Church | St. Peter's Christ DeLong United Churches of Christ

ST. PETER'S & CHRIST DELONG UNITED CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Sharing a joint ministry and a common mission since 1991

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St. Peter's UCC, Topton, PA
Worship Service begins at 9:00am

Christ DeLong, UCC, Bowers, PA
Worship Service begins at 10:30am

Our churches are located in beautiful, rural Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Situated comfortably between Allentown and Reading, the area boasts many advantages.

Our proximity to larger metropolitan cities allows access to major business opportunities, quality medical care, and the treasures of the fine art world. Colleges and universities abound, as well as regional cultural and heritage events.

We are two separate congregations enjoying the benefits of a joint ministry since 1991.

Our congregations have a long history of sharing God's word together, and with the larger community around us.

We hope to share God's word with you!

Missed a service? Click on the link to view our services on YouTube.

Video

ABOUT

Our mission, as a combined ministry, includes the common purpose to live as God's people by sharing the faith with our community and beyond. Through service, spiritual growth, fellowship, preaching, teaching, caring and love, we strive to honor our traditions while looking to the future.

St. Peter's History

The institutional religious life in Topton began sometime between 1865 and 1869 when a Sunday School was formed. Excelsior Subscription School housed the Sunday School for a period of time. On October 29, 1871, St. Peter's Union Church was established. Rev. A.J. Herman was the Reformed Pastor and Rev. B.E. Kramlich was the Lutheran Pastor. The cornerstone of the first church building was laid on the same site as the Subscription School building. In 1881 the church was rebuilt and enlarged. Beginning January 1913, the two congregations severed their relationship. On May 11, 1924, blueprints were prepared for a new church building. On Sunday, September 24, 1925, the cornerstone for the new building was laid at its current location. The first service occurred on Palm Sunday, 1926 and the building was dedicated on June 5, 1927. In 1934, the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod of North America merged, forming a "Plan of Union". In 1957, St. Peter's elected to join the Evangelical and Reformed Church with the Congregational Christian Churches. St. Peter's separated from the charge in 1964. In 1991, it was approved by both St. Peter's and Christ DeLong to share a joint ministry that

continues to this day.

Christ DeLong's History

The German Reformed congregation was started in 1759. Peter Delong (Delangh) donated two acres of land and a log cabin was erected to serve as the first sanctuary. The first regular pastor to serve was

Rev. John Henry Helffrich who served from

1772 until 1810. Rev. Charles G. Herman, served the longest pastorate from 1810 to 1861. During his pastorate, Zion's Church at Maxatawny was organized and became a part of his charge.

In 1859, the church became a "union" church. His son, Rev. Alfred J. Herman, served the two congregations for thirty-one years. During his pastorate, St. Peter's Church in Topton was organized. In that same year, St. Peter's and St. Paul's Reformed Church in Kutztown were united in a separate charge. In 1892, The Maxatawny Charge was formed by combining the four churches, served by Rev. George B. Smith, D.D. for almost forty-five years. After his death, St. Paul's separated from the charge. In 1937, Rev. Franklin D. Slifer, D.D. became pastor of the Maxatawny Charge. During the years, the name of the church changed from Christ DeLong's Reformed Church to The Christ (DeLong's) Evangelical & Reformed Church and to the present name, Christ DeLong United Church of Christ.

ABOUT

EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

All dates and times are subject to change.

If you have any questions about an event, please contact the church office at (610) 682-7633.

Joint Worship Service featuring live music by Keith Brintzenhoff

November 24, 2024 ~ 10:30am ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ Join St. Peter’s and Christ DeLong UCCs for a special Joint Worship Service featuring music by Keith Brintzenhoff!

Thanksgiving Eve Community Worship Service

November 27, 2024 ~ 7:00 pm ~ Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Rd., Fleetwood, PA 19522

~ Please join us at Christ Mertz Lutheran Church for a community worship service of Thanksgiving and Praise.

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Christ DeLong Ladies' Aid Christmas Cookie Sale

December 14, 2024 ~ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ $12 per pound. No pre-orders will be taken. If you have any questions, please call Pam at 610-393-6189.

Christmas Cantata

December 22, 2024 ~ 9:00 am ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Our joint choir will be hosting a Cantata entitled "O Holy Light" by Mary McDonald. If anyone is interested in singing during this joyous occasion, please reach out to Judy or Pastor Chris. There will be fellowship following the service.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Services & Communion

December 24, 2024 ~ 7:00 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

9:30 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ We will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with candlelight services and Communion. Christ Delong's service will begin at 7:00 pm. St. Peter's service will begin at 9:30 pm. A musical prelude will begin 15 minutes prior to each service.

Dale Cullin Memorial Breakfast

January 12, 2025 ~ 9:00 am ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Please join us for our annual Dale Cullin Memorial Breakfast immediately following St. Peter's worship service. Sign-up sheets will be placed in each Narthex closer to the date.

RECURRING EVENTS:

Mat-Weaving Ministry

3rd Saturday of each month ~ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Join us to weave mats for our local homeless population, distributed through the Opportunity House. They are used as waterproof sleeping mats to lay on and each mat requires 500-700 plastic grocery bags! All ages are welcome to help - no experience or tools necessary. We need folders, cutters and weavers. The more, the merrier! Please use the back entrance to St. Peter's UCC and go down the steps.
**At this time we do not need for any more bag donations. Thank you to everyone who brought some in for this project!**

Bible Study

1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month ~ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511