Peace United Church of Christ is at 37 E Swartzville Road in Denver, Pennsylvania, and has served Denver, Adamstown and surrounding communities for almost 300 years. The congregation is known for a “community of compassion” and for a worship life rooted in the historic Reformed Church, with formal Sunday liturgy, enduring hymns, and organ, choir and bell choir music. That identity reaches outward through learning for every age, benevolence, community meals, youth service and health and welfare work.
Almost Three Centuries in Denver and Adamstown
Peace belongs to a nationwide community of faith with a history reaching as far back as the Mayflower. Its local story is nearly as long: the congregation has served Denver, Adamstown and the surrounding area for almost 300 years. Its identifying words are “Open Hearts - Open Arms - Open Minds” and “A community of compassion.”
The local fellowship brings together people who have been lifelong members of both the church and the community and people who moved into the area and joined at different stages of their lives. They represent different faith traditions and have chosen to unite as one people of faith. Peace’s welcome follows the Savior who welcomed all people, with no one excluded. Wherever someone is in life’s journey or faith journey, the congregation holds space to explore and learn about the abundant love and grace of God.
Sunday Worship: The Word, Liturgy and Hymns
Every Sunday at 8:30 a.m., Peace gathers in its sanctuary for a service of the Word. The service uses creeds, liturgy and hymns that have sustained the church over the years, reflecting the historic expression of the Reformed Church. The address is 37 E Swartzville Road, Denver, PA 17517, and the church’s phone number is (717) 484-4400.
Peace’s worship life includes both contemporary and traditional approaches. The Sunday sanctuary service has a formal character, and the music ministry supports people who attend either style of worship. Phyllis Sands, the church musician, plays the organ, while the choir and bell choir offer meaningful anthems. During the summer, individuals also share special musical gifts. Additional special music appears at church holidays.
An abbreviated weekly worship service continues through online worship and archived services, with Facebook and YouTube among the channels. Past services can be watched in video or heard in audio. This form of gathering allows people to worship from home or wherever they are. Peace describes several ways to worship and emphasizes gathering in Christ’s community wherever people are.
Learning Together at 9:30 on Sunday
Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. during the program year and includes classes for all ages. It offers an additional setting for conversation and activities, whether someone worships that morning or is seeking to learn. The Sunday School Hour encourages people to ask new questions and discover answers to longstanding questions of faith.
A Children and Youth class makes discoveries about places and people in the Bible through games, activities and online resources with Pastor Betsy. The Adult class explores the scriptures for each Sunday through Upper Room’s “Disciplines” devotions. Adults also have a Wired Word class that discusses current events in a biblical and spiritual context.
Learning takes other forms through Bible study, book study and special programs. Children’s Ministry serves elementary through high school ages and plans additional events through the year, including Christmas programs and Fall Fun Festivals. The church’s children’s outreach also includes VBS.
The Teller Pipe Organ, Chancel Choir and Bell Choir
Music’s importance at Peace is expressed in words attributed to Martin Luther: “Music is a fair and glorious gift of God. Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable. Music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart.” Music is central to the congregation’s worship, and people are invited to share in musical praise.
The classic Teller pipe organ is used for traditional worship. A 16-member choir sings all four parts - soprano, alto, tenor and bass - and draws on a wide variety of music, from very traditional sacred selections to more modern arrangements. The Chancel Choir sings every Sunday from mid-September through mid-June. During the summer, special music continues to enrich worship.
The Bell Choir offers special music on a monthly basis. Its three octaves of Malmark bells and set of chimes produce a fuller, deeper sound through varied playing techniques and the use of mallets. Special music is also offered at church holidays.
A Community of Compassion in Action
Adult Ministry and Fellowship
Adult Ministry is a committee that plans programs for fellowship and service, helping build community within the life of the church. Its work has included providing refreshments for community worship services and events, preparing the annual Hanging of the Greens and the congregation meal, and serving several community meals at Trinity Methodist Church in Denver. Unique gatherings have included an escape room and a Trunk or Treat for community children at Halloween.
Health and Welfare
The Health and Welfare Committee meets emergency and special needs beyond the congregation. Its Special Care and Concern program includes lay visitation, a World Communion Sunday service and dinner, Christmas, birthday and spring gifts, Thanksgiving fruit baskets, and Christmas cookies and cards. The committee works with Ephrata Area Social Services and provides volunteers and materials for bingo parties at Wernersville State Hospital.
