ST. PAUL's UCC, STOVERSTOWN
office: (717) 225-6357
e-mail: stpaulsstoverstown@comcast.net
Pastor Martin e-mail:
pastorstpaulsstoverstown@comcast.net
About Us
Our Mission Statement
We gather together as a family of faith to
share God’s love by:
Inviting and welcoming all people of
God’s creation,
Worshipping and praising God,
Teaching and preaching the Good News,
and
Caring for the needs of one another,
the community, and the world.
Why I Love St. Paul’s
To me, it has always felt like the hands that built St. Paul’s
left behind the light of their love to shine on our congregation.
When I am here, I feel that light. When I look at the faces
that come here to worship, I see the light in them; and I am glad to
be part of it. This church means so much to me because
God obviously shines his light within this church and its
congregation.
– Christine Stough
St. Paul’s is like one big family to me. They always ask how my week was, or my softball games went. They are so loving and caring and come together in times of need. –Kira Hull
Pastor and Staff
Pastor Dave Martin
Our
Pastor, Dave Martin, began serving at St. Paul’s UCC in 2015. Prior
to serving at St. Paul’s UCC, he served UCC churches in western New
York and southern Illinois. He is a second career pastor, having
originally worked in the computers industry in Massachusetts for
over a decade. His faith journey has taken him through several
different denominations and churches and periods of questioning and
doubt. For him, the local church is most vital when it is a place
where God’s welcome and love are palpable, where people work hard to
stay in relationship with one another because they trust God’s love
abounds, where people seek to grow in Christ’s ways of love and
justice and peace, and where people are equipped to serve others and
share God’s love. St. Paul’s is a vital church that aims to grow
even more vital, and Dave is grateful for the opportunity and
challenge to serve as its pastor. Dave has been married to Bonnie for 32
years. They have two children: Karen, who graduated with an
engineering degree and working near Atlanta, and Tim, who is a college
graduate, working in engineering. In his free time, Dave enjoys reading
gardening, hiking, and skiing.
Sharon W. Smith, Administrative Assistant
Sharon has served St.
Paul’s UCC as its Administrator since the beginning of Arpil, 2022.
She
works part-time, and is available in the church office on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.
Joy Gobrecht, Music Director
A science teacher at Spring Grove Middle
School, Joy has been passionate about singing and music since her
childhood, especially music that brings others closer to God. She
enjoys many different styles of music, and working with children,
youth, and adults.
Angela Salemme, Sexton
Angie, along with her daughter, began caring for our Church early during the pandemic in 2020. Angie is busy attending various sporting events!
Darlene Hoover, Organist
Darlene has many decades of experience playing
the organ and piano, and of supporting our choirs and congregation
in singing. She also takes time each week to teach the children
those classic and simple songs of faith that the children may
remember for a lifetime.
Our Organization
We are organized to support our mission.
·
Our
Outreach and Fellowship Committee
helps the congregation grow in hospitality.
·
Our
Worship Committee helps shape our
worship life and music ministry, as well as our devotional life.
·
Our
Christian Education Committee
organizes our formal efforts to nurture and grow the faith of
children, youth, and adults.
·
Our
Stewardship and Mission Committee
guides the congregation both in caring for the needs of one another,
the community, and the world and in providing the resources to care.
·
Other committees in our congregation,
such as our Consistory (church council) and
trustees help set the
priorities, allocate the resources, and maintain our facility, so
that the congregation grow in faith and serve the wider community
and world.
Our History
In the late 1870’s members of the Lutheran and
the German Reformed denominations lived and worked side by side in
the Stoverstown area. Recognizing that the Reformed and Lutheran
traditions were sisters in the faith, and being practical about the
cost of constructing and maintain a church building, the early
settlers from both these traditions joined together to build a Union
Church.
The two groups met together before the church
was built. The present Sunday School first met in the Stoverstown
School House on Sunday mornings, so the Sunday School predates the
construction of the first church building by several years.
The original church building was dedicated on
November 21, 1880. In 1904 the building was remodeled with the
addition of a bell tower and narthex. A major renovation of the
building took place in 1935 when it was encased with brick, Sunday
School rooms were added, and stained glass windows and a new heating
system installed. The newly remodeled structure was dedicated on
October 25, 1935.
On August 6, 1940 the church was struck by
lightning and completely destroyed. The rapid and whole-hearted
response of church members to this crisis marked the beginning of a
time of renewal and recommitment to sharing the Gospel in the
community. Within two years, a new church structure was constructed
and was dedicated on February 22, 1942.
On July 9, 1978 our congregation held its first
8:00 A.M. worship service. Following this first worship service, the
Lutheran and UCC congregations alternated worship times every other
Sunday between 8:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M, with a joint Sunday School
held in between. On June 23, 1979 the Mabel Gunnet property was
purchased and used as a parsonage. The Church remained a meeting
place for both the Lutheran and UCC congregations until the early
1980’s. With both congregations growing it was decided to dissolve
the Union Church. The Lutheran congregation stayed in the current
church and the UCC congregation built a new building at the corner
of Stoverstown Road and Short Road on land purchased from John and
Rachel Lau. On April 10, 1983 ground was broken for the new church.
The church building was largely built with volunteers from within
the congregation over the course of a year. The cornerstone was laid
on July 31, 1983. The first service was held on April 15, 1984 and
the dedication of the building took place on June 10, 1984 with Dr.
Horace S. Sills delivering the sermon.
The Lutheran and UCC congregations still engage
in a number of covenant events together such a community Easter Egg
hunt, Vacation Bible School, an evening Thanksgiving worship
service, and mid-week Lenten worship services.
Some highlights of our recent history include
the following:
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1997: September 21 Rev. Dennis L. Weidler was unanimously approved as our Pastor
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2002
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Two “daughters” of the congregation, Jacquie Church and Barbara Brenneman, were ordained.
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2005:
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Hosted GROUP Work camp for the first time, then in 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2016. At each of these GROUP Work camps, hundreds of youth and adult volunteers provided needed home repairs for scores of elderly residents in York County.
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2006:
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Safe Sanctuary Policy initiated to reduce the risk of child abuse during church programs and events.
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Agape’ Band started with guitarists, percussion, keyboard, and saxophone players. The Agape’ Band plays blended traditional and contemporary music for worship services on the first Sunday of each month.
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2009:
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Biannual fall weekend congregational retreats to Hartman Center church camp began
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2012:
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Youth aged 13 and up allowed to vote in congregational meetings
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2013:
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Bi-weekly Lifetree discussion groups begin
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St. Paul’s United Church of Christ,
Stoverstown, currently has 154 members and is led by Pastor Dave
Martin who began serving on October 1, 2015.
Our Clergy “Daughters”
Rev. Phyllis Baum
Rev. Jacquie Church-Young
Rev. Barbara Brenneman
One of Our Stained Glass Window
