A Long-Standing Congregation in Collier Township
First United Presbyterian Church of Rennerdale has stood on Noblestown Road in Collier Township, just outside Carnegie, for more than a century. The congregation marked its centennial in 2003 and traces its identity to the everyday rhythm of a small-town Presbyterian church: Sunday worship, Sunday school, a midweek prayer group, and a steady stream of mission work that reaches into the surrounding community and around the world.
The church belongs to the Pittsburgh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and it is a member of that larger Reformed family in word and practice. Its stated mission is to "celebrate the word of God, live faithfully, learn continuously, and share the amazing spirit of God with others," a summary that shows up wherever the church introduces itself.
Sunday Mornings at Rennerdale
Sunday is the center of the week at Rennerdale. Adult Sunday School meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Christian Education Building, and the congregation gathers for worship at 10:45 a.m. Services are described as comfortable and relaxed, weaving together new and old traditions, and the church welcomes anyone curious about a congregation to come as they are.
Families with children find room to settle in. During the summer, worship moves outdoors, giving kids space to move and parents a more relaxed setting. When the calendar turns to fall and the services move back inside, Children's Sunday School gathers in the Christian Education Building during worship. Children are always welcome to stay with their parents, and the younger students head to class right after the "Let the Children Come" moment in the service. The same fall pattern brings back the 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School hour.
Weekday Life: Bible Study and the Men's Prayer Group
Beyond Sunday, the church keeps a quieter midweek rhythm. During Lent, a Monday night Bible Study meets at 7:00 p.m. and works through each season of the television series The Chosen, using the show as a starting point for group conversation and reflection.
Every Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m., the Men's Prayer Group gathers for prayer and fellowship, offering an early-week opportunity for men in the congregation to connect and support one another.
Youth Group for Grades 6 to 12
The Rennerdale Youth Group is open to all sixth through twelfth graders in the area, not just children of members. The group can be reached at rennerdaleyouthgroup.org. Abbie Gardner, the church's Youth Group Director, leads the program and also preaches from the pulpit, as heard in a recent sermon on Psalm 23 that tied the group's summer Vacation Bible School to the words "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Mission Work at Home and Beyond
Rennerdale Church has a long history of mission work, much of it ongoing year after year with members who have been involved for decades. The congregation partners with several local and national efforts:
- Food Drives that benefit the Salvation Army Service Center in Carnegie.
- Operation Christmas Child, with members packing more than 100 shoeboxes each year for Samaritan's Purse to distribute to children in need worldwide.
- Meals-On-Wheels sponsorship, supporting meal delivery to neighbors who struggle to get out.
- Adopt-A-Family through the Salvation Army, with the congregation adopting a local family in need at Christmas and providing toys, household and personal care items, clothing, and gift cards.
- McDonald Mission Week, an annual week of service in which church members volunteer alongside McDonald Presbyterian Church to help local homeowners in need of repairs.
Vacation Bible School
Each summer the church building is transformed for Vacation Bible School. Recent years have drawn on a single Scripture passage for the whole program, with Psalm 23 and the image of green pastures and still waters shaping decorations, songs, and lessons for the children who come through the doors.
Giving and Getting in Touch
The church makes giving straightforward. Donations can be made online by debit card, credit card, or a checking or savings account, or by credit and debit card through PayPal with no account required. Checks made payable to Rennerdale Presbyterian can also be mailed to the church at 151 Noblestown Road, Carnegie, PA 15106. The church office can be reached at 412-276-2268, and a calendar of upcoming events is available for anyone wanting to plan a visit.