USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Denver > Peace United Church of Christ, R.D. 1, Denver, Pennsylvania : dedication, June 3-9, 1970 > Part 1
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DEDICATION June 3-9, 1970
PEACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST R. D. 1, Denver, Pennsylvania
A Message From The Pastor
VERLE C. SCHUMACHER
Being actively involved in building a new church is something which happens only once in the lifetime of most people and never in the lifetime of others. The erection of a new edifice to serve the people of God in this place in their ministry in Christ's name, was a tremendous undertaking for an infant congregation. It has been a most exciting venture, completed almost three years from the day it began. The pastor and his family are very happy to have had this opportunity to share in the last half of this venture with the members of Peace United Church of Christ.
Much effort has been put into producing a new church to serve a new age. To bring this, which was once only a dream in the minds of a few persons, to reality has been no easy task. We have had the good fortune of having an excellent building committee, truly de- voted to the church and always seeking to make decisions and carry out plans that were in the best interests of the entire congregation. It has been a most rewarding experience in the lives of the pastor and his wife to have had the privilege of working with men and wo- men who were deeply committed to the task of bringing this new edifice into being. There has been the joy of learning and working together that God might be truly praised and glorified in this place. Here we have known the joy and cost of mutual discipleship in our Lord's name.
As we gather in our series of Dedication Services, we do so to dedicate a building to the glory of God; for to Him alone belongs the honor and glory. And, as we dedicate this building of stone, mortar, wood and steel, we must also re-dedicate ourselves to Him whom we honor in and through this building. Our new edifice must not be an end in itself; but must challenge us to ever greater expressions of our servanthood for God. We must dedi- cate ourselves to the Mission of the Church that Christ has given to it; a ministry of recon- ciling love in His name. We have here in this building facilities for the equipping of the saints All that is needed is our commitment to that ministry that has been given to each of us and our willingness to use these facilities to enable us and strengthen us in our servanthood.
As our Lord's ministry was primarily a ministry to persons, enabling them to relate in a meaningful and purposeful way to God, their fellowmen and the world; so our ministry in and through these new facilities must be a ministry to persons, in all their wide variety of needs. To this end we will dedicate ourselves in our programming of worship and educa- tional experiences; that lives might be enriched and know their humanity in its fulness. May we be faithful in that mission Christ recognized for himself and which is ours through him ... "announce good news to the poor, proclaim release for prisoners, recover the sight of the blind, let the broken victims go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." (Luke 4:18,19).
Community Night
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1970 - 7:30 P.M.
PRELUDE "Toccata in C" ---- Johann Sebastian Bach Guest Organist: Tom Anderson
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart" No. 193
*Pastor: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
*People: Amen.
*Pastor: The Spirit of the Lord has filled the world. Let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy! Let us pray.
*In Unison: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*PARAPHRASE OF PSALM 81 and 82 (God is Here Let's Celebrate!, Leslie F. Brandt)
*GLORIA PATRI
No. 491
ANTHEM "Praise" -Ford Immanuel E C Junior Choir, Adamstown
HOLY SCRIPTURES The Rev. W. M. Brosius,
Old Testament Lesson - Isaiah 61:1-7 Adamstown Evangelical Congregational Church New Testament Lesson - II Corinthians 5:16-21
ANTHEM "O, How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings" -Maker
Muddy Creek Lutheran Senior Choir
GREETINGS From Muddy Creek Lutheran Church Mr. Eugene L. Sensenig
HYMN "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord" No. 329
MEDITATIONS
On the theme: "What The Community Has A Right To Expect of Peace U. C. C." That it will be . . .
