Hempfield Church of the Brethren Manheim PA

At Hempfield COB, we are called to be Living Stones, Building Bridges: connecting people to Jesus Christ as we follow His teachings in Scripture to love our God, neighbor, and enemy and serve our community.

 

Question: What should I wear?

Answer: We want to get to know the real you, so what you wear is completely up to you. People in our church family wear a variety of clothes: from suits & ties to jeans & t-shirts. Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.

Question: What is available for my children during the service?

Answer: We value our children and we seek to shepherd them well as they grow at HCOB. During our 9:30 service you will find several options for their care and discipleship.

From 9:30 a.m. until the conclusion of the worship service, nursery care is available for infants through age three. Nursery children enjoy play time as well as a Bible story, song and snack. Older children, from ages three through fifth grade, begin the service with their parents in the sanctuary and then are released to enjoy Kids Church with their teachers in our educational wing. Here they will participate in a time of praise and worship, biblical teaching, object lessons and will enjoy crafts and a snack.

All teachers follow Safe Church protocols and have background checks on file. The safety of your child is very important to us so if he or she would like to participate, simply sign them in at the HCOB Kids table in the narthex. If you have any questions, an usher is available to help.

Question: What will happen when I arrive at the church?

Answer: You can park wherever is convenient for you. There are designated, marked handicap spaces available. Our friendly and helpful greeters will meet you at the door. There are bulletins available that will tell you what to expect in the service that day. Our ushers can also direct you to the worship area, the restrooms , children’s classrooms and anywhere else you might need to go during your visit.

Question: Will I be called upon during the worship service?

Answer: We want you to feel at home during your time with us, so we will NEVER make you do anything that you don’t want to do.

But we DO want you to know that you are important to us, so there will be a special gift that we have prepared for you. Just check with one of our ushers following the service.

You can choose to raise your hand or simply remain anonymous. Also, if you enjoy your time with us and would like someone to visit or call you during the week, you can indicate that by writing down your name and contact information on the Welcome card located in the pew. Simply complete that and place it in the offering plate.

We would love the opportunity to connect with you.

Question: Will I be expected to contribute toward an offering?

Answer: No.

The members of our HCOB family consider it a joy to give back to God for the many blessings He has given us, so we collect an offering as part of our worship to give our regular attenders this opportunity. But you are our guest, and we want you to just sit back and receive what God desires to give you during your visit. You will never be pressured into giving financially at our services.

Question: What can I expect from the pastor’s message?

Answer: Our pastors’ messages are designed to encourage you and help you apply what God says in the Bible directly to your life. Our pastors communicate in a down-to-earth style that is easy to understand.

They struggle with the same issues as you, and they want you to find the same hope in Jesus that has kept them going through the difficulties of life. You can also listen to their messages anytime on this website in the week following the date of the service you attended. Past sermons can be found and listened to on the church website.

Question: What if I have difficulty hearing or seeing?

Answer: Just ask one of our greeters and they will be glad to give you a large print hymnal.

We also have small earpieces available so that you can adjust the volume of the service to a level that is comfortable for you.

Question: Who are the Brethren?

Answer: Another way of living

In the New Testament, the word “brethren” describes a community of men and women who chose another way of living: the way of Jesus. The Church of the Brethren, begun three centuries ago in Germany, still draws people who want to continue Jesus’ work of faithfulness and loving service.
Continuing the work of Jesus

Though the Brethren as a group have existed for three hundred years, we subscribe to no formal “creed” or set of rules. We simply try to do what Jesus did.

Jesus brought a message of life, love, and hope. But he offered much more than inspiring words: He understood that people’s spiritual needs also include day-to-day human ones — food, health, rest, comfort, friendship, and unconditional acceptance. “I am the way,” he told his followers. He showed them how to trust, how to care, and how to help.

Steadily, lovingly, even radically, Jesus went about saving the world — by serving its people. Because we believe his message, we seek to do the same.
Peacefully

Whether the conflict involves warring nations, racial discord, theological disputes, personal disagreement, or mere misunderstanding, Brethren listen conscientiously, seek guidance in the scriptures, and work toward reconciliation. We practice peaceful living.

Our longstanding commitment to peace and justice includes a deep regard for human life and dignity. Brethren reach worldwide to help repair the ravages of poverty, ignorance, exploitation, and catastrophic events. Along with our faith, we bring food, books, classes, tools, and medicine.

Living peacefully, to the Brethren, means treating each person with the attentive, compassionate respect that all human beings deserve.
Simply

Years ago, all Brethren were immediately recognizable because of their plain dress and reserved ways. Today’s Brethren live very much in the world, work in a broad range of occupations, and make use of the latest technology.

Continually, though, we try to simplify our lives. Practicing a modest nonconformity, we think carefully about our daily choices. The ideal of simplicity guides our decisions: How will we conduct our business, raise our children, spend our leisure time, tend our natural resources? How will we use our money, and why? How can we live comfortably, but without excess or ostentation?

For the Brethren, such considerations are not a requirement, but a privilege. As we seek to live intentionally, responsibly, and simply, we find a deep sense of purpose. And we find joy.
Together

Whether worshiping, serving, learning, or celebrating, Brethren act in community. Together, we study the Bible to discern God’s will; we make decisions as a group, and each person’s voice matters.

During our traditional love feast, we gather at the table of the Lord, and each summer at Annual Conference we convene as a denominational family. Because Jesus urged unity, Brethren work alongside other denominations, at home and abroad, in worldwide mission and outreach.

Our congregations welcome all who wish to share with us in another way of living: the way of Christian discipleship, life in community, fulfillment in service.

We live out our faith in community. That community begins in the congregation, but extends also to the district, and to the church as a whole. In other words, the life and work of the Church of the Brethren begins within hundreds of congregations but reaches around the world.
 

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Download Pastor Doug Hinton vCard with bio

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https://www.hempfieldcob.org/  

 

 

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