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Foreword
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Church of Lancaster County is probably quite different from many churches you've attended. We haven't set out to be different for the sake of being different, but we have set out to be obedient to God in our worship and evangelism.
We believe that too many local churches today are run like entertainment businesses. That is, instead of existing to show men their depravity and need for Christ, they are places where people come to be entertained or have their consciences salved.
Too often, the operation of the local church also revolves around the financial "bottom line." These are very troubling trends for the Church.
At Church of Lancaster County we'll be the first ones to admit that we don't have everything right, but our goal as we
seek the Lord together is to be faithful to his Word by his grace alone.
As a visitor to one of our services you won't find a comic in the pulpit and you won't hear "performances" by instrumentalists or vocalists of any sort. We hope
you will find a sober and reverent time of worship and edification as we seek to:
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 3:18).
At Church of Lancaster County we have wonderful times together in sweet Christian fellowship, but
we firmly believe our worship is to be focused on Christ supremely. Our only reflection upon self in worship is the remembrance of our fallen nature and our need
for salvation in Christ alone.
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Independent & Reformed
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Church of Lancaster County is an independent, reformed church.
- By independent we mean that we are not affiliated with any particular denomination. However, we are quick to add that we are wholly dependent on Jesus Christ. We count all faithful congregations of the Lord's people to be our sister congregations.
- By reformed we mean that we hold to the Doctrines of Grace put forth by such men as the apostle Paul, Augustine and John Calvin. For more information, please see our summary statement of faith.
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Worship Centered
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The primary biblical purpose for the existence of any local church should be to worship God and evangelize the lost. At Church of Lancaster County it is our goal to carry out these two points as our primary objectives. In accomplishing this we are wholly dependent upon the Spirit of God.
Church of Lancaster County doesn't have a softball team. We don't even have a choir. While those and other items are commonly assumed to be part of the local church, we have a different view. Yes, we do enjoy fellowship. In fact, we believe fellowship is a part of our worship. But we seek to exalt Christ and to appreciate more his place in our lives in all of our church activities.
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Focus on Biblical Literacy
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There was a time in America when Christians knew their Bibles. Today most professing Christians can't even list the Ten Commandments in order, let alone all 66 books of the Bible.
Biblical literacy is not a matter of memorizing lists, but it is something that has been lost on our modern generation. At Church of Lancaster County we teach with an aim to restoring
the Christian's familiarity with the Bible. We systematically catechize our children. We seek to have discussions about the biblical topics brought before us. We
strongly encourage Bible reading by families and individuals. And we systematically study each chapter of the Bible in our midweek prayer meetings.
Familiarity with the Bible doesn't come over night. We realize that many are embarrassed or uncomfortable because of their lack of education in this important area of our lives. But the only
way for us to overcome our shortcomings is to begin to study the Word of God diligently and daily.
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Focus on Prayer
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The energy of the local church in fulfilling its service to our Lord is to be found in the prayer meeting. We reject the contemporary notion that "prayer changes things." Rather, we are a praying church because God changes things. He has not only invited us to meet with him in prayer, but he has commanded it of his people.
Our prayer meetings are not restricted to the adults in the congregation. Our children are welcomed and encouraged to participate in calling upon God in both public and private worship as they form good habits for an adult walk with Christ.
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Focus on Evangelism
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God has called his Church to evangelize the lost. At Church of Lancaster County we take this call very seriously. In addition to the regular proclamation of the gospel from our pulpit ministry, we believe in taking those opportunities
our Lord gives us to reach the lost in our community and beyond.
We are a very small congregation, but with the Lord's help, some of our regular ongoing outreach projects include:
- Sunday preaching services at a local nursing home.
- Midweek visitation at a local nursing home.
- Free internet-audio ministry through SermonAudio.com.
With the Lord's help as time goes on we hope to do more!
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Financial Perspectives
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At Church of Lancaster County we firmly believe in the biblical practice of tithing, not as a matter of obligation, but as a matter of love for Christ and his work.
As we read the New Testament we do not find the churches taking weekly "collections." Rather, we find examples of the Church collecting money only for specific identified and pressing needs. As such, Church of Lancaster County does not take up collections from the Lord's people. We encourage true believers to give for the spread of the gospel as the Lord leads.
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