A Worshipping Fellowship- The Rev. J. J. Hine Former pastor of the Adamstown Evangelical Congregational Church
A Learning Fellowship- The Rev. Verle C. Schumacher A Fellowship of the Concerned- The Rev. Wilson R. Hoyer St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Adamstown *THE APOSTLES' CREED
ANTHEM "Open Our Eyes" -Macfarlane St. Paul's Lutheran Senior Choir, Adamstown THE OFFERING "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" -Johann Pachelbel *THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE No. 505 *PRAYER
*THE LORD'S PRAYER
*BENEDICTION
*THREEFOLD AMEN
*RECESSIONAL HYMN "Saviour, Breathe An Evening Blessing" No. 60
*CHIMES
*POSTLUDE "Now Thank We All Our God" -Sigfrid Karg-Elert Members and friends of Peace United Church of Christ are cordially invited to remain for an Open House and tours of the building. Light refreshments will be. served in the Fellowship Hall.
Service of Dedication SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 1970 - 10:30 A.M.
PRELUDE: "Adoration" Piano and organ
-Borowski
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation" No. 324
*Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit * People: Amen.
*PSALM 24
Pastor: The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
People: For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Pastor: Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? People: He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Pastor: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors that the King of glory may come in.
People: Who is this king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Pastor: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
People: Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.
*PRESENTATION OF THE KEYS:
(The contractor shall present the keys to the Architect who shall present them to the chairman of the Building Committee. The chairman of the Building Committee shall then present the keys to the President of the Church Council. The President of the Council shall present the keys to the pastor, saying)
"Forasmuch as this congregation has set its hands to the building of this house for the worship and service of Almighty God, I now deliver to you the keys thereof, and pray you to lead in its dedication to His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom."
(The Pastor shall respond,)
"Let us not doubt that God will approve this act of devotion, and that He will graciously accept our work. Peace be unto this house and to all that enter therein."
*PSALM 122 The Rev. Marion Smith, leader
Pastor: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
People: Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Pastor: Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compacted together:
People: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
Pastor: For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
People: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Pastor: Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
People: For my brethren and companion's sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee
Pastor: Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Service of Dedication
No. 491
*GLORIA PATRI *Pastor: Praise the Lord! *People: The Lord be praised. ANTHEM "Be Silent Before Him" Carol Choir
HOLY SCRIPTURES The Rev. Marion E. Smith
Epistle Lesson - I Corinthians 3:1-23
ANTHEM "Surely The Lord Is In This Place" Chancel Choir Gospel Lesson - Matthew 16:13-20
SERMON The Rev. James W. Moyer, D.D., President Penn Central Conference - U. C. C.
* APOSTLES' CREED
*HYMN "O Thou, whose hand hath brought us" No. 359
*THE LITANY OF DEDICATION Pastor: Let us pray
Prayer in Unison: O God, who are present in all places of thy dominion, to accept and further the services of all thy creatures; hear us, we humbly beseech thee, and by thy Holy Spirit consecrate these buildings we here dedicate unto Thee.
Pastor: Recognizing our complete dependence upon thee, O God, for life and all its blessings;
People: We dedicate this Church and Church School to Thy honor and glory.
Pastor: For the worship of Thy holy Name, For the ministry of the Word, For the administration of the Sacraments, For the development of Christian character in children, youth and adults,
People: We dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: For comfort to those who mourn, For help to those who are tempted, For strength to those who are weak,
People: We dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: For the sanctification of the family, For the guidance of childhood, For the summoning of youth to a life of service,
People: We dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: For sympathy and fellowship with the needy, For activities that promote the spirit of cooperation and fellowship For the unity of all believers in Christ,
People: We dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: For agression against evil, For fostering civic righteousness, For promoting peace and justice in all the earth,
People: We dedicate these buildings.
Service of Dedication
Pastor: For the sending forth of the Gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth, For the giving of hope and courage to those that labor in the Lord, For the consecration of life and service, till Thy Kingdom come,
People: We dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Father who are in heaven
People: To Thee we dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: O God, the Son, Savior of the world, Head over all things to the Church, Prophet, Priest, and King,
People: To Thee we dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: O God the Holy Spirit, Teacher, Sanctifier and Comforter, Lord and Giver of life,
People: To Thee we dedicate these buildings.
Pastor: Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to Thee we dedicate these buildings, that they may be the habitation of Thy Name and the place where thy glory dwelleth.
