Colonial Park United Church of Christ sits on Devonshire Road in the Colonial Park neighborhood of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in a three-story building that has welcomed generations of families from across the region. From its Sunday morning worship to its Sunday evening Charging Station service, from a 27-rank M.P. Moller pipe organ to a labyrinth and memorial garden on the grounds, from a thriving Thrift Shoppe to a long-running preschool and a wide network of local and global mission partners, CPUCC has built a reputation for being a place where everyone is welcome, the arts matter, and faith leads to action.
The church's tagline says it plainly: "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." That statement is more than a slogan. The congregation adopted an Open and Affirming Covenant in December 2019, has signed a Creation Justice Covenant, and approved a Land Acknowledgment Statement in December 2025 recognizing the Indigenous peoples of the land on which the church sits. A community of faith, hope, love, spirituality, acceptance, trust, and integrity, CPUCC's mission is to live the gospel in the world: to deepen faith, to make disciples, and to build the just and caring Kingdom of God. Its vision is to Listen, to Love, and to Restore Hope and Community to all God's children.
Sunday Morning in the Sanctuary
The heart of the week at CPUCC is the Sunday morning service at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Senior Minister Rev. Cindy Garis August and Minister of Worship and the Arts Rev. Scott Siciliano share leadership, and the service is described as "eclectic." Worshippers can expect a sermon and liturgy, a mix of hymn and song styles, and on occasion, drama or liturgical dance. Music is led by the Sanctuary Choir and Jubilate Ringers, and the morning has been called "truly something for everyone."
The service is available in person and online, with the live stream accessible at the CPUCC YouTube channel. Those joining from home are invited to light a candle, gather communion elements on Communion Sundays, and sign the online attendance pad so the pastors know who is worshiping with them. The 9:30 service typically runs about an hour, and afterward the congregation gathers for "Fellowship Time" with light refreshments and conversation. Sunday School classes for all ages, from toddlers through adults, meet at 11:00 a.m. from September through May.
The Charging Station at Five
For those looking for something different, The Charging Station worships every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel. The name is intentional: church is, in a very real sense, the place where the week ahead requires spiritual recharging. This is a casual, intimate experience with upbeat, engaging music and a "Holy Conversation" rather than a formal sermon, in which the group explores together how Scripture may speak to life. Once a month, the evening continues with a shared meal after worship, and once a month it is a Community Service Sunday when the group gives back through activities like sorting clothes at the Thrift Shoppe, packing school supplies, or creating encouragement cards for retirement communities.
Music as a Way of Being Together
Music and the arts hold a central place in the life of CPUCC. As Scripture directs, the congregation is called to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord," and the music ministry is built on the conviction that when a choir sings together, the singers begin to breathe together, and their hearts synchronize and beat at the same pace. "Through worship and music we truly become one body," the church writes.
The Sanctuary Choir sings most Sundays from September through May, with Wednesday evening rehearsals from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Open to high school students and adults, the choir sings a wide range of anthems from many different genres, styles, and cultures. The Jubilate Ringers, whose name comes from the Latin for "rejoice!," is the senior handbell and chime choir, rehearsing on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. and ringing about once a month.
Children's music is offered through two programs. The King's Kids Choir, for preschoolers through fifth graders, sings monthly in morning worship from September through December. The Jolly Jinglers, running from January through May, introduces children to color-coded bells and, for older children, choir chimes. On special occasions and festival Sundays, the CPUCC Orchestra, made up of church members, friends, and guests, accompanies worship and the annual Christmas Cantata.
The instruments are exceptional. A 27-rank, three-manual M.P. Moller pipe organ and a Steinway Model B 7-foot grand piano support worship in the Sanctuary. The church also has five octaves of Malmark Handbells, three octaves of choir Handchimes, and additional Steinway and Baldwin grand pianos in the chapel, rehearsal, and fellowship spaces. The music ministry regularly shares its facility with the Susquehanna Children's, Youth, Young Women's, and Adult Chorales, the Harrisburg Singers, the Harrisburg Choral Society, the Central PA Womyn's Chorus, the Harrisburg Arts Awards, and the Central PA Playwright Society.