At local homes and institutions, including Colonial Lodge and Denver Nursing Home, the committee has provided craft nights and entertainment. In the community, Peace provides Thanksgiving baskets for people in need, get-well cards, sympathy cards and Upper Room devotional books. It also provides meals, upon request, for people recuperating at home following hospitalization. A Health and Welfare Sunday highlights an organization addressing a particular local need, while scrapbooks and prayer shawls are made as available.
Stitch and Chat is a biweekly sewing and social group at the church. The group makes handmade items for elderly people and children in need, turning a regular gathering into a direct act of care. Boy Scout Troop 4318 is among the outside groups associated with Peace.
Benevolence That Reaches Near and Far
Interest from Peace’s Endowment Fund supports the Benevolence Committee, which helps people in times of need and assists organizations with their missions and ministries. Over the years, contributions have supported organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Love in the Name of Christ and Ephrata Area Social Services. Peace has also helped build a hospital in India, an orphanage in Kenya and a school in Micronesia.
The committee has provided assistance to people affected by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and fire. During a “Help Build Hope” project, volunteers framed a house in the parking lot and shipped the framework to a Habitat for Humanity chapter. Youth also travel to Kentucky for an annual mission trip and help local people with household maintenance. Through these efforts, the congregation has supported people on nearly every continent.
Peace Pantry and Mission Partnerships
The Altar Guild prepares the chancel for Sunday worship. Its duties include placing the Bible on the altar, arranging paraments, filling altar candles, setting out offering plates, caring for communion ware, restocking the pews and preparing the font for baptisms. The guild also arranges the sanctuary and flowers for Harvest Home, Easter and Christmas, with flower sponsors receiving the altar flowers after the service.
The Altar Guild also oversees the Peace Pantry, which donates various items throughout the year to Ephrata Area Social Services, homeless veterans, Homes of Hope and other worthy civic projects. This work forms one part of Peace’s wider mission emphasis, which also includes Acts of Love, a Summer Lunch Program, community meals, Cocalico Area and Christian Social Ministries.
Mission involvement also includes the youth’s annual trip to Kentucky and the community meals prepared with other local churches. These efforts connect the congregation’s worship and fellowship with practical service in Denver and beyond.
Stewardship and Memorial Gifts
Stewardship at Peace treats finances, time and talents as resources to be used responsibly. The Stewardship Committee encourages prayerful and thoughtful giving to support ongoing mission and ministry in the community and beyond. It also encourages participation in spiritual, social and mission activities and the regular use of personal gifts within the life of the church.
When a major need exceeds the regular budget, such as a new roof, parking lot resurfacing, a building addition or a repair, the committee organizes a fundraising campaign. It keeps records of pledged giving and special gifts, helps oversee repayment of church or outside loans, and works with the Church Council. The committee meets at least quarterly or whenever a special need arises.
Memorial contributions support the future of the congregation, with particular emphasis on the sanctuary and chancel. The Memorial Committee handles gifts, sends donors a receipt and a thank-you, and gives families an acknowledgment listing those who contributed. Families may designate a purpose or let the committee decide where the money is most needed. Past purchases include the Prayer Garden and Cross, Communion Ware, an Advent Wreath, Handbells, a Piano, Paraments and Altar Vases. Memorial gifts can be made online, placed in an offering plate at a service or sent by mail.
Love, Salvation and the Welcome of All People
Peace’s beliefs begin with God’s love for the world: God gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes will not perish but have eternal life. From that love comes the call to love all people in the same way God first loved them and to proclaim the Good News of God’s saving grace.
The church believes that through the cross Jesus provides salvation and eternal life. It also understands Jesus’ earthly teaching as placing particular emphasis on how people should live: loving, forgiving and serving one another with the generosity God has shown. The Holy Spirit is present with the church, offering strength to live the faith and trust in God even amid doubts and fears, while calling the congregation to stand with, comfort and encourage one another.
All people are created in the image and likeness of God, so all are welcome into the full life and fellowship of Peace Church. These convictions join a nearly three-century local history to the congregation’s ongoing work of worship, learning, music, service and mission. At 37 E Swartzville Road in Denver, Peace UCC remains a Reformed-rooted community marked by open hearts, open arms and open minds.