*THE SERAPHIC HYMN
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory; Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!
*THE PRAYER
Almighty and everlasting God, who delightest Thyself in the praises of the sanctuary, accept the offering of these buildings which Thy people have built to the glory of Thy holy Name. Send down Thy Holy Spirit, we beseech Thee, and let these buildings and every part thereof be sanctified and hallowed unto Thee. Here let Thy Presence dwell and Thy glory be revealed; and grant that all who shall call upon Thee here may wor- ship Thee in spirit and in truth and may in their lives show forth Thy praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OFFERING
*OFFERING RESPONSE "The Doxology" No. 551
*BENEDICTION
*THREEFOLD AMEN
*RECESSIONAL HYMN "Lead on, O King eternal" No. 299
*CHIMES
*POSTLUDE "Festival Postlude" -E. L. Ashford
Members and friends of Peace United Church of Christ are cordially invited to remain for an Open House and tours of the building. Light refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall.
Youth Night
SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 1970 - 7:30 P.M.
Our service of worship this evening is a Rock Mass in the best historical and liturgical fashion in that it contains all the necessary components of a traditional Christian worship service; such as Confession, Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Sanctus, etc. Stephen Spiese and Ray Cooke, members of the Trinity United Church of Christ, East Petersburg, who are in charge of this service, have tried in their composing to attain a modern version of liturgical music, instead of folk music; which means that the music ranges in meter from 5/4 to 4/4 to free rhythm. It is written in the style of boogaloo, rock, impressionism, Fudge and Steppenwolfe. The instrumentation is guitar, organ, drums, tambourine and voice. Special effects are used via the medium of amplification of voice and instruments through a fuzz amplifier and pro- grammed lighting effects.
The music throughout the Service tries to express the mood-the music accompanying the confession of sins has an air of humility and pensiveness about it, whereas music played dur- ing the Communion is very joyful. This celebrated mass would be comparable to that of the Israelites when King David celebrated the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jeru- salem (II Samuel 6).
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (Standing)
Pastor: Praise the Lord!
People: Praise him with organ (musical effect)
Pastor: Praise God in his sanctuary
People: Praise him with the fuzz guitar (musical effect)
Pastor: Praise the Lord with a new sound
People: Praise him with drums and cymbals (musical effect)
Pastor: Praise the Lord with a new song
People: Praise him with voice and song (musical effect)
Pastor: Praise him in his mighty firmament
People: Praise him with lights. (Lighting effect)
CALL TO CONFESSION (all kneeling)
Pastor: We are here in the Name of Jesus Christ.
People: We are here because we are men-but we deny our humanity. We are stubborn fools and liars to ourselves. We do not love others. We war against life. We hurt each other. We are sorry for it and know we are sick from it. We seek a new life. Giver of life, heal us and free us to be men. Holy Spirit, speak to us. Help us to listen for we are very deaf. Come fill this moment.
KYRIE
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
SCRIPTURES
SONG "People Get Ready"
SONG "Eleanor Rigby"
Youth Night
CONFESSION OF FAITH (Standing)
Pastor: Let us confess the faith that binds us to Christ's Holy Church.
People: We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets. And we believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins: And we look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come. Amen.
INTERCESSARY PRAYERS (kneeling)
Pastor: The Lord is with us.
People: He is with us indeed.
THE LORD'S PRAYER (kneeling)
Pastor: Let us pray the prayer the Lord gave us.
People: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored. Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need; and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have wronged us. Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from evil. For the Kingdom and power and glory are yours forever. Amen.
THE OFFERING
THE OFFERTORY
THE ACT OF EUCHARIST
Pastor: Lift up your hearts People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks for God's glory.
People: We give thanks for God's glory of all creation.
Pastor: All glory be to you, O Father, who sent your only Son into the world to be a man, born of a woman's womb, to die for us on a cross that was made by us. People: He came for us. Help us to accept his coming.
Pastor: He walked among us, a man, on our earth, in our world of conflict, and com- manded us to remember his death, his death which gives us life; and to wait for him until he comes again in glory.
