First Church in the Heart of Mechanicsburg
First United Methodist Church stands on the corner of West Simpson and Frederick Streets in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, just a short walk from the town's Main Street and the Cumberland County seat. The brick sanctuary, dedicated in 1913, has been home to a congregation whose roots stretch back nearly two hundred years. Today the church is known for offering three very different Sunday worship experiences from the same building, a traditional Foundation Service, a modern Gathering Service, and a monthly Rejoicing Spirits service designed for people of all abilities, along with a children and youth ministry, a long-running preschool, and choirs that have been part of this community for generations.
Nearly 200 Years on Simpson Street
The story of First Church begins not in Mechanicsburg but a few miles east in Shiremanstown, where German Reformed minister William Otterbein and Mennonite bishop Martin Boehm first came together in 1767 in what would later be called the United Brethren movement. Shopp's United Brethren Church in Shiremanstown was built on John Shopp's farm in 1827, and circuit-riding pastors from that congregation began stopping in Mechanicsburg in 1848 at the invitation of local Christian Jacob Coover. A class was formally organized in 1850, attached to the Shopp's Station circuit, and a great revival in 1854 swelled the membership.
The first dedicated building for the Mechanicsburg congregation went up at Arch and Locust Streets in 1857, a two-story frame structure built for $3,400. It was replaced by a brick church on the same site in 1872, and that Locust Street building still stands. By 1885 the Sunday School alone had 275 students, and the congregation again outgrew its home. Land was purchased on Simpson Street in 1905, the cornerstone of a new sanctuary was laid on October 8, 1911, and the building was dedicated on February 2, 1913. The Mechanicsburg Daily Journal called it a "handsome, massive and modern church edifice."
Two denominational mergers shaped what the church is today. In 1946 the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren Church joined to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church, and on April 23, 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren merged with The Methodist Church at a constituting General Conference in Dallas to form The United Methodist Church. After the 1968 union the Mechanicsburg congregation took the name First United Methodist Church of Mechanicsburg. A major building expansion followed in 1998, adding renovated classrooms, a multipurpose room, a new office suite, and a renovated sanctuary, much of the space that First Church still uses for ministry today.
Three Sunday Services Under One Roof
Sunday mornings at First Church start at 8:30 with the Foundation Service, a traditional expression of worship held in the sanctuary. This service features hymns and gospel songs led from the organ or piano, recited prayers and creeds, and musical anthems by the choir and guest musicians. Children's programming, child care, Wee Worship and Kid Worship are available during the service except in summer months, and communion is offered monthly.
At 11 a.m. the Gathering Service fills the same sanctuary's green-chair section with a more modern, casual atmosphere. The Gathering features a worship band, a biblically rooted message from one of the pastors, and the same child care and children's ministry options. Both morning services are livestreamed and recorded on Facebook and YouTube.
On the fourth Sunday of every month at 4 p.m., Rejoicing Spirits takes over the sanctuary for an interactive, inclusive, "shush-free" worship service designed for individuals of all ages and abilities, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The service includes music, prayer, scripture reading and a message, and welcomes caregivers and family members to worship alongside their loved ones.
Between the two morning services, from 9:45 to 10:45, a slate of adult Sunday School classes meets around the building. Newcomers can drop into any class anytime. Child care is offered for newborns through age three, and children in kindergarten through twelfth grade are invited to Cafe 21:12, a casual hangout with snacks and games in the youth lounge.
Children, Wee Worship and Kid Worship
Children are an intentional part of the worshiping community at First Church. Kid Worship for children ages 5 through fifth grade and Wee Worship beginning at age 3 meet during both Sunday morning services. Each week the children hear a Bible lesson, sing songs, do crafts, and build friendships. Child care is provided for newborns through age 3 during both services and during the Sunday School hour. The Director of Children and Family Ministry, Katie Knorr, oversees the program and serves as the church's Safe Sanctuaries coordinator.
The church also runs Little Friends Preschool, a weekday early-childhood program housed in the First Church building and directed by Janet Rice. Little Friends has its own enrollment process and serves families from across the Mechanicsburg area.
Youth Ministry for Sixth Through Twelfth Grade
First Church's youth ministry is built around helping students in grades six through twelve know who God is, who they are, and how to live out their calling. Throughout the year the youth group hosts Bible studies, worship nights, retreats, service projects, fundraisers for local charities and mission trips. Programs and special events for students and their families are organized through the year and listed on the church's calendar. Lisa Aronson, the Director of Youth and Adult Discipleship, leads the work along with Allison Ometz, the Youth Worship Arts Director, who helps the younger generation find a place in the church's musical life.
