FAITH

Even in an ever-changing and challenging environment for religion in the 21st century, faith in the Greencastle-Antrim community runs strong

and deep.

“Throughout local history, the religious life of the people has been an important part of community life from the first church of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians to churches formed in recent years,” wrote William J. Conrad in “Conococheague A History of the Greencastle-Antrim Community.”

The East Conococheague Congregation of the Presbyterian Church is the oldest known established church in the Greencastle-Antrim community. Now located at 52 W. Baltimore St., the church was founded in 1737. A log meeting house was built in the northeast part of Greencastle near Moss Spring where services were originally held. The first building constructed at the present location was called the “Red Meeting House” sometime between 1750 and 1767.

The second church to be established in the community was on the other side of the square. Grace United Church of Christ, now located at 122 E. Baltimore St., was founded as a German Reformed congregation in 1748. Preaching was originally done at a farm outside the then Conococheague Settlement (Greencastle). Records show Greencastle’s founder, John Allison, drew a deed in 1786 for a tract on South Carlisle Street for the German Reformed Congregation of Greencastle. In 1853 the church moved to the present site.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church (1775) and the Evangelical United Brethren (1797), now the First United Methodist Church, arose in the late 1700s. Services at the Lutheran parish were conducted in German until 1832. One of the oldest Sunday Schools in Franklin County originated in the Lutheran congregation.

Churches began to be established in the outskirts of the settlement with the union church (now Trinity United Church of Christ) in State Line in 1883, Middleburg United Methodist in 1843, Brown’s Mill Church of the Brethren in 1855, Montgomery Brethren in Christ in 1863, Hades Church of the Brethren in 1869, Shank’s Church of the Brethren in 1872 and Shady Grove Church of the Brethren in 1877. Post Civil War saw the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal founded in 1867 near its present South Carlisle Street location.

Local residents come together in May for National Day of Prayer.

Pastor David Rawley played piano for the Greencastle-Antrim Ministerium’s virtual Palm Sunday service in 2021.

The Brethren presence was strongly cemented in the area in the late 1800s with the founding of Otterbein, Ebenezer (formerly Guitner’s), Macedonia, Hollowell, Antrim, Trinity and Pleasant Hill. The first Mennonite church, Cedar Grove, was built in 1905 and the faith base of the community spread to include Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and Baptist. The Church of the Brethren in town was founded in 1927, an era that also saw second Lutheran and Mennonite congregations, along with the rise of independent churches such as Foursquare Gospel and churches that include the names Bible and Community, and most recently Praying Time Ministries, Church of God, Crossroads, River of Life, The Life Center, and The Storehouse Community Church. There are also two Assembly of God congregations.

The Greencastle-Antrim community is also home to two regional religious destinations. The Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center in Kauffman has been the site of religious gatherings since 1880. In 1974, Camp Joy-El near Williamson grew out of the Children’s Bible Mission and continues to develop today as a Christian retreat center and overnight camp.

Clergy from various Greencastle-Antrim congregations have met collectively for many years with the current organization called the Greencastle- Antrim Ministerium.

The Greencastle-Antrim Christian Women’s Fellowship sponsors monthly gatherings with devotions, prayer, music and speakers at the Evangelical Lutheran church. The purpose of the group is: to lift up Jesus Christ in our community; to provide settings for fellowship and inspiration; to be alert to existing needs in the community; to encourage prayer for those in need. Annually the fellowship sponsors commemoration of the National Day of Prayer in the Greencastle-Antrim community.

HOUSES OF WORSHIP

ANTRIM ASSEMBLY OF GOD, 11192 Bemisderfer Road, http://100843. agchurches.org, Renee Berkey. SUNDAY: 9 a.m. - Sunday School; 10 a.m. - Morning Worship; 6:30 p.m. - Evening Worship. WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m. - Adult Bible study. ANTRIM BRETHREN IN CHRIST, 24 Kauffman Road, Chambersburg, Casey Hurst, pastor of congregational care; Adam Meredith, preaching and life groups pastor; Rob Gowing, pastor of worship and administration. SUNDAY: 8 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary; 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages; 11 am. - Worship in the Family Life Center.