People: We remember his death; we live by his presence; we wait for his coming.
THE SANCTUS
Youth Night
THE INSTITUTION
Pastor: On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, he gave thanks; he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying "Take, eat, this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me." He also took the cup: he gave thanks; and gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you: this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
People: Come, Lord Jesus, come.
THE AGNUS DEI
THE CONSECRATION
Pastor: Remembering his death, believing in his rising from the grave, longing to recog- nize his presence; now, in this place, we obey his command; we offer bread and wine, we offer ourselves, to be used.
People: Everything is yours, O Lord; we return the gift which you first gave us.
Pastor: (special lighting effects)
Accept, Our Heavenly Father, our gifts. Send down the spirit of life and power, glory and love upon these people, and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be to us the body and blood of Christ."
THE PAX
Pastor: The Peace of Christ be with you.
People: (Each worshipper shall turn to his neighbor on his right, take his hand, and say:) Peace!
CALL TO COMMUNION
THE HOLY SACRAMENT
(Persons receiving communion shall gather around the Altar-Table. When they have received both elements they shall return to their places in the pew.)
The entire congregation shall stand for the Benedictus.
THE BENEDICTUS
Pastor: May the Body and Blood of Christ keep you. Go, serve the Lord with gladness. You are free.
Members and friends of Peace United Church of Christ are cordially invited to remain for an Open House and tours of the building. Light refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall.
Denominational Night TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1970 - 7:30 P.M.
PRELUDE "Theme From Tocatto" -Widor "Reve Angelique" -Rubinstein
Guest Organist - Mrs. Karl Baer, St. John's U.C.C., Denver Guest Choir - St. John's U.C.C. Senior Choir, Denver
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN "Glorious things of thee are spoken" No. 323
*Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
*People Amen.
*Pastor: Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firma- ment! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his exceeding greatness! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Let us pray.
*In Unison: Almighty and Everlasting God, always more ready to hear than we to pray, and constantly giving more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our consciences are afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
EPISTLE - I Peter 2:4-10 The Rev. Ronald R .. Krick St. John's United Church of Christ, Denver
ANTHEM "Tabernacle of God" -McDonald
GOSPEL - John 17:20-26
The Rev. Darryl Dech Salem United Church of Christ, Reamstown
ANTHEM "Surely God Is In This Place" -Rasley
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN "Faith of our fathers!" No. 282
MEDITATIONS "Traits of the Church for our Times" "Truly Catholic"
"Truly Evangelical"
The Rev. George L. Harting Jordan Reformed, Walbert, Pa. The Rev. Robert F. Harting Christ Church United Church of Christ, Temple, Pa.
"Truly Reformed"
The Rev. Vincent Eshelman Staff, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Pa.
*STATEMENT OF FAITH
OFFERING "Adoration"
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE *PRAYERS
-Gaul No. 505
The Rev. Donald F. Geschwindt Swamp United Church of Christ
*OUR LORD'S PRAYER
*BENEDICTION
*THREEFOLD AMEN
*RECESSIONAL HYMN "The Church's one Foundation" No. 322 -Stults
*POSTLUDE "Dedication Festival"
Members and friends of Peace United Church of Christ are cordially invited to remain for an Open House and tours of the building. Light refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall.
The Organ
The pipe organ reflects conservative principles of classic design, termed by some "Con- tempory American", with reference to the 18th century German organs. Fourteen voices, comprised of seventeen pipe-ranks that can be controlled as twenty-nine speaking stops, are located on the platform together with a set of twenty-one tubular chimes. Beneath is a centrifugal blower that furnishes the "wind" for the pipes at pressures ranging from 21/2" to 4". Under expression, in a louvred case behind the screen, are 451 pipes in seven ranks; the balance of the 1,045 pipes are divided and exposed for ideal free-speech.
The design and tonal work were carried out by Howard S. Oakie, Jr., of Downingtown, representing the Tellers Organ Company of Erie, builder of this custom instrument. Pri- mary consideration was given to accompanimental needs; together with resourses avail- able for virtually every type and school of organ literature.
