Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Congregational Profiles

Congregational Profile: Frederick Mennonite Church

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by Greg Law

Frederick Mennonite Church began around 1950 when some Perkiomenville Mennonite Church members wanted to expand their outreach further west. The original meeting place was the Bertolet Meetinghouse (which had no indoor water or bathrooms) in Frederick, PA. In 1966 our current location was built (with indoor plumbing) across the street from the Bertolet Meetinghouse with an addition in 1994.

The first minister was unsalaried which was common for the time. Gradually, we moved along until we had a full-time pastor.  After his departure, we had a half-time interim pastor. Over the past few years, we mostly utilize a “self-employed truck driving preacher” from within the congregation as our main speaker.

Once a month we forgo the normal Sunday morning routine and have a potluck breakfast together in the fellowship hall. This is followed by a free form gathering around the same tables where each person is encouraged to share. We share prayer requests, concerns, how God is speaking to us, and sometimes choose a song to sing together.  We really do feel like a family!

Being a small congregation presents challenges, but it also provides the opportunity of being able to know each other pretty well.  We have a weekly women’s Bible study and a monthly men’s breakfast which are both open to anyone from Frederick or beyond.

The Bertolet meetinghouse

Twice a year we partner with several other small Mennonite congregations for a joint service and picnic in the summer and a rotating Thanksgiving service.  Frederick also hosts two hymn sings in the old Bertolet Meetinghouse in June and October.  For many years there has been a nursery school in our church building that runs during the school year.  This has provided some connections to the local community.

Our location does not help us in our desire to be more connected to the community, since we are not on a main road nor centrally located. However, we are on the same road used to get to the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival, so we do get a lot of traffic for a few days in August. We open our church building for interaction, prayer, cold water, and bathrooms during the festival.

Perhaps the biggest recent change for our congregation has been having a “roommate.”  Through a God-led encounter, we connected with a small Assemblies of God congregation (“Ignite”) that needed to relocate its meeting place.  From that encounter, we now have two congregations using the same building at different times.  Frederick uses the building first, then Ignite follows.  Both of us overlap in the lobby between services and we have been known to even sneak in on each other’s services.  The shared space has worked well and we are grateful that our church building is being used more regularly.

We love what Jesus has done for us and want others to know Him too!  The pandemic has changed worship patterns, and we’ve seen many views of Grant’s sermons on Facebook.  Only time will tell if any of those watching from home choose to unite with local congregations. We’d love to see new faces.

Frederick Mennonite is like a gem: small but precious, hidden until you can see the inner beauty. Come visit us – if you can find us! (526 Colonial Rd, Frederick, PA 19435)

Congregational Profile: Vietnamese Gospel Mennonite Church

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Vietnamese Gospel Mennonite Church (VGMC) is a church with a full history.  Since the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fled their homeland and came to the United States. Many congregations in Franconia Mennonite Conference and other denominations in southeastern PA assisted in resettling these individuals and families.

In September 1977, Luke Martin, who had served in Vietnam as a missionary, moved with his family to Allentown, PA to pastor the Allentown Mennonite Church. Occasionally, he and his wife, Mary, organized Bible studies for Vietnamese immigrants at Methacton Mennonite Church (Norristown, PA). Other Mennonite congregations invited Luke and Mary Martin, Quang Xuan Tran (a Vietnamese immigrant who had served as a Mennonite pastor in Vietnam), and Donald Sensenig to lead Vietnamese Bible study and worship services for the refugees during this time.

In 1983, Vietnamese Christian Fellowship (VCF) was formed, meeting in the old schoolhouse near Penn View Christian School (Souderton, PA).  From 1984-1987, Hao Duy Tran was the leader of VCF, assisted by his wife, Rose Tran. After Hao Duy resigned in 1987, the church disbanded for a brief time.  In 1988 Luke Martin assumed pastoral leadership of the Vietnamese Christian Fellowship and the congregation began to meet again. Ca Nguyen and Phi Tran moved from Philadelphia to Telford, PA to support the leadership of the church.

In April 1996, Thanh Cong Pham was installed as pastor. By the end of May 1996, the congregation began to meet regularly on Sunday mornings, using the Franconia Conference Center in Souderton, PA as their gathering place. On June 2, 1996, Vietnamese Gospel Mennonite Church (VGMC) was formally organized with bylaws, a church council, and a membership list (23 members).  VGMC was received as a member of Franconia Mennonite Conference on November 8. 1996. In 2004, the congregation was able to secure the use of Allentown (PA) Mennonite Church building and has been meeting there since.

