On a stretch of Penn Avenue in Sinking Spring, just outside Reading, a stone-and-brick church has stood since the 1790s. St. John's Reformed Church was founded in 1792 by fourteen men and their families, making it one of the older continuing congregations in Berks County. The church's original 48-by-56-foot structure is still part of the building used today, and a century-spanning history has shaped both the people and the place. St. John's describes its mission as helping people and neighborhoods encounter Jesus, and its vision as raising up, nurturing, and encouraging disciples to glorify God through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Two Services, Two Styles on Sunday Morning
St. John's holds two Sunday services in its main Sanctuary, giving worshipers a clear choice in style. At 9:00 a.m., the Just Worship Praise Band leads a contemporary, less formal service with the same sermon offered in a conversational manner. Visitors are not expected to know memorized prayers or liturgy, and the goal is to make everyone feel comfortable and included, even those with little church experience.
At 10:30 a.m., the traditional service fills the Sanctuary with hymns played on the pipe organ and grand piano, traditional spoken or sung responses, and a more liturgical flow. Children ages four through fifth grade are dismissed after the children's sermon for Junior Church, where adult volunteers lead age-appropriate Bible stories, videos, games, crafts, and activities. A clean, secure nursery is available for children two years old and younger. Communion is offered at both services at various times throughout the church year.
Both services are livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person, and a sermon archive going back several years is available online.
What to Expect When You Visit
First-time guests are invited to arrive about fifteen minutes before the service. Coffee is available in the Coffee House just steps from the Sanctuary. Dress runs the full range, with some worshipers in suits and ties or skirts and blouses and others in jeans and polo shirts, so newcomers need not change their wardrobe to fit in. The church's stated goal is for every listener to leave with something practical to apply and a way to grow closer to God.
Parking is offered in the main lot behind the church, a smaller lot on the west side of the building, an upper lot at the cemetery, and the lot at the corner of Penn Avenue and South Hull Street. ADA entries are available along Penn Avenue (with a ramp) and at Door 5 at the rear of the building.
A Faith Shaped by Two and a Half Centuries
The congregation's story is woven into the building itself. The cornerstone was laid on Ascension Day, May 3, 1794. A charter was granted in 1898, and the name was changed to St. John's Reformed Church. In 1957, when the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged into the United Church of Christ, the congregation became St. John's United Church of Christ. In 2002, the church left the UCC and returned to its charter name as an independent body. In 2023, St. John's established an affiliation with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, where it continues today.
The building has been rebuilt and reshaped several times. A 1924 renovation was followed by a 1926 storm that toppled the 151-foot steeple into the sanctuary, destroying that part of the structure. The building was rebuilt, a large 1961 addition added Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall on the lower level, and a 2003 renovation added a new street entrance, an elevator, and central air conditioning.
In 2025, the sanctuary was renovated again. The work, completed in time for Resurrection Sunday on April 20, 2025, included repainting the entire space, replacing the step into the sanctuary with an accessibility ramp, moving the sound desk to the rear, expanding the altar area, installing a retractable screen, refinishing the hardwood floors, and reorganizing the Welcome Center. Brick repointing, cleaning, and a new roof were also part of the project. The renovated sanctuary was dedicated on May 11, 2025.
In more than 230 years, St. John's has had only ten senior pastors. The current pastor, Jim Bertoti, began in February 2022, after eighteen years as senior pastor at St. Peter's Reformed in Zelienople. He previously served at St. John's for ten years as associate pastor and director of youth and children's ministries.
What St. John's Believes
St. John's holds to a classical evangelical and Reformed confession. The Statement of Faith affirms one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is described as the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. The church believes Jesus Christ is God's only Son, who suffered and died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for sins, was raised from the dead, and now lives to make intercession for believers; His return to earth in power and glory is expected.
The church teaches regeneration by the Holy Spirit as absolutely essential for salvation, and gives the Holy Spirit a wide ministry: baptizing, filling, instructing, counseling, comforting, convicting, purifying, exhorting, and strengthening believers. Two additional distinctives are spelled out in the statement. First, the church holds to the sanctity of life, from conception onward, as a creation precious to God and as a temple of the Holy Spirit to be presented as a living sacrifice. Second, the church holds to the sanctity of marriage as defined by God's Word: one man and one woman.
The mission statement frames how those beliefs are lived: empowering by the Spirit to raise up, nurture, and encourage disciples. The discipleship strategy traces a four-step path for new believers, moving from connecting with God through the gospel and regular worship, to growing through Bible studies and small groups, to serving as part of a ministry team, to going out to invite others and share faith.
Music for Every Generation
Music is woven into nearly everything at St. John's. Four ensembles support worship and the wider congregation.
- The Adult Choir performs most Sunday mornings during the 10:30 traditional service and rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room.
- The Just Worship Praise Team leads the 9:00 contemporary service and rehearses on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
- The Bell Choir generally performs on the fourth Sunday of each month during the 10:30 service and rehearses on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
- The Children's Choir, open to all kids, performs about once a month during the traditional service and rehearses at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays before Sunday School.