BEREAN BIBLE FELLOWSHIP, South Young Road, W. Bruce Dick Jr., pastor. SUNDAY: 9:30 am. - Worship service; 7 p.m. - Worship service. WEDNESDAY: 7 p.m. - Bible study and prayer time. BETHEL AME CHURCH, 245 5. Carlisle St., Rev. Lillie B. McMullen. SUNDAY: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. - Worship. CEDAR GROVE MENNONITE, 12175 Williamsport Pike, Dennis Stutzman, Pastor. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. - Worship. WEDNESDAY: 7 p.m.-Family Bible Study and prayer. CHURCH OF GOD, 4480 Buchanan Trail West, Rev. Floyd E. Myers. SUNDAY: 9:30 am. - Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. - Worship, 6:30 p.m. - Evangelistic Service; WEDNESDAY: 7:30 p.m. - Prayer and Bible Study. CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, 36 S. Carlisle St., Fred Keener, pastor. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:35 a.m. - Worship service. TUESDAY: 6:30 to 8 p.m. -God’s Angels/Pioneer Club, three years of age through 12th grade. COMMUNITY GRACE CHURCH, 5441 Buchanan Trail W., 830-2260, greencastlegbc@gmail.com. SUNDAY: 9:30 am. - Bible Fellowships for all ages; 10:30 a.m. - Worship and teacher service; 6:30 p.m. - The Flow Youth Ministry. WEDNESDAY: 7 p.m. - Prayer Encounter.

CORNERSTONE BIBLE CHURCH, 350 W. Madison St., Greencastle, www. cornerstonebiblepa.org, 717-5934615, Pastor Jeff Ehko. Main Service, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday School/ABF, 11:00 a.m.

CROSSROADS CHURCH, Pennsylvania Avenue, State Line, Walt Roberts, Pastor. SUNDAY: 8:30 a.m. - Classic Praise, 10 a.m. - The Edge 1, 11:15 a.m. - The Edge 2. www.crossroadshagerstown.org EBENEZER UNITED BRETHREN, 3661 Williamson Road, www.welcometoebenezer.com www.faithinfocusradio.org Pastor David Grove. SUNDAY: 9:20 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:20 a.m. - Sunday Worship, Tuesday Morning Bible Study: 9:30 a.m., NITRO Youth: Wednesday Evenings: 6:30 p.m. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN, 130 N. Washington St., www.elcgreencastle. org, Rev. Martin H. Horn. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages; 10:15 a.m. - Worship (Summer at 9:30) SATURDAY: 5 p.m. - Informal Holy Communion Worship Service. FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, 525 E. Leitersburg St., Josh Fowler, pastor. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:30 am. - Morning Worship. WEDNESDAY: 7 p.m.- Adult Bible Study, Youth Service, Children’s Ministry. * Nursery provided for all services FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 45 N. Washington Dr. John Irwin, Pastor. fumcgreencastle.orgTraditional Service at 9 am. Contemporary Service at 11 am Sunday school for all ages at 10 am Aftershock Youth Group Sunday evenings starting at 6:30 from Sept-May GRACE BIBLE CHURCH, 2327 Hoffman Road, Spencer Smith, pastor and youth pastor. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. – Morning Worship, Nursery, Preschool, Junior Church, 10:45 a.m. – Sunday School for all ages, 6 p.m. – Evening Worship. WEDNESDAY: 7 p.m. – Family Night, classes for all ages. GRACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 128 E. Baltimore St., Rev. Mark Ruzicka. Blended Worship, 10:00 a.m. GREENCASTLE BAPTIST (SBC), 2377 Buchanan Trail West, 1.4 miles west of Greencastle on Rt. 16. SUNDAY: 9:40 a.m. Sunday School for all ages; 10:45 a.m. Morning Worship, Nursery, Pre-school and Children’s Church; WEDNESDAY: 7 p.m. Prayer meeting. (Business meeting second Wed. of month.)

GREENCASTLE FOURSQUARE

GOSPEL, 236 Tyrone St., Pastor: Harry Miller, Sr. SUNDAY MORNING: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. - Worship/Sermon. WEDNESDAY NIGHT: 7 p.m. - Classes for Adults, Teens, Kids @ 7 p.m. Live on Facebook on Greencastle Foursquare Church page every Sunday @ 10:30 a.m.