During the next ten years, the congregation had different leaders, but since 2016, Pastor Bao has served as the regular pulpit preacher and now pastor. Pastor Bao lives and works in New York City but commits to driving himself each Sunday to preach at VGMC. In 2019, Pastor Bao was licensed for ministry with Franconia Mennonite Conference.

Congregational Profile: Ambler Mennonite Church

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by Dorcas Lehman, Interim Pastor 

90 E Mt Pleasant Ave, Ambler. Photo by Randy Martin

Ambler Mennonite Church is located on the corner of Mt Pleasant Avenue and N. Spring Garden Street in the borough of Ambler, Montgomery County, PA, 15 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

We want our neighbors, near or far, to know that when you join us for Sunday morning worship, you will find a small congregation that loves to sing, listen to scripture, share concerns and joys, pray for each other and the world, and inspire one another in the way of Jesus. As part of a historic peace church, we hope to share that much-needed perspective, and to live it ourselves.

Whether you arrive by walking, driving, or public transit, you will notice a Monarch butterfly station, a little free library, and a rain garden, reflecting our enjoyment of neighbors, care for the earth, and desire to add beauty to our block.

Our mission statement says: “We are a diverse community of believers following Jesus in building relationships by serving those among and around us with love, and offering the good news of peace, hope, and healing.”

AMC in front of the rain garden. Photo by Glenn Lehman

As a church that began as a mission with ministries to children and youth, we may have thought, “When we serve others, they may want to be part of us.” But now we think, “We want to provide opportunities for people who want to serve God and contribute to the community, whether or not they become part of the congregation.”

During the past year, we’ve become stronger by honestly facing questions of sustainability, and discovering a wide range of ideas for renewal. Now we’re ready to discern collective vision, and to grow beyond the current number of 45 or so congregants, which reflects a decline from earlier decades.

We come from a variety of backgrounds in culture, ethnicity, education, and lifestyles, and we come together as a worshiping community with Jesus at the center. Some of us live in the borough, and others commute.  Intergenerational relationships are strong. You will especially sense this if you visit on the day of a monthly potluck meal, where you will hear lively conversations rise around good food.

Sylvie and Lena packing Boxes of Love. Photo by Randy Martin

We share a desire for an increased presence in the neighborhood, and renewed connection with other Mennonite congregations nearby. During the Lent-Easter season, we hold joint services with Church of the Brethren, Lutheran, and United Church of Christ congregations. In May, we provide meals and overnight volunteers for the Interfaith Hospitality Network’s emergency shelter program. We fill Boxes of Love with food supplies and support the Wissahickon Valley Boys and Girls Club.

This spring, during Lent, we are following the initiative of Mennonite Church USA’s Creation Care Network to learn, pray, and act in relation to climate injustice. Through Sunday school and worship, we’re noticing the ways that caring for God’s creation is an act of discipleship.

We view ourselves as having a history of capable leadership and gifted laity. We are rooted in a mission initiative that began in 1952, when young adults from larger congregations in Franconia Conference began Sunday school classes in the borough. From that beginning, Summer Bible School was added, then came house church, and the building of the current meetinghouse in 1961.

Pastors Michelle and Jacob Curtis. Photo by Randy Martin

We honor that history, and value the older generation’s wisdom, energy, and resources, even as we transfer leadership and prepare to renew our children and youth ministries.

We are happy to introduce our new co-pastors, Michelle and Jacob Curtis, who will begin their ministry with us in May 2020.

Prayer requests:

  • for Michelle and Jacob Curtis as co-pastors, and our church, as we begin our journey in mutual ministry
  • for wisdom and insight as we discern a collective vision, and move through generational change
  • for creativity and resilience of spirit as we, along with other churches, find ways to practice social solidarity even as we practice social distancing, due to the viral pandemic

Congregational Profile: Swamp Mennonite Church

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by Nathan Good, pastor

Swamp Mennonite Church (Quakertown, PA) is a community of people growing together in Christ as we celebrate God’s grace, encourage growth, and proclaim Christ’s victory over sin and death through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

We recognize our need for grace, with a recent focus being, “As we grow in our understanding of God’s love and grace, we will increase in our ability and willingness to share more of ourselves, deepening our relationships with each other and the community around us.”  We have a member on each of our Church Board and Ministry Team who are open about their journeys as recovering alcoholics.