Music is directed by Phyllis Sands, the church's organist and Director of Music, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from West Chester University and a master's degree from the University of the Arts. Pam Van Luvanee leads the contemporary service and the bell choir. A Christmas cantata is part of the musical calendar, and the church keeps memorial videos that remember members who have passed into what the church describes as their heavenly homes.
Children and Youth
Children have a wide welcome at St. John's. Sunday School classes for all ages meet at 9:00 a.m., divided by learning stage. Junior Church happens during the 10:30 traditional service, with children leaving after the children's sermon for their own program. A nursery is available for infants and toddlers. Children's Choirs begin at age four.
Throughout the year, families can look forward to Vacation Bible School, an Easter egg hunt, a fall festival, special outings, and craft events. The 2026 Vacation Bible School, "Rainforest Falls," ran June 21 to 25 and included Imagination Station experiments, wild games, treetop treats, fingerprint activities, and singing. The Youth Ministry is open to all students in seventh grade and up, regardless of church membership. Kendra Bertoti directs the Children's Ministry, working alongside her husband, the senior pastor.
Bible Studies, Prayer, and Discipleship
Beyond Sunday morning worship, St. John's offers a steady diet of Bible study and prayer for adults.
- Adult Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall and at 10:15, with discussion and hot coffee.
- After-"Words" gathers on Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. for breakfast and a deeper dive into the previous Sunday's sermon.
- A Men's Bible Study meets on the second and fourth Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.
- A monthly Wednesday Bible Study, typically on the first Wednesday evening, follows an ongoing curriculum.
- Sisters in Christ, a women's group, meets monthly for devotionals, prayer, and service projects.
- Prayer groups meet in person, and an online prayer chain supplements them.
Weekly devotionals are also offered by email for those who want a short daily reflection.
Reaching Out Across Berks County
Outreach at St. John's takes the form of long-term partnerships as much as one-off events. The church works with several ministries in the region.
- Family Promise: St. John's hosts temporarily homeless families three or four times a year for a week at a time, providing meals and gift cards.
- Hope Rescue Mission: Volunteers serve dinner once a month at this Reading-area shelter that has served Berks County for more than 130 years.
- Opportunity House: Several times a year, volunteers prepare and serve lunch at this emergency shelter in Reading.
- Wilson Area Food Pantry: The church collects non-perishable food items throughout the month, and the pantry distributes food the third Friday of each month from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.
- Holiday Food Boxes: At Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, donations are assembled into boxes for local families in need.
- Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child: Each fall the church fills shoeboxes for worldwide distribution and sends a volunteer team to Baltimore to help with processing.
A monthly clothing drive collects gently used clothing for redistribution, and the church maintains a tradition of giving to missionaries, Christian charities, and natural disaster relief through its outreach funds.
Grief Support, Including the Loss of a Pet
St. John's offers two distinct grief ministries, both open to the community. GriefShare is a 13-week, video-based support group led by the pastors, with sessions offered in the spring and fall. The group welcomes anyone working through the death of a loved one.
A second ministry reaches an often-overlooked loss: the death of a pet. The Christian Pet Loss Support Group, led by Dr. Becky Frank, an associate veterinarian with Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice who is certified in thanatology, meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:45 p.m. The program covers healthy coping, the range of grief feelings, honoring the pet's life as a gift from God, building resilience, working through guilt, and rejoining the world of the living. Six sessions run in rotation, and newcomers may join at any time. There is no charge, though the church asks attendees to RSVP to the church office.
Fellowship Across the Week
A wide variety of fellowship groups gives the congregation ways to connect beyond worship. Young @ Heart gathers on the second Wednesday of each month for food and fellowship. After-"Words" combines breakfast with a deeper look at Sunday's message on Monday mornings. A Men's Fellowship Breakfast is held on the third Saturday of each month in the Fellowship Hall, often with a devotion. A Ladies' Luncheon meets at a nearby restaurant on the second Tuesday each month. Bloom, for those who are widowed or divorced, meets monthly for activities and mutual support. Sisters in Christ meets on the second Saturday for refreshments, devotionals, and service projects. Throughout the year, the church family gathers for fundraisers, special meals, and holiday activities.
Staff and Leadership
The pastoral team is led by Senior Pastor Jim Bertoti, who came to St. John's in February 2022, and Associate Pastor Susan Weisman, a member of St. John's for more than forty years. Kendra Bertoti directs the Children's Ministry. Pam Van Luvanee directs the contemporary service and the bell choir. Phyllis Sands is the Director of Music and Organist. Diane Krueger directs the children's choirs and has taught Sunday School at St. John's for more than forty years. Nikki Koch serves as administrative assistant and is the main point of contact through the church office.
Getting Connected
The church office is open at 4001 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, PA 19608, and can be reached at (610) 678-1446 or office@stjohnsss.org. The church maintains an active Facebook page, an Instagram account, and a YouTube channel for livestreams and sermon archives. Giving is available online through the church's giving partner, and a printed monthly newsletter keeps the congregation informed. Daily devotionals are available by email for those who sign up.
More than two centuries after fourteen families first gathered on this stretch of Penn Avenue, St. John's Reformed Church continues to hold its two Sunday services, teach its Sunday Schools, sing its hymns, and serve its neighbors in Sinking Spring and across Berks County.