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Fleetwood Bible Church celebrates 150th anniversary [Religion Digest]

Fleetwood Bible Church observed its 150th anniversary on Sunday.

The celebration service was followed by a traditional church picnic with kids’ activities and a youth vs. mentors soccer game.

Children will also be contributing to the 2021 time capsule to commemorate the anniversary.

State Sen. Judy Schwank and State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie presented citations.

Those in attendance viewed a historical timeline video of the church’s ministries and milestones over the last century and a half.

“For 150 years, Fleetwood Bible Church has remained committed to making the name of Jesus known here in Berks County and beyond,” said Drew Toucher, who assumed the role of senior pastor in June 2020. “It would be a tragedy today, if we came here and celebrated 150 years and we said ‘Yay us!’ and we never gave any thought to the next 150 years; if we never thought of ‘How are we going to keep this going for the next generation and the next generation and the next generation?

“We have a mission; to reach our community, to reach the next generation and to make disciples who make disciples.”

In1870, a small brick building on Richmond St. in Fleetwood held a worship service for a congregation of 10 families. It was known as Independent Church of God of Fleetwood. It later changed its affiliation and became Fleetwood Missionary Church. Its name was changed to Fleetwood Bible Church in 1993.

The expanding church moved to its present location at 2847 Moselem Springs Road, Richmond Township, in 2001. FBC hosts many community events, and as a vital part of the community, continues to serve in new and diverse ways with such events as vacation Bible school, FreeBay (a free stuff sharing event each spring and fall), low-cost soccer camp for kids, free, outdoor, big screen, park/drive-in movies for families and much more.

For more information on the mission and history of Fleetwood Bible Church, visit www.fleetwoodbible.org.

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North Heidelberg Church, 211 Sheidy Road, North Heidelberg Township, will be celebrating World Wide Communion on Sunday at 10 a.m. with a polka Mass and Holy Communion. The service will have hymns set to a polka beat with a polka band providing the music. After the service, there will be a picnic in the social hall. Meat and beverages will be provided. Bring a covered dish or dessert. COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing will be in place.

Zion United Church of Christ, Womelsdorf, will hold a combined worship service  including Holy Communion with St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Sunday at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary at 301 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia.

Trinity United Church of Christ, 2449 Cumberland Ave., Mount Pen, will be celebrating World Communion Sunday with in-person worship at 10:15 a.m. Masks are recommended for everyone regardless of vaccination status. The service will also be recorded and posted on the church’s Facebook page after the service.

Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Barto, will hold a worship service Sunday at 9 a.m. Prior to the worship service, Coffee & Conversation will be held at 8:30 in the Welcome Center, and after worship there will be Coffee & Conversation as well. It is recommended that masks be worn.

Schwarzwald United Church of Christ, 75 Church Lane Road., Exeter Township, will be holding an in-person and Zoom service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.  It will also be available on YouTube.  Richard Smoker will be the guest pianist.  Visit www.schwarzwalducc-pa.org for more information. The Fall Festival is scheduled for Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with fun, food, crafts and children’s activities.  Apple dumplings ($4.50), pumpkin pies ($12) and AP cakes ($5) are available for pre-order. If you are interested in baked goods or a craft stand, email schwarzfallfest@gmail.com.

St. Michael’s Church, 529 St. Michaels Road, Tilden Township, will worship Sunday at 10:15 a.m. indoors, on the parking lot, by phone and on Facebook. Jerry Arndt, pastor, will lead the Communion worship and Elaine Balthaser will be the organist.

Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 170 Tuckerton Road, Muhlenberg Township on Sunday will hold Faith Formation for all ages at 9 a.m. and worship, livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube, and in-person at 10:30 a.m. with Communion. Masks are required.  Harves Home gifts will be celebrated. Joyce Maurer and Sandy Paton will offer an organ duet. At 2 p.m., there will be a drive-thru pet blessing in the parking lot. Stop by with your pets for a blessing and a treat. All donations will be given to the Animal Rescue League of Berks.

Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will hold an in-person Communion worship service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The recorded service will be available Monday on Facebook page.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, is open for in-person worship Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required in advance on the church website, www.stjohnsboyertown.org, or by calling the office.  Livestreamed worship continues on YouTube (St. John’s ELC Boyertown). A free, drive-through, take-out meal is offered every Saturday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

West Lawn United Methodist Church, 15 Woodside Ave., will not be offering West Lawn Wednesday dinner this week due to the Faithful Friends Consignment Sale in the West Lawn Community Center, 101 Woodside Ave. The public is invited to come shop the sale from Thursday at 9 a.m. to next Saturday at noon. The Faithful Friends Consignment Sale offers a wide variety of baby items, kids clothes, toys, books, maternity clothes and more. West Lawn UMC also offers four in-person services on Sunday: 8 and 11 a.m., traditional worship, and 9:30 and 11:10, contemporary worship. Livestream worship services are at 8, 9:30 and 11:10 at www.westlawnumc.com, Facebook and YouTube.

Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, will hold worship services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. The Rev. Rose Robertson Shepley, the new chaplain at Bethany Children’s Home, will be the guest preacher.

Alsace Lutheran Church, 2201 Kutztown Road, Muhlenberg Township,
begins a new Sunday morning schedule this week. There will be one worship
service at 9 a.m. with Sunday School at 10:15. Rally Day will be celebrated at 10:15  with the theme “We Shine for Jesus.”  There will be a craft, singing and refreshments.

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood, will have two worship services Sunday including celebrating World Wide Communion (bring your elements), at 9 a.m. in the sanctuary and online and at 10:30 outside, weather permitting. If the weather is inclement, the second service will be held inside. Links Facebook and YouTube are found at www.stpaulsfleetwood.org. Special music this week at 9 will be “The Prayer” with Bob Ames and Sarah Berghold. They will also be the hymn soloists. The choir will share “A Special Place for You” at 10:30. This week’s worship leaders are at 9, Ramona Wolf, and at 10:30, Vicky Garl.

Rosedale Camp Grove, 1616 Vine St., Laureldale, will have breakfast this morning from 7 to 11 a.m. Cost is $6. There will be Western Night on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. with music by Days of Old. Caller is Paul Adam. Cost is a donation. There will be food for sale.

Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will hold a blessing of the animals event in the courtyard Sunday at 1 p.m. There also will be three in-person worship services on Sunday, all including Holy Eucharist: at 8, there will be a said service (no music); at 9, a service for families with young children; and at 10:15, a service with music. Everyone attending these services is asked to wear a mask. Parking is available at the Abe Lincoln Hotel parking garage and the M & T Bank lot, both off of Washington street. Parking next to the church on Court street is available for those who are disabled or need assistance. To join remotely, go to rdgchristchurch.org or Christ Episcopal Church, Reading, PA, on Facebook.

Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will hold a hybrid worship service Sunday at 9 a.m. It will celebrate World Communion Sunday with three students receiving first communion. Music includes a piano solo by Miles Esterly; a flute quartet with Jaime Baver, Karen Hess, Betsy McGeorge and Kelli Rosenberger; and a trombone quartet with Sophie Esterly, SaraAnn Harbonic, Eric Katzenmoyer and Julia Powlus; as well as a congregational hymn. In-person worship is livestreamed on Facebook and on YouTube. Links can be found at  maidencreekchurch.org.

Bern Reformed UCC, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, offers live worship at 9:30 a.m. in the air-conditioned sanctuary, or participate from your vehicle by means of an FM 87.9 transmission. Worldwide Communion will be celebrated.


Source: Berkshire mont

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