Two Sunday Mornings, One Open-Door Family
Sanctuary United Methodist Church in North Wales, Pennsylvania opens its doors each Sunday morning with a simple promise from the congregation: "No matter who you are or where you come from, our doors are wide open. We are all Christ's people, coming together in Christ's place to learn, grow, love, and serve our awesome God." The congregation meets at 1346 E. Prospect Avenue, and everything from its two Sunday services to its Tuesday knitting circle is shaped by two complementary commitments - the vision to "Live Christ" and the mission to "Give Hope."
Traditional at 9:15, Praise & Worship at 10:30
Visitors have a choice on Sunday morning, and both services are designed to be warm, family-style gatherings where no one feels singled out. At 9:15 a.m. the Traditional Service fills the Sanctuary with hymn-based music led by the church's organist and pianist, with the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir sharing their gifts throughout the year. Hymnals are in the pews, projection screens are at the front, and the order of worship includes prayer, scripture reading, and a roughly 20-minute message rooted in the Bible and delivered in a relatable, story-driven way.
At 10:30 a.m. the Praise & Worship Service moves next door to the Fellowship Center for a more relaxed atmosphere. A praise band with guitar, keyboard, drums, and vocalists leads contemporary music, and the same prayer, scripture, and message follow. The congregation describes its second service as having "a more casual vibe" while still embracing a "family style" atmosphere, and dress is comfortable either way. The Holy Grounds Café is open between and around the services, serving coffee, tea, and snacks, with both indoor seating and a patio for those who want to linger. Both services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, and the church is glad to welcome online guests as well as in-person ones.
Children at the Heart of Worship
Sanctuary is unusually explicit about wanting families with children in the pews. A statement posted for parents explains the philosophy plainly: "Children are not simply the future of the Church. They, and you, are the Church right now." The church teaches that children learn to worship by being in worship, and so the building makes room for wiggles, whispers, dropped toys, and questions rather than asking parents to keep children elsewhere.
Programming backs that up. Nursery care for babies through age 2 is offered during both services every Sunday by a paid nursery attendant. At 10:30 a.m. a Pre K and Kindergarten class meets in Room 101 for ages 3 to 5, with play time, story time, craft time, and snack time, all taught by volunteers who have Safe Sanctuary clearances on file. Kids Connection runs at both the 9:15 and 10:30 services for children in grades 1 through 7, using a workshop rotation model that keeps the same Bible story fresh across three or four weeks through science, art, computer lab, games, cooking, drama, music, carpentry, photography, and missions. Janis Zimmerman-Fahy, Director of Youth and Children's Ministries, oversees the program.
Vacation Bible School takes over the building for a week each summer for children ages 3 through sixth grade, meeting Monday through Friday evenings with lessons, games, and crafts. Kelly McClarren directs Nursery Care.
Youth Ministry: Big House, Mission Trip, and Confirmation
Middle and high school students (grades 6 through 12) gather on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for "Big House," the congregation's youth group. The name says it: there is food, recreation and games, Bible study, journaling and reflection, and joint activities with youth groups from other area churches. Service projects such as CROP WALK, the Souperbowl of Caring, and the 30 Hour Famine share the calendar with social outings like mini-golf, corn mazes, hayrides, laser tag, and snow tubing.
Each summer the youth spend a week on a mission trip, traveling to assist elderly, physically challenged, and financially insecure families with home repairs, clean-outs, yard work, decks, and ramps. The trip is a working week of skills and service paired with evening programs to deepen faith, and it is supported by ongoing fundraisers - a fall mum sale, a Singing Valentine delivery service, and "Flamingo Flocking," in which the youth plant between 10 and 90 pink plastic flamingos in a yard for birthdays and special occasions.
For eighth graders and up, Confirmation Class is offered beginning each January on Sunday mornings at 10:30, with Confirmation Sunday typically falling on the third Sunday in May. The class uses United Methodist-approved confirmation curriculum and walks students through the vows of their baptismal covenant so they can become professing members of Sanctuary United Methodist Church.
Sanctuary Church Preschool, Since 1971
Across the education wing, the church's preschool has been part of the ministry since 1971. Sanctuary Church Preschool offers a Christian atmosphere where children develop spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially, with small class sizes and the conviction that "learning is fun." Programs include a Two-and-a-Half Year Old Playgroup (Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to noon), a Three-Year-Old Class (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), and a Four-Year/Pre-K Class (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), which is offered as either a half-day (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) or a full-day program (9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) that builds in additional small motor and pre-kindergarten skills. The preschool can be reached at 215-699-2608 or sanctuarychurchpreschool@gmail.com.
Adults: Small Groups, Bible Studies, and Fellowship
Sanctuary's tagline for adult ministry is simple: "You're not meant to journey through life alone." A wide range of small groups gathers throughout the week.
Janet Faul leads a Monday morning Bible study at 10:00 a.m. in the Lounge, working through books of the Bible with the help of well-known commentaries (Zoom is available, and the group takes August off). Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Terri Spiegle leads Faith Adventures, a DVD-based small group that spends four to six weeks on each session and meets year-round. Barbara's Knitting and Crocheting group meets Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. to learn stitches, take on new projects, and contribute to the prayer shawl ministry. On Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. (September through June), the lead pastor leads an in-person and Zoom Bible study in the Lounge.