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Front row: Cindye Moyer, Brian Tobias, Beth Hornberger, Tina Lausch, Kurt Lesher, Mark Lausch, Scott Lausch. Second row: Sally Schlegel, Diane Moyer, Lori Harting, Lori Schweit- zer, Diane Trostle, Beverly Kline.
L to R: Susy Schlegel, Mrs. Kenneth Youndt, Mrs. Floyd Fry, Mrs. Harry Leibold, Mrs. Walter Harting, Mrs. Paul Hornberger, William Harting, Mrs. Floyd Schlegel, Mrs. John Schweitzer, John Schweitzer, Ernest Shupp, Mrs. William Fritz, Harry Steely, Michael Hornberger, Wm. A. Morrow, Mrs. Richard Tobias.
Prologue To Peace
THE MUDDY CREEK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
A decisive moment had come! One spring day in 1734 a small group gathered at the home of Gotfried Fidler to watch the kindling of a bonfire. Flames leaped up as thirty-six denominational and devotional books, including the Reformed and Lutheran catechisms, were consumed in the blaze. As John Peter Miller walked away from the smoldering ashes the future of the young Muddy Creek congregation was most uncertain.
This was one of the ten earliest Reformed congregations organized in America. It was known as "Moden Krick" and later as "Moden Krick und Cocalico"; its name being derived from the fact that it was located on an eminence at the head of the drainage area and over- looking the valley through which meanders the stream called "Muddy Creek". Here, for more than two hundred years, two congregations would share the same house of worship; congregations whose earliest members were pioneering settlers who came from Europe to Philadelphia, then to Lancaster, and from there up the natural waterways of the Conestoga and Cocalico Valleys and who finally built their homes in a wilderness near the head- waters of Muddy Creek.
Religious activity among the Reformed people in this area was no doubt started and in- fluenced by John Philip Boehm, the Father of the Reformed Church in America; who, after establishing congregations in the "Perkiomen Valley", came also into the Conestoga Valley and held the Valley's first Communion on October 15, 1727, near what is now Heller's Church, Leola, Pa. In this area the "Lebanon Tailor", Conrad Tempelman, lived at the time and had been conducting religious meetings since 1725 as a layman. Pastor Boehm was followed by the Rev. George Michael Weiss, the actual founder of the Muddy Creek Church; who decided, shortly after the congregation's founding, to return to Europe.
John Peter Miller, installed as Muddy Creek's first regular pastor, had finished his uni- versity training in Heidelberg, Germany, but left for America before he could be ordained. At the end of August, 1730, he arrived in Philadelphia and took over the pastoral charges left vacant by Pastor Weiss. Less than a half-year later, shortly after his twenty-first birth- day, Miller left Philadelphia and limited his activity to the churches at Goshenhoppen and Tulpehocken and to the newly founded congregations in the Conestoga Valley, one of which was Muddy Creek. The earliest records made by this first pastor in the Muddy Creek congregation were three baptisms on January 20, 1731.
At the beginning of Pastor Miller's pastorate the first church building was erected; a log cabin with a beaten earth floor in the center of which was a large stone enclosure that serv- ed as a fireplace. Here the early worshippers gathered to listen to two- or three-hour long sermons, while a few men kept armed watch to avoid a surprise attack by marauding bands of Indians.
In the Fall of 1733 the Lutherans in the community were organized into a congregation under the leadership of John Casper Stover. On invitation from the Reformed brethren the Lutheran congregation moved into and shared the new building with them. On May 30, 1761, the two congregations entered into an agreement for formal union which had never been terminated, amended or changed until the day that Peace United Church of Christ came into existence. The present Muddy Creek building is the fourth structure to be located in that place. Following the first log church, a stone building with a tile floor was erected. This building was razed to make way for a larger stone church building with galleries erected in 1847. The present building took shape during 1938 and was .dedi- cated on February 26, 1939.
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