The Building, the Labyrinth, and the Memorial Garden
The congregation is a steward of a three-story building, a labyrinth, a playground, and a Memorial Garden, all open for community use. The labyrinth is a contemplative space, and visitors are welcome to come anytime to "sense the peace and enjoyment found there." The Memorial Garden has special meaning to members whose loved ones are interred there, and volunteers tend it carefully. The current building is more than 61 years old; the congregation's history reaches back more than 225 years, and the previous church was located on Arlington Avenue.
CPUCC's facility is in active use beyond Sunday morning. The Fellowship Hall can seat 150 at tables or 200 theater-style and is rented out for community events, as is the Parlor, with seating for 18 at tables or 30 without. A Lucille Frame Library across the hall from the sanctuary holds a curated collection of books on daily devotions, biographies, spiritual development, prayer, and Bible reference, with a library group working on an online catalog. The church also serves as a host site for AA meetings, Girl Scouts, a Garden Club, a Game Club, a PEO chapter, the Friendly Weight Loss Support group, a Caregivers Support group, and a Parents of Estranged Adult Children support group.
Children, Youth, and Sunday School
Children and youth are welcome in worship, with Children's Messages each Sunday morning, Children's Activity Bulletins in print and online, and a "Kids' Corner" at the rear of the sanctuary. Young worshippers may also serve as Lay Readers, run projection or sound, or share special music. A staffed Nursery for infants through age five is located in the classroom beside the sanctuary.
After worship, Sunday School classes run at 11:00 a.m. from September through May. (There is no Sunday School from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.) The classes include J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) for toddlers through kindergarten, Crosswalkers for grades 1 through 5, and Pathfinders for middle and high schoolers, currently led by Pastor Cindy using the Youth Cartel's "One Story - 32 Lessons" curriculum. Students entering 7th grade are offered Confirmation classes.
Family life is woven into the rhythm of the church. Activities include game nights, movie nights, the annual Music Festival, the Blessing of the Animals, Trunk or Treat, and other seasonal events. The building has a new outdoor basketball hoop, gaming systems, and ample space for children and youth to be together. Summer camp opportunities are available through the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania.
Messy Church: Church, but Not as You Know It
A few times a year, CPUCC hosts Messy Church, an all-ages, intergenerational experience that the global movement calls "Church, but not as you know it." At a Messy Church gathering, all ages meet together to learn about Christ through games, crafts, music, and Bible storytelling, and then gather around a table for a shared meal. The cost is free, the welcome is wide, and the experience is intentionally hands-on and creative.
Half Day Play Preschool
For more than half a century, CPUCC has hosted Half Day Play Preschool, a half-day program serving three- through five-year-olds. The preschool's mission is to provide an experience promoting group interaction, parent involvement, creativity, and independence through a learning-through-play approach. Children must be three by September 1 of the enrolling year, must be toilet trained, and must demonstrate an ability to speak and understand basic English. The two-day program for three-year-olds meets on Monday and Wednesday, with a morning class from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. The three-day program for four- and five-year-olds meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with a morning class and, when possible, an afternoon class from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. Tuition is $120 per month for the two-day program and $140 per month for the three-day program. Scholarships are provided as needed. The director, Linda Bender, can be reached at 717-657-1540.
Adult Faith Formation
CPUCC is a community of life-long learners. On Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m., three adult Sunday School classes meet in rooms on the main level, each with a different style of study. Midweek, Pastor Cindy leads several ongoing groups. Spiritual Springboards meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:15 p.m. via Zoom for discussion-based learning from August through June. Bible Study is offered on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom and in person, with study guides provided. The Women's Spirituality Group meets most months on the first Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in person and on Zoom, with a yearly theme often centered on a book, and a format that includes check-in, contemplative prayer, and book discussion.
Additional opportunities are scheduled weekly or quarterly. The Social Justice Book Club meets quarterly on Zoom to discuss books on racism, immigration, and related issues. Patricia Snyder leads the Saturday Stillness Retreat each Saturday at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom, focusing on contemplative prayer practices like breathing prayers, Lectio Divina, stillness, and welcoming prayer. A Prayer Group gathers most Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom with Pastor Cindy to share prayer concerns and pray together.