This desire for honesty and openness in our life together led to last year’s focus of Seeking God Together by Praying Listening Following. Being a part of Swamp means committing to following Jesus daily and to the faith community where we are united to Jesus.  

Our focus for 2020 is Connecting for a Purpose. As the body of Christ, the contribution of each member is important, so we may be the salt of the world, praying and living in such a way that God’s will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Swamp has a long history of service and outreach in the local community. Many local families share stories of being impacted by Vacation Bible School and Mission Outreach programs over the years. We continually invest time and money in caring for those around us, from helping neighbors clean up after a fire to opening our homes to the homeless. Our ministry extends around the world through individuals in our congregation with active roles in Mennonite Disaster Service, Mennonite Central Committee, and more.

As the community around us transitions from a historic farming community to a mish-mash of rural and suburban, we continue to evaluate what it means to follow Jesus faithfully in this time and place. We support the work of Free Fall Action Sports that uses the local skate park to build relationships with at-risk teens, developing their skills and abilities, and offering the opportunity to believe in the hope of Jesus. We also support the work of Code Blue which offers emergency housing in Quakertown and RIPPLE in Allentown.

Our blended worship style is a perfect expression of the community life of the Swamp congregation. Swamp embraces each person as they are while encouraging everyone to grow further into the image of God through Jesus. This is supported by our vibrant Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Clubs Program. This love for learning and concern for the next generation is seen in the outpouring of love and support for our youth as we work to integrate them into the church. This past summer we had an intergenerational Sunday School class where everyone, from ages 10-100, sat around tables and discussed Scripture, prayed together, and asked honest questions about Christianity.

We are far from perfect. But through the power of the Spirit we are perfecting, as we covenant to growing together in Christ as God’s community of faith in the drained swamp surrounding Milford Township, PA.

Prayer requests:

  •  Pray that we would be faithful in the little things of daily life.
  •  Pray for elastic edges as we reach out to our neighbors.
  •  Pray for creative collaboration with The Church(es) of Quakertown as we work together for God’s kingdom.

Congregational Profile: Line Lexington Mennonite Church

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by Tom Ruth, elder at Line Lexington

Line Lexington Mennonite Church serves our local community as a place to belong, and a place to become. 

Situated on a hill overlooking the small town of Line Lexington PA, our church is deeply rooted (established in 1752) but has transformed over the years as we have engaged with the surrounding  community in new ways. We are called by God to equip our members in following Jesus Christ in His Kingdom of God work. 

A place to belong:  LLMC is a friendly, welcoming group of believers. We prioritize time on Sunday mornings to greet and converse over coffee with each other and with newcomers. We have a tradition of close mutual support and encouragement in both prayer and tangible bearing of burdens. We desire to welcome one another as Jesus has welcomed us, into a community of peace and reconciliation, to mutually care for each other and our neighbors. Fellowship Breakfasts, church potluck meals, picnics, Community Days, and other activities serve as a means to foster close friendships and invitation opportunities. 

Biker Ministry Sunday worship at Line Lexington MC on September 15, 2019.

A place to become:  We believe that God calls us through Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s direction, to continually grow in discipleship. We teach out of our Mennonite Anabaptist experience that Jesus is the center of our faith, community is the center of our life, and reconciliation is the center of our work (Palmer Becker, 2008.)  We value Scripture as the authoritative and timeless Word of God, and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, as God’s means of transforming us as we join His ongoing kingdom work. We desire to imitate the servant nature of Jesus Christ in humility as we relate to each other and stand with those in need. 

We participate with  various missions and community service groups with an emphasis on supporting those in which our members have direct involvement. Our Associate Pastor Gary Parmer, with Children’s Ministry Director Alicia Hunsberger, direct a strong children and youth program with good engagement by community youth. In addition, we have a 40 year involvement with Hilltown Nursery School which operates out of our church five days per week, strengthening our engagement with local parents and families.  

Biker ministry is an important ministry at Line Lexington Mennonite Church.

A valued ministry serving a group many of us have little opportunity to interact with is Biker Ministry, which attracts motorcyclists to a lively September Biker Sunday music, preaching and testimony service with a pig roast and group rides, and continues the relationship year-round with monthly rides, coordinated by our retired pastor Lowell Delp, with many volunteers assisting. 

