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

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.

St. Peter's UCC Plum Creek Soft Pretzel Fundraiser

May 15, 2024 ~ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ All funds will go directly into our Restoration Fund to help offset the cost of replacing the roof of St. Peter's UCC. Pretzel pick-up will be May 15, 2024 from 6pm - 7pm. Enter the back door and go up the steps into the Adult Sunday School Room. We appreciate your support!

St. Peter's UCC Free Sno-Cones for Students!

May 10, 2024 ~ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

May 31, 2024 ~ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ As the school year winds down, St. Peter's UCC will be handing out FREE sno-cones to students! Meet us at the front of the church. We look forward to meeting you and wish you the best of luck with the remaining year. You got this!

St. Peter's UCC Drive-Thru Sausage Sandwich Sale

June 1, 2024 ~ 10:00 am - ? ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Sandwiches are $6 each (cash only) and are available with or without sauce, onions & peppers. Please enter at our parking lot at Broad Alley and exit at Franklin Street. The sale begins at 10am and goes until we sell out!

Antique Engine, Tractor & Toy Show

June 8-9, 2024 ~ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm ~ William DeLong Park, 233 Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ All collectors of antique farm equipment and cars are invited to show and run their equipment. Vintage car gathering Friday evening and antique farm equipment all weekend. Tractor parades, flea markets, music and plenty of food. Admission and parking free. St. Peter's and Christ DeLong UCCs are looking for donations and volunteers for this event. There are sign-up sheets in each Narthex.

Redeemer Bible Fellowship VBS

June 23-28, 2024 ~ 6:00 pm - 8:15 pm ~ Brandywine Heights Area High School, 103 Old Topton Rd., Mertztown, PA 19539

~ We hope that you will join us for this year's VBS as we head into the jungle to learn about the big picture of the Bible's story of redemption! This year, because of the need for additional space, we will be hosting the event at Brandywine Heights High School each evening. Register and find out more at the event page here. We can't wait to see you for what is sure to be an amazing week!

Topton Community Day

June 29, 2024 ~ 8:00 am - ? ~ Home Ave. Topton, PA 19562

~ Our churches will be handing out sno-cones and goodie bags at this fun, free, family community event!

Worship at Kutztown Folk Festival

June 30, 2024 ~ 9:00 am ~ Kutztown Fairgrounds Main Stage, 225 N. Whiteoak St., Kutztown, PA 19530

~ Our churches will be receiving 50 complimentary tickets to the Worship Service and Folk Festival on June 30th. Please contact Pastor Chris at 610-682-7633 if you'd like to attend. Please note, neither church will have worship in their sanctuary on this day.

Majestics Concert in the Park

July 20, 2024

~ Our churches will be handing out sno-cones at this fun, free, family community event!

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church VBS

July 22-26, 2024 ~ times TBA ~ Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 121 S. Home Ave., Topton, PA 19562

~ The theme for this year's VBS is "Celebrate the Savior." Stay tuned for more information!

Community Worship & Picnic in the Park

August 11, 2024 ~ 10:30 am ~ William DeLong Park, 233 Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ Please note, neither church will have worship in their sanctuary on this day.

RECURRING EVENTS:

Bible Study (ends May 7, 2024)

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

~ Pastor Chris will be leading the new series of Bible Study based on the book: "Spiritual Gifts" by R. Paul Stevens. In this eight session LifeGuide Bible Study, R. Paul Stevens helps you to recognize your spiritual gifts and the gifts of others. And he leads you to consider how to practically use these gifts to glorify God in your relationships, your work and your world.

Joint Sunday School (ends May 19, 2024)

3rd Sunday of each month ~ 10:30 am ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ All children are welcome to attend Sunday School during the church service.

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!**

GALLERY