Friday mornings at 9:00 a.m., the Rays of Hope group gathers for prayer and service: members make bagged meals for Manna on Main Street, fill backpacks for Laurel House, and assemble Blessing Bags for the unhoused. The same group operates Linnett's Closet, the church's emergency clothing closet.
Two fellowship-based groups round out the week. The Inspired View Book Club meets monthly on Sunday mornings at 10:30 via Zoom for an informal discussion of Christian fiction and nonfiction, and a Wednesday Morning Breakfast Group gathers at a local restaurant for prayer and fellowship while also providing a cooking, serving, and clean-up team for church events. A co-ed monthly devotional exercise program called WholyFit meets Thursday evenings, blending low-impact movement with scripture, prayer, and worship. A new Young Adult Small Group and a MomCo (formerly MOPS) gathering for mothers of children from infancy through school age are both forming. The Interchurch Bowling League meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30 at Earl Bowl in Earlington.
A daily prayer rhythm is woven into the week, with Zoom prayer gatherings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5:00 to 5:15 p.m. Sue Horak, the Director of Connections, helps newcomers find their fit.
Music: From the Organ Loft to the Praise Band
Music is described as "a vital component of the worship experience," and Sanctuary is blessed with a deep bench of musicians. In the Sanctuary, the organist James Smith anchors the Traditional Service, joined by other instrumentalists and the Chancel Choir. Jane Richards Nechin directs the church's choral program, which includes the Bell Choir, Junior Choir, Children's Choir, and Chancel Choir, all of which share their gifts throughout the year. In the Fellowship Center, the Praise and Worship Leader Navin Nandlal leads a band of vocalists, guitarists, keyboardists, and drummers. A Worship Team Practice gathers on Tuesday evenings at 7:30, and Chancel Choir rehearsal is held on Thursday afternoons.
Care, Comfort, and the Congregational Care Team
A small but steady Care and Support ministry surrounds the congregation. The Congregational Care Team works with the lead pastor on visitations, delivers altar flowers after the service through the Flower Ministry, sends cards, makes phone calls, and arranges transportation to church and medical appointments when needed. Home Communion is available for those who cannot attend in person, whether at home, in a hospital, or in a care facility. The Shawl Ministry keeps a supply of prayer shawls, knitted by volunteers (including members of Barbara's Tuesday morning group), for anyone who wants to wrap someone in love. Recipients regularly share that "wearing my shawl is like getting a big hug."
Hands and Feet: Outreach and Service
A sign visible as congregants leave the building reads: "You are now entering the Mission Field. Be the church, Live Christ, Give Hope." Sanctuary takes that commission seriously. Locally, the church partners with Manna on Main, Chosen 300, Family Promise of Montgomery County, and Habitat for Humanity, and outreach volunteer opportunities are posted on the events calendar and on the "Hands & Feet" displays in the Main Lobby and Fellowship Center.
Service happens inside the building too. The tech team handles livestream operations, sound, and visual graphics for both services, with training provided for new volunteers. The Service Set Up team prepares communion, changes paraments, arranges flowers, and runs the Holy Grounds Café. Sunday morning slots include Welcome Desk Attendants, a Café Coordinator, a Head Usher for the 9:15 service, Scripture Readers, and Announcement Readers. The teaching team welcomes new volunteers for Sunday School, Youth, Vacation Bible School, and adult studies.
What Sanctuary United Methodist Church Believes
Sanctuary is a United Methodist congregation, and the church's teaching leans into John Wesley's emphasis on "practical divinity" - faith and love in action. The stated core beliefs are: God is the creator and ruler of the universe; Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and the only way to the Father; the Holy Spirit leads, sustains, and empowers believers; the Bible is God's word for all of humanity; salvation is the forgiveness of sins and a gift from Jesus Christ; and a Christian is a person who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Four commitments shape the congregation: worship (Christ-centered and offered in multiple styles), relationships (with God and with one another, welcoming and accepting all persons), accountability (helping one another live as Jesus modeled), and outreach (sharing God's love through service locally, regionally, and globally). The vision is "Live Christ"; the mission is "Give Hope." The church teaches that "the local church is God's Plan A - there is no Plan B," and that "spiritual growth takes place most effectively in small groups."
Pastors and Staff
Sanctuary operates under a one-board leadership model that combines a Leadership Council of seven to twelve lay members plus the pastor. Rev. Dr. Marcus Simmons serves as Lead Pastor and preaches regularly in both services. Pastor Lorraine Foster preaches often and leads the Wednesday morning Bible study. Sue Horak, Director of Connections, helps newcomers find their fit. Navin Nandlal leads the Praise & Worship band, James Smith is the organist, and Jane Richards Nechin directs the choral program. Joanna Kohlbus serves as Administrative Assistant, Janis Zimmerman-Fahy directs Youth and Children's Ministries, and Kelly McClarren directs Nursery Care. The Trustees, Gail Nash and Mark Anderson, oversee the building and grounds.
The office is at 215-699-9331 and info@sanctuarychurch.org. Both services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, and giving is available online.