Adult Discipleship and Sunday School
Adult ministry at First Church is built around helping members grow as lifelong learners and followers of Jesus. Sunday School classes meet between the two morning services and cover a range of ages, stages and interests, with new participants welcome any week. Beyond Sunday School, the adult ministry team runs Know God studies, Grow Together small groups and seasonal discipleship programs that give adults a clear next step at any point on the journey. The aim is to walk alongside believers whether they are just exploring faith or have been Christians for decades. Lisa Aronson, Tina Eaton and the discipleship team plan these opportunities together.
A Choir, a Band, Bells and an Organ
Music is woven through nearly everything at First Church. Sarah Pugh, the Director of Worship Arts, coordinates musical worship across services and ensembles. The 8:30 Foundation Service is supported by the Sounds of Worship Choir, directed by Flossie Ryder, and the Handbell Choir, directed by Kathie Bittenbender, with Brandon Rhody at the organ. The 11 a.m. Gathering Service is led by a contemporary worship band. Allison Ometz leads the Youth Worship Arts program for students who want to grow as musicians and worship leaders. Musical anthems and special music by both choirs are a regular part of Sunday morning worship.
Caring for the Congregation
A Director of Congregational Care, Janice Bowen, oversees the pastoral care ministry of First Church, walking alongside members through illness, grief, hospitalization and major life changes. Prayer ministries support that care from another direction. The church maintains a weekly prayer letter and prayer groups that pray for the pastors, staff, lay leaders, congregation, family and community. Anyone can submit prayer requests through the church office, and those prayer concerns and praises are shared with the prayer team and listed in the church's communications.
Baptism, Membership and Next Steps
First Church practices both infant and adult baptism as one of the two sacraments of The United Methodist Church, the other being Holy Communion. Baptism marks the beginning of the discipleship journey; membership in the local church is a separate commitment to follow Christ and build up the body of believers through a specific congregation. Membership vows at First Church include a commitment to participate through prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
Adults interested in joining take a six-week Next Step class offered several times a year, which walks through what it means to be a disciple and a member. High school students can take a confirmation class that takes a deep dive into Christian belief and practice, capped by a class trip and induction into the membership of First Church. Membership can also be transferred from another United Methodist congregation or another Christian tradition by contacting the church office.
Reaching Out in Mechanicsburg and Beyond
Outreach is one of the church's named core values, and Lori Hoffnagle leads the outreach ministry as Director of Outreach. First Church partners with local organizations in Mechanicsburg and the Cumberland Valley to serve neighbors in practical ways, helping an elderly neighbor with yard work, sorting food donations for families in need, supporting disaster relief efforts, and partnering with mission teams farther afield, including clean water projects in Sierra Leone. The church's mission trips put boots on the ground both locally and globally, and the Serve in the Community ministry gives congregants a clear way to join those efforts.
Safe Sanctuaries for Children, Youth and Vulnerable Populations
First Church follows the Safe Sanctuaries policies required of every United Methodist congregation to keep children, youth and other vulnerable populations safe. Staff and volunteers who work with minors and vulnerable adults go through Pennsylvania state background checks (the Child Abuse History Clearance, the State Police Criminal History Record Check and, where required, an FBI Criminal History Background Check with fingerprinting), complete MinistrySafe abuse prevention training every five years, and take boundaries training through the Susquehanna Conference every four years. All adults serving in scheduled programs with children are mandated reporters under Pennsylvania law. Katie Knorr serves as the church's Safe Sanctuaries coordinator.
Leadership and Pastoral Team
Rev. Dr. Lew Parks serves as Senior Pastor. Pastor Mira Hewlett works alongside him on pastoral care, baptism and membership, and other pastoral duties. Lisa Aronson directs youth and adult discipleship, Katie Knorr leads children and family ministries and serves as Safe Sanctuaries coordinator, Janet Rice directs Little Friends Preschool, Janice Bowen leads congregational care, Tina Eaton oversees discipleship pathways, Sarah Pugh leads worship arts, and Lori Hoffnagle directs outreach. Music staff include Flossie Ryder (Sounds of Worship Choir), Kathie Bittenbender (Handbell Choir), Brandon Rhody (Organist), and Allison Ometz (Youth Worship Arts). Kelsey Goll directs communications, Amy Erno directs finance, and Paul Zito coordinates facilities.
Giving, Bulletins and the Church Center App
Members and friends can give online anytime, including through the Church Center app. Recurring gifts can be set up on a weekly, biweekly or monthly schedule, and donors can review their giving history, track pledge progress and download annual giving statements from the same account. Tithes and offerings may also be placed in the basket on the way out of the sanctuary, or mailed to the church office at 135 West Simpson Street. First Church publishes its annual budget and most recent financial audit on its resources page, and monthly financial updates are included in the church newsletter. Weekly bulletins, sermon recordings, daily Bible reading plans tied to the current sermon series, and the monthly First News First newsletter are all archived online.