GREENCASTLE PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH, 57 W. Baltimore St., 717-597-8333, www.visitgpc.com, Rev. Dr. Robert Cook, interim pastor. Worship Service, Holy Communion

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

717-597-3310 The Reverend Martin H. Horn, Pastor

Casual Saturday Worship – 5:00 pm

Sunday School – 9:30 am

Sunday Worship Service – 10:45 am

130 North Washington Street, Greencastle, PA

Visit us at our website: www.elcgreencastle.org

first Sunday of the month, 10 a.m., live-streamed on YouTube, followed by coffee and fellowship; Youth Group, 6 p.m.; Prayer Group, 9 a.m. Wednesday; Daily reflection on Facebook by Rev. Dr. Cook. HOLLOWELL BRETHREN IN CHRIST, 14807 HoIlowell Church Road, Pastor Blaine A. Lougheed. SUNDAY: 8:45 a.m. - Christian Education Hour, 10 a.m. - Worship and Celebration. WEDNESDAY: 6:30 p.m. - Kid’s Klub Night; 7 p.m. - Youth Group for Jr. and Sr. High. MACEDONIA UNITED BRETHREN, 11887 Worleytown Road, Pastor Brian Black SUNDAY: 9 a.m. - Sunday School, 9 a.m. - Worship- 10:00 a.m. OTTERBEIN UNITED BRETHREN, Leitersburg Street, Rev. David S. Rawley. SUNDAY: 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. - Worship services, 9:50 a.m. - Sunday School. PLEASANT HILL UNITED BRETHREN, 3664 Coseytown Road, Pastor Douglas Sandman. SUNDAY: 9 a.m. - Early Worship Service, Little Carpenters Ages 2 to pre-kind., Promise Builders Kindergarten - fifth-grade; 10:10 a.m. - Gathering of Disciples (Sunday School) for all ages; 11 a.m. - Pursuit 153 Service (Light refreshments), Pursuit 153 kids (Bible Explorers); Nursery provided for infants to age 2 from 9 to noon ; 6 to 8 p.m. - Pursuit 153 Youth. Several small groups and Bible studies meet throughout the week. Listen on line at www.phubc.org

PRAYING TIME MINISTRIES CHURCH

OF GOD IN CHRIST, 300 S. Carlisle St., Pastors Carl and Cloretta Grice. SUNDAY: 8 - 9:30 a.m. - Morning Manna, 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 11 a.m. - Worship service, 6 - 7 p.m. - Praise and Healing Service (second and fourth Sundays), 5 p.m. - WJAL-TV broadcast (first and third Sundays). TUESDAY: 7 p.m. - Prayer and Bible Study. FRIDAY: 7 p.m. - Prayer and Bible Study. RIVER OF LIFE MINISTRIES, 842 S. Washington St., Pastor Jeff Rankin. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:10 a.m. - Worship service. SALEM RIDGE COMMUNITY, Pensinger Road, Pastor Brian Emery, SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. - Worship.

SHANK’S CHURCH OF THE BRETH-

REN, Shank’s Church Road, John Shelly, Moderator. SUNDAY: 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. - Worship. STATE LINE UNITED METHODIST, 287 East Ave., Ruth Hollister is our Pastor. SUNDAY: 9 a.m. - Sunday School, 10:15 a.m.-Worship Service. Statelineumchurch@gmail.com

ST. MARK the EVANGELIST CATHO-

LIC CHURCH, 385 S. Ridge Ave., Father Walter Guzaman. MONDAY through FRIDAY: 9 a.m. - Daily Mass. SATURDAY: 5 p.m. - Mass. SUNDAY: 8:30 a.m. - Mass.

THE LIFE CENTER, North Carlisle Street, David and Cathy Pence, pastors. SUNDAY: 10 a.m. - Worship.

THE STOREHOUSE COMMUNITY

CHURCH, 3845 Buchanan Trail West, John Bartlett, pastor. SUNDAY: 10 a.m. - Worship Service, 11:15 a.m. Learning Groups/Sunday School. (Nursery & children’s classes provided both times.) For more details, visit www.exploreshc.com

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1186 Jason Drive, Rev. Barbara Barry. Worship, 10 a.m., Service also available on Facebook Live and later downloaded to tlcgreencastle.org and YouTube.

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST, State Line, 597-0585, Irene Pouliet, pastor. SUNDAY: 9 a.m. - Worship, 10 a.m. - Sunday School.