Pastoral Care and the Prayer Chain
CPUCC is a praying church. Prayer requests can be made in person by filling out a prayer card and placing it in the offering plate, or through the church's online Prayer Request Form. Concerns are shared with the Prayer Chain, a team that prays weekly. A Lay Support Ministry writes cards, makes phone calls, delivers flowers, and offers home communion to those who cannot make it to church. The pastors are available for hospital visits, home visits, weddings, baptisms, and funeral planning. In emergencies, the church office at (717) 545-3782 reaches the staff, and bulletins and DVD or CD recordings of worship can be mailed to those unable to attend in person.
A Welcome Spelled Out in Covenants
CPUCC's welcome is grounded in three formal statements. The Open and Affirming Covenant, adopted in December 2019, declares the church a safe place for people of all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, national origins, genders, gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientations, denouncing all acts of harassment, discrimination, and violence against God's people. The Creation Justice Covenant names God as Creator of the Earth, recognizes the interconnection of humans and all creation, and commits the congregation to care for, heal, and restore creation in collaboration with others. The Land Acknowledgment Statement, approved by the congregation on December 7, 2025, recognizes the Indigenous peoples on whose land the church sits.
The CPUCC Thrift Shoppe
Behind the church, in the back parking lot, the CPUCC Thrift Shoppe is open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Donated items are accepted during shop hours. Proceeds go to further the missions and ministries of the church, and shoppers and volunteers describe the Thrift Shoppe as a place of relationship as much as commerce. The shop serves customers from around the world, dealers who resell, and local families and nonprofits who depend on affordable clothing, household goods, and tools. Volunteer opportunities are coordinated by the Shop Manager, Helen Ferguson, and the shop is one of the church's most significant expressions of welcome to the surrounding community.
Loving the Local Neighborhood
Service is at the heart of CPUCC's identity. The church runs a Blessing Box on the "give what you can, take what you need" model, stocked with non-perishable food, toiletries, and cleaning supplies for those in the neighborhood in need. CPUCC supports the Ecumenical Food Pantry at Messiah Lutheran Church in downtown Harrisburg, which provides three-day emergency food assistance to around 1,000 people each month. Members serve lunch at Downtown Daily Bread's soup kitchen the fourth Thursday of every other month, and CPUCC serves as a host spot for the daily Meals on Wheels program, delivering meals on one route the third week of each month.
Other local partners include Keystone Correctional Services' re-entry ministry for men newly released from prison; the Foose We Care, We Share Books for Children program, in which volunteers read to students at Foose Elementary School in the Harrisburg School District and give each child a book to take home; Hope Springs Farm; the Central Dauphin Ram Foundation's NutriPacks program; the Harrisburg CROP Walk; Bethesda Mission; Bethany Children's Home; Hoffman Homes for Youth; and the UCC Homes.
Reaching Across the Globe
CPUCC's global mission is anchored in long-term relationships. Each year, a mission team travels to Tennessee for a week with the Morgan-Scott Project, doing home repair, building wheelchair ramps, sorting clothes, painting, and serving in a local food pantry. The G-BIACK Mission Fund supports the Grow Biointensive Agricultural Center of Kenya, which trains small-scale farmers, two-thirds of them women, in sustainable agriculture and operates a Women's Centre that teaches nutrition, income-generation skills, general health, and computer literacy. CPUCC disciples also assemble hygiene, school, and clean-up kits for Church World Service, and the church serves as a collection point for kits and blankets distributed in disaster relief efforts worldwide. The congregation participates in One Great Hour of Sharing, the UCC's annual special mission offering supporting humanitarian aid, sustainable development, and refugee resettlement.
