Grace Community Presbyterian Church
Lower Burrell
PA

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Grace Church is a fellowship of believers who are committed to discovering and celebrating the gospel of God's grace. We are committed to the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and to the doctrines of our historic Reformation heritage. We are a church family made up of men, women, and children who find great unity and joy in the person and work of Jesus Christ, as revealed in God's Word. It is our utmost desire to reach out with the Gospel of Christ to all mankind and to honor Him in all that we do.

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Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Churches in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, United States

Presbyterian Churches in Pennsylvania, United States

Presbyterian Churches in United States

All churches in Lower Burrell, PA

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

http://www.gracecommunitypresbyterian.org

Rev. Kenneth W. Foust

Pastor

724-339-9661

724-339-3343

Here's a little information about my background.

I am happily married to Barb, who recently retired as a third grade teacher at Bon Air School. We are parents to Will who is a recent graduate of St. Bonaventure University and Carrie who passed away in 2011 from leukemia at the age of 20.

Having been raised in western Pennsylvania, I was educated at Westminster College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. I was ordained to the pastoral ministry in 1983 and served a yoked parish in western New York where I met my wife. The people of the Presbyterian Churches of Allegeny and Portville, New York, taught me much about pastoral ministry and provided love and support so that we could grow in our faith and service to Christ together. I am grateful.

We have been at Grace church since March, 1996. Grace Church also is a marvelous church to pastor. It is my hope that you will find our worship to be God - directed and our fellowship to be warm. If you have any questions or concerns about Grace Church or your faith, please let me know. You can contact me through the website, by phone 724-339-9661, or by stopping in Monday through Friday, between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM.

Reitha Bieranoski

Secretary

724-339-9661

724-339-3343

Join us Sundays

10:00 : Morning Worship

Service Times last updated on the 15th of December, 2020

Ministries We Offer

Music Ministry

Grace worship services are filled with music. Our Chancel Choir provides an anthem and leads us in hymn-singing from September through June. Choir membership is open to members of Grace, age high school and up. We practice weekly from 7:00 - 8:30 on Wednesday evenings. During the summer, and at various times during the year, we are blessed with solos and duets from members and friends of Grace as well as outside guests.

Our Organ: In 2014, through the generosity of members and friends, Grace Church purchased a new Allen organ. The organ has been a blessing to our church and service to our Lord. Our Allen Bravura L341 has 3 manuals and 58 stops. It features 7 complete organ suites enabling us to play music from different musical eras and styles: Classic Allen, English Cathedral, Cavillé-Coll (French Romantic), Schlicker, Arp Schnitger (German Baroque), Aeolian-Skinner and Orchestral.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.
(Psalm 92:1,2)

Sunday School

Sunday School is offered for all age groups. During the worship hour, children ages pre-school through first grade leave following the children's sermon for a Bible Story time and activities with a member of the Christian Education staff.

During the 9am hour, Sunday School classes are offered for grades 2-5 and 6th grade through high school. An adult contemporary style Sunday school class that uses materials from pastors such as Kyle Idelman, Max Lucado, Andy Stanley, Louie Gigilo, to name a few, is taught by the CE Director.

Following the worship time, a more traditional adult Sunday school, taught by volunteers meets weekly.

Note: All CE staff and volunteers have their updated PA and Federal clearances.

Bible Study

The opportunity to grow in faith through the study of God's word is offered at Grace by volunteer lead Bible Studies; Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Special studies may be offered by the Pastor or CE Director during special religious seasons of the year.

Youth Fellowship

The Youth Fellowship group, traditionally 7th grade through 12th grade, in the fall of 2018 will include 6th grade through 12th grade. Youth Fellowship meets Sunday evenings, September through May, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Typical activities in an evening include an opening game, devotion time, music and a Bible Study, video series, etc, appropriate to issues that teens experience. Special activities include targeted local and national mission projects, nursing home visits, and a yearly retreat. Youth Fellowship Kids have fun too, with some special outings and events with other community youth groups.

Vacation Bible School

A yearly community outreach program that is held one week during the summer open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. VBS is a theme planned event that offers children site based opportunities. They remain in groups of children their own age and rotate daily through lesson, crafts, recreation, music and snack. The last day of VBS a closing program and family event is offered.

Grace Community Presbyterian Church began in the years immediately following World War II under the supervision of the Board of American Missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. The Reverend Walter Ferris, a former Chaplin in the Army Air Service, was assigned as the first missionary to the new field in December 1946.

The first service of the Leechburg Road Community Church was held on January 12th, 1947 at Stewart School. On May 4th, 1947, we were chartered as Grace Community United Presbyterian Church with 74 members on the Charter Roll. On October 12th, 1947 the first session was originated under Presbytery guidance. The groundbreaking for the new church building took place on June 13th, 1948 with the cornerstone laid on April 10th 1949. Services were held in the new sanctuary on Sunday September 11th, 1949.

The Reverend Paul Musser conducted his first service at Grace on Christmas Sunday 1950. He was formally called in January 1954 to lead as Grace's next pastor. Seeing continued growth, plans were made to build again. The new education unit was built and was used by the Lower Burrell Township School District as classroom space during the school week.

On September 10th, 1956 the Reverend Charles J. Gensheimer was installed as the next pastor. Under his leadership, Grace changed the make-up of the Session to a unicameral government. Two worship services on Sunday and the congregation began to think of expanding once again.
The Reverend William Dandoy came to Grace in 1965 to become our new minister and oversee the final expansion of Grace Community Church. Our first service in the present sanctuary was on June 30th, 1968.

In November 1971, the Reverend Kenneth Lister was called to Grace Community Church. Many small study group meetings were developed under his leadership.

The Reverend Kirk Ryckman was called to Grace on August 19th, 1979. The years showed a deeper financial commitment and the hiring of Karen Willis as a Christian Education Director in 1981.

Reverend David Aber was called to serve at Grace in December of 1987. At this time in Grace Community's life, the congregation felt the need to have an Associate Pastor to aid in our continuing growth. Reverend Cynthia Wilson was called in August 1998 to be Associate Pastor.

The Reverend Kenneth Foust was called as our current pastor in March 1996.