The recent retirement of our long-time pastor has brought us into a time of transition, which has served to bring us together in mutual love and determination to seek God’s will for our future. A Catalyst Team is working in guiding us through these changes by Going Higher (in worship), Going Deeper (in discipleship) and Going Wider (in outreach). Interim Pastor Scott Roth has recently joined us as to guide our transition to a new lead pastor. 

In our third century of serving God and neighbor in Line Lexington, we place our trust in God’s loving care as we walk with Him in faith through the exciting changes ahead! 

Congregational Profile: Church of the Good Samaritans

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by Pastor Bob Pirylis and Elder Charles Bergey

The Church of the Good Samaritans began like many churches, as a vision given by God.  This vision was placed within the heart of Reverend J. J. Plenert, Pastor of First Mennonite Church of Philadelphia. He had an idea to plant a new church to minister to the spiritual needs of those living in the rural areas surrounding the city.

In 1957, many important things took place in the new church.  On February 3, the name “Church Of The Good Samaritans” was chosen.  The church’s constitution was drawn up and adopted by eighteen members on April 12, and later that month, the Sunday School was organized. In March 1959, a ten-and-a-half acre plot of property was purchased from William and Anne Fisher in Holland, PA (Northampton Township, Lower Bucks County).  In 1960, ground was broken to build a parsonage on this property.  All worship services, Sunday school classes, meetings, dinners and other events and gatherings were held there in the parsonage.

In 1961, construction started for the new church building to be located between the parsonage and Holland Road. The first worship service was held on the site of the new building at 6:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday 1962, without walls or a roof. The building was completed and dedicated on September 23, 1962. Over the next five years many new families began worshiping with us and thirteen people become official members of the congregation. God continued to be gracious to us throughout the years. Our mission verse is 1 John 1:1, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life.” This continues to be our passion to “Reach and Teach the World!”

Through God’s blessings and provision, we were able to add a playground to advance our outreach to the community and enhance our children’s ministry. Between Vacation Bible School and LEGO nights, we offer opportunities for children and young people to learn important Bible truths about Jesus and other skills to help them apply these lessons to their lives. We continue to seek God’s direction in how we should proceed in bolstering a youth ministry and using our puppet ministry to work outside the walls of the church.

Each month, a ministry team travels to the Helping Hand and Whosoever Gospel Missions to lead worship, bring an evangelical message, and serve a meal to the homeless. We partner with Crossroads Community Center through Easter egg hunts, campout & hayrides, movie nights, and children’s fun days. In addition, we work closely with Child Evangelism Fellowship and Ambassador Football in summer outreach events like Bible clubs and soccer camps.  

Our Quilting Ministry has been meeting every Monday evening for the past 15 years. Approximately 25-30 ladies of all ages create beautiful quilts that are given to sick children in local hospitals to bring them comfort, warmth, and love as they struggle through their treatments and recovery. To date these women have completed 2769 quilts. They work with “Quilts For Kids,” a national organization that distributes these labors to troubled children all over the world.

Carrying the Word of Life to the world has always been a key component of the ministry of this congregation. Each year, in addition to our local and urban outreaches, we send a team to tend to the needs of the sick and elderly in several financially depressed communities located in Webster County, West Virginia.  We combine our love, resources, and talents to build wheelchair ramps, steps, and porches to assist those with physical disabilities. We also fix leaky roofs and make desperately needed repairs to raise their quality of life, both spiritually and physically.

We are thankful to our Lord for constantly sending us and challenging us to be “Good Samaritans,” servants to His hurting world.  

Prayer requests:

  1. That we continue to seek God’s direction on trying some new and different ways to impact the community and the world with the Gospel of Jesus.
  1. As we make adjustment to our AV capabilities the congregation would be flexible to adjust with these advances to bring into the technological era.
  1. Ask God to show us how we would allow people to see the full image of Christ through us in everything we do inside and outside the church.
  1. That God would guide us to the new missionary we are add to our missionary support group.  

     

Congregational Profile: Bally Mennonite Church

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by Deb Good, Bally congregation

At Bally Mennonite we are on a journey with Jesus, our center.  It is our desire that all who walk through our doors receive a warm welcome and invitation to join this small, but vibrant community who endeavor to follow Jesus in all of life.

Since 1971, our location has been on Route 100 in Bally, just south of the original meetinghouse built in 1732. We have gathered as an Anabaptist community here for nearly 300 years, encouraging one another to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are growing in joyful engagement with our community, sharing God’s love in service and friendship. We recognize that we are in a rapidly changing world, which requires that we go beyond our doors and into our communities, building relationships and shining Christ’s light to those in need.