Justice, Witness, and Advocacy
CPUCC believes, with the United Church of Christ, that "Justice and Jesus are inseparable." The Social Justice Team leads education and awareness work on racism and immigration, sponsors a quarterly book club, and promotes engagement opportunities like the YWCA 21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge. The Creation Justice Team has led the congregation to adopt a Creation Justice Covenant and is working toward designation as a UCC Creation Justice Church. The Open and Affirming Team ensures the church lives into its 2019 ONA covenant. Members are also connected to the UCC's Justice and Peace Action Network, which mobilizes advocacy on issues including accessible healthcare, environmental justice, hate crimes, poverty, violence against women, federal budget priorities, fair treatment of workers, the minimum wage, and the protection of civil liberties.
Governance and the Family of Members
CPUCC is led by a 12-member Church Council, including a President, Vice President, a youth representative, and representatives from each ministry team. The President is Thaddeus Sampson, and the Vice President is Sharon Clark. The ministry teams are Worship (Patricia Kishpaugh), Service (Sue Graft), Family Connections (Sue Duff) and Community Connections (Rick Cochran), Spiritual Growth (Liz August), Facility (Tom Feit), Generosity (Cindy Gnech), and Operations, with two representatives covering Human Resources (Deb Magliette) and Budget (Shanna Stauffer). The youth representative to Council is McKenna Rhoads. Day-to-day operations are supported by Office Manager Garnetta Curtis and Office Assistant Carol Boris, and Joe Shatto serves as Sexton.
Through the "Meet the Member" feature in The Messenger newsletter and on the church's online presence, members share their stories. Tom and Sue Bay, members since 1983, were drawn by the warm welcome and the social justice mission. Steve and Jessica Burkholder joined during the pandemic and now serve as ushers, greeters, and Meals on Wheels volunteers. Sharon Clark, the current Vice President, has deep roots in the Sunday School and bell choir. Helen Ferguson, a member since the 1960s, helped start the Thrift Shoppe. Priscilla Fledderjohn counts five generations of family membership, including her grandparents among the first members of the old Arlington Avenue church in 1925. The Greenawalds, the Gilberts, the Gneches, the Stauffers, and many others tell their stories, and together they paint a picture of a community that values faith, family, and a wide welcome.
The Rejoice, Renew, Revive Capital Campaign
To care for the more-than-61-year-old building, CPUCC has launched the Rejoice, Renew, Revive Capital Campaign. The campaign's priorities are exterior and interior building maintenance, technology and security, music and lighting, and electrical and HVAC work. Early in the campaign, a structural problem was discovered in the brick masonry, requiring significant unplanned repairs; the Council raised the campaign goal to $575,000 to cover the additional work, and the campaign has received broad support from the congregation. Recent projects have included accessibility upgrades and new water heaters in the bathrooms, brick wall repair, live streaming equipment purchased in part with a grant from the Ida W. Browning Trust, and the installation of a new digital sign in front of the church.
Giving and Legacy Giving
Generosity is one of CPUCC's core values. Gifts can be made online through the church's giving options, by check mailed to the office, or by setting up a recurring gift through PayPal, an Electronic Giving Form, or electronic bill pay. Envelopes are available in the pews for in-person giving. Additional ways to support include the "In Recognition Of" sponsorship program, the Grocery Gift Card program (with Karns, Giant, and Weis), Holiday Flowers, and t-shirts and merchandise through the church's online store. The Leaving a Legacy program offers planned giving resources, including endowment and memorial funds, advance health care directives, sample codicil language, and personal pre-planning forms for funerals and memorial services. Forms are available in the church office and on the church's online resources.
Visiting CPUCC
Visitors can find plenty of parking in the church's large lot, with accessible spaces and a ramp into the building and cut-outs at some of the pews. Worshippers are invited to come as they are, in whatever they are comfortable wearing; jeans and t-shirts are as welcome as suits and ties. The morning service is at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, the Sunday School hour is at 11:00 a.m., and The Charging Station meets at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Children may remain in worship with their families, and the Nursery is available for infants through age five. Friendly greeters welcome newcomers; no one will try to "sell" the church, and visitors are welcome to participate in any activities, whether or not they choose to become members. Pastor Cindy and Pastor Scott are glad to hear from anyone who wants to share their story, and the church office is reachable at (717) 545-3782.
At CPUCC, the gospel of welcome is lived in word and deed, in song and service, and in the quiet steady work of being community for one another and for neighbors near and far.