Every church and congregation has a history and we want to share our's. Please understand it is not who we were or where we came from that matters. The real measure of Community UCC is what we do.
Community Church has its roots in the German Reformed Church and locally in the Schwarzwald Evangelical and Reformed Church. Also the St. Lawrence Union Sunday School plays a major role in the shaping of Community Church.
The Schwarzwald Church history begins in 1737 when the Lutheran and Reformed settlers shared a church. Members from both Lutheran and Reformed congregations attended the St. Lawrence Union Sunday School.
In 1929 nine independent Sunday Schools serving the area met together and discussed consolidation. A suggestion of a church within the borders of St. Lawrence was broached.
In 1949 the Schwarzwald congregations dissolved the relationship with the Lutherans and planned to establish separate church facilities. Among the plans was construction of a new E & R church on a site even further away from St. Lawrence. Church members from St. Lawrence organized an effort to have the new church located in the borough area. On November 25, 1950, and Organizational Meeting was held and an “Organization Committee” was elected.
On Sunday, December 3, 1950, following a devotional service, incorporation proceedings were authorized, and a Constitution and Bylaws committee was appointed. On March 3, 1951, a Charter of Incorporation was granted and the Community Evangelical and Reformed Church of St. Lawrence began with 105 charter members.
The first service was held on May 6, 1951 with Dr. Jesse Mengel serving as our founding pastor. On June 15, 1952, Rev. Paul J. Gerhart became our first full-time pastor. Worship services were held in the St. Lawrence Community Hall.
During Rev. Gerhart’s five year ministry, the church built a parsonage located on a 2.5 acre gift by Mrs. Eva Brumbach Adams. Ground was broken on September 14, 1952.
The Rev. Russel R. Borbour served as supply Pastor from June to October 1, 1957, at which time Rev. Harold R. Ash began his pastorate. On June 25 of this same year, the E & R Church united with the Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ. It was During Rev. Ash’s 16 year pastorate that the congregation’s dream for a new church building of its own was realized. The ground breaking took place March 18, 1962, and on March 3, 1963. The new building was dedicated.
When Rev. Ash retired in June 1973, Rev. Ralph L. Folk served as interim pastor. He was a member of the congregation and retired minister from Schwarzwald E & R Church.
On March 24, 1974, Rev. William Sherman assumed the position beginning a fifteen year pastorate. His wife Kay served as choir Director and Organist. Rev. Sherman initiated a Christian Day Nursery School in 1978. An “Improvements for Progress” project included improvements to the Sanctuary and ground floor levels of the building, a new nursery, a new choir room, a parlor with kitchenette, and the installation of a the manual Rodgers Electronic Organ.
In 1989, Rev. Sherman accepted a call to Brownbacks UCC. The Rev. Paul Streich, a retired missionary, served as our interim pastor from February 19, 1989 to May 6, 1990.
On January 21, 1990, Rev. Galen E. Russell, III, accepted the call to become our fourth pastor. On May 13, 1990, Rev. Russell began his ministry.
Activity at Community Church has grown significantly up to the present day. At its Annual Congregational Meeting on January 15, 1995, Community Church members endorsed a “Confirming Faith... Building Community” capital campaign designed to raise funds needed to expand the facility. The new facility would add much needed classroom, office, and Preschool (formerly the Day Nursery) space. On October 1, 1995, groundbreaking took place on a beautiful fall Sunday morning during the worship service. The expansion was completed in the summer of 1996 and was dedicated on Sunday, September 8, 1996.
During the Summer of 2000, Rev. Russell accepted a call to Chapel Hill UCC in Camp Hill, PA. The Rev. Frank McKenzie began serving Community UCC on October 1, 2000. Rev. McKenzie continued to serve Community while the search for a new pastor was underway.
