River,
and we are a highly visible icon in the community.
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The United Church of Christ's Mission:
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  The
United Church of Christ is a community of faith that
seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian
traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church
that affirmed the ideal that
Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion.
Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of
the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the
United States.
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Our History and Facilities:
 There
have been people gathering to worship on the
Hill, since 1793.
Our Church building dates from 1805, and major renovations were completed in
1893, 1938, 1951, and 1958.
For over 111 years a Lutheran congregation also shared the
facilities, until they built their own building in 1966.
St. John's congregations also shared Pastors with as many as three other
churches during their history.
Today, we have our own Pastor,
Rev. Sterling L. Fritz.
He lives on site, in our parsonage, built by members of
the congregation in 1958.
It recently underwent major renovations.
 Our
newest structure, the Linderman Educational building, was dedicated in May
1998. This two story building houses educational classrooms, a media
center, and has offices for the church and the Pastor on the lower level. On
the upper level is a large social hall, and a fully equipped kitchen.
Both levels of our educational building are handicapped accessible, as is the
sanctuary of the church building.
We also have air-conditioning in all of our buildings.
We are able to spend much time in fellowship at
breakfasts and covered dish lunches in the hall.
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Our People:
"A church is it's people", and given that we have the family like atmosphere
noted above, we have many active members who volunteer their time and
efforts to see that the activities of the church all run smoothly. The
governing body of the church (our Consistory) chart our general mission
program and direction.
There are six standing
committees which oversee the ministries of our Church. These
committees operate autonomously for the most part, but report to and seek
guidance from the Consistory.
Worship and Music - Responsible for
the worship ministries of our community
Christian
Education - Responsible for the educational ministries of our community
Pastor Relations - Responsible for the care and nurturing of our spiritual
leader
Spiritual Council - Responsible for the care and nurturing of our community
FTCE - "F"ellowship "T"hrough "C"hristian "E"ndeavor - Responsible for the
social ministries of our community
Trustees - Responsible for the maintenance of our buildings and grounds
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Our Pastor:
 Rev.
Sterling L. Fritz, is a native of York County, PA., and relocated here to
St. John's with his wife, Susan.
Rev. Fritz entered the ministry later in life, and graduated from Lancaster
Theological Seminary, Lancaster PA, in May 2002.
He started his ministry here at St. John's in July 2002. |
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