About Us
About Salem UCC
Salem United Church of Christ of Rohrerstown is a small, friendly, Open and Affirming church in rural Lancaster, PA. We are welcoming to all who enter our doors and supportive of each other.
We demonstrate our love of music and fellowship during our coffee and social time each week before church service and with guest musicians participating before and during worship.
Community outreach is achieved through our focus on monthly mission projects and ongoing food collection for the local food bank.
Staff
Haan Phelps
Current Pastor
(Bridge Pastor)
Cathy Eckman
Council President
Sandy Pittenturf