A typical Sunday morning at Bally starts with coffee and fellowship prior to the Sunday School hour, where meaningful classes are structured for all ages. Children are a valuable part of our gathering, and teachers provide loving care and age-appropriate lessons.

The worship service that follows includes vibrant singing with a worship team, caring prayers, an opportunity for sharing, and a message of hope, healing, and encouragement. We are a church community who enjoy connecting with each other over coffee, during the Sunday School hour, or after the service where many linger. Occasional potluck meals, community breakfasts, and special events provide additional opportunities for connecting.

The generosity of our community is evident through the talents and skills shared in a variety of ways. We practice regular giving to support the work of our church, local community, and church related agencies such as MCC and MDS, among others. We enjoy serving and gathering together with our neighbors through regular Pancake Breakfasts, caring for youth at the Bally Community Center, teaching children at the Bally Community Preschool, and gardening with our neighbors at God’s Acre.

Themes of peace and justice run deep at Bally.  Over the years much attention has been given to Jesus’s examples and teachings of non-violence, mercy, and love of neighbor. We continue to be challenged in knowing how to respond to a world in pain from violence, hunger, hate, greed, and indifference. We strive to be agents of healing whether in our own lives, our communities, or in our world.  At the same time, we want to be bridge builders in situations of differences which reside even among ourselves. For all of this, we rely on God’s Spirit at work among us.

We have recently refined our vision, structuring ourselves as a “centered-set” faith community. This could be described as being on a path together, all moving towards Jesus, our center. Within this model we find greater freedom from judgement and boundaries, as we live with more grace, joy, and purpose. It is our deep desire that we continue to be a community who faithfully follows Jesus where he leads, building upon the deep faith of those who have gone before us. 

Pray for us:

  1. That we continue to rely on God’s Spirit to help us build relationships with our neighbors and each other.
  2. That those who are seeking would find Bally to be a place of welcome, where all can grow and find support in their walk with Jesus, and that their gifts and talents could be valued and shared for the common good.
  3. That we would continue to be disciples who model the love of Christ, inviting others to join us.

Congregational Profile: Whitehall Mennonite Church

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by Rose Bender, pastor

Whitehall Mennonite Church began in the early 1990s when retired pastor, Bob Walter, was out sailing and felt the call to plant a new church in the Lehigh Valley.  He had a dream to create a place for those who were weary from life, giving them a place to belong and to share the good news of the gospel. Despite support from other Franconia Conference churches, forming this new fellowship was a challenge. There were many times that they almost gave up.  But the community people who came found a welcoming home and received lots of practical support. 

Today, WMC carries that same spirit of hospitality and care for the community.  In 2009, the congregation supported a refugee family from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). This experience has changed the face and enlarged the heart of the congregation. Half of the congregation is now Karen-speaking. Karen songs, scripture, and greetings are a part of our common life. Each Sunday we gather after worship to eat together. The variety in food reflects the variety in our congregational culture.  We often say that this eclectic group of people would not be together if it were not for Jesus.  

Pastor Melky wanted those gathered on the last Sunday of 2019 to take a silly picture! (Photo credit: Melky Tirtasaputra)

Born out of a missional experiment, our congregation has always been willing to experiment with new ways of being church together. We have frequently invited young leaders like Samantha Lioi, Danilo Sanchez, and many summer interns to join our work.

Most recently we called Melky Tirtasaputra, a newly-credentialled leader from Nation’s Worship Center (Philadelphia), to be our associate pastor.  This is the first time that an Indonesian pastor will be leading a non-Indonesian congregation in our conference. Melky and his wife, Vina, bring spiritual maturity, hospitality, stability, and an entrepreneurial vision that the congregation needs.  The congregation will provide an opportunity for them to test out their gifts as they prepare to do church planting in the future.  

Pastor Rose Bender gives a congregational gift thanking Pastor Danilo Sanchez for his ministry at WMC. (Photo credit: Melky Tirtasaputra)

The congregational focus for 2020 is “Leadership as Discipleship.”  We have restructured our leadership team to create more opportunities for growth. We also continue to work at increasing our intercultural capacity.  Ah Paung, one of our servant leaders, said, “We practice here for what is already happening around the throne room: many nations, many languages, many tribes praising the living God.”  

Prayer Requests:  

  • Discipleship training and maturity
  • Creativity and stability
  • Openness to the leading of the Spirit