About UMCR

From the moment the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (UMCR) began back in 1984, it has been a church that Serves the Lord by meeting the needs of our community. Our Mission statement is, "We will develop a loving community of disciples of Jesus Christ by being an Acts 2 - Ephesians 4 Church". Love, spiritual growth, and discipleship are the focus of UMCR. We seek to be a community of faith who loves God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, as well as loving our neighbors as ourselves.

In 1984, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church determined that a new church was needed in this area to accommodate a rapidly growing population. A five acre parcel of land was purchased, and the Reverend Gordon E. Hendrickson was assigned the responsibility of gathering a congregation, performing worship services, and coordinating all phases of church development. Seven families met in a conference room of the Holiday Inn (now The Inn at Chester Springs) on Route 100 for our first worship service on September 16, 1984.

By sheer faith and determination, our fledgling congregation decided to actively pursue our dream of a church building, and then suddenly we were presented with an extremely generous and most precious gift. Members of the United Methodist Church of Centralia were aware of our dream. Forced to close their own doors due to uncontrollable fires in the coal mines beneath their town and the surrounding area, they willingly donated a portion of their financial estate as well as the entire contents of their church.

The Centralia Memorial Chapel today is a living testimony to the faith that transcends history. Since moving into our current building in 1986, we have had two building additions to accommodate our growth. These additions have included several classrooms, offices, storage areas, and the Community Life Center. We are grateful to God for this multi-function area that allows us flexibility in the use of space at UMCR.

The foundation of our spiritual growth is Worship. We were created by God to worship Him. Worship is the truest and highest expression of our love for God. Vital worship in spirit and truth strengthens our relationship with Christ and with each other.

Our Music Program consists of the Senior Choir, the No Greater Joy praise band, and occasional ensembles. The Senior Choir is our adult choir that sings at our traditional service. No Greater Joy is our Praise Band that leads our singing and praise worship. Various ensembles sing at services and special events throughout the year, including several Christmas Eve services for all ages, as well as Holy Thursday, Good Friday and special Easter services.

After moving to our current facility in 1986, we have had two building additions to expand our educational facilities. Our education program consists of the following:

Great Beginnings Christian Preschool meets Monday through Friday.

Sunday School for infants to adults meets during our education hour from 9:00 to 10:00 Sunday mornings from September through May.

We offer weekly Bible Studies for adults and youth. Please check our newsletter or weekly worship bulletin for current Bible Study schedules.

We have an active Men's Group, "The Spirit Keepers", who meet monthly for fellowship and the spiritual support men need in our complex world. Also, an active Women's Group, "Kindred Spirits", that cultivates spiritual friendships, fellowship and fun for women of all ages. Both the Spirit Keepers and Kindred Spirits host church wide fellowship activities, dinners, and retreats as well as participating in service and mission outreaches.

There are Junior High and Senior High Youth groups with Sunday evening activities, weekly Bible studies and ongoing fun and fellowship activities as well as fund-raising projects to support their mission trips.

UMCR is a church with a vital outreach program, providing Christian service near and far. Programs are offered for direct participation of children, youth, and adults, and, through contributions to the church conference, we also support missions well beyond our local area.

As a Good Neighbors church, UMCR commits to assist a Chester County family by doing home repairs on a monthly basis and building a relationship with them that supports their spiritual and personal growth.

Boy Scouts meet in our church and have contributed to several improvements to our grounds.

Appalachian Service Project for high school youth and adults and The Pittsburgh Project for junior high youth and adults immerse us in a week long spiritual growth and home improvement experience in an area of the country less fortunate than our own.

We also support local as well as international missions monthly, and host an annual Missions banquet.

We seek to be a resource to our community by making our facilities available to other churches and community groups for meetings and activities.

Thanks for your interest in the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. We are a warm, open and growing family of God. We're glad you're reading and learning about us and we invite you to worship with us in a warm, relaxed and casual atmosphere that fosters spiritual growth and draws us closer to our Lord and one another.

We're excited about the increasingly powerful presence of God here, and the vital ministry that is happening in His Name. The Head of this Church is Jesus Christ, and we are so grateful for the wide variety of spiritual gifts and talents He has given our members, that enables us to serve God in ministry to one another, the community and the world around us. We are always seeking to be more faithful to God and to find more opportunities to serve Him and all the people in our community.

It is my privilege to serve this congregation and this community as Pastor and teacher, and I welcome you to join us in the journey of receiving God's grace, embracing God's love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, discovering God's purpose and will for our lives, loving and serving God and our neighbors in creative and practical ways.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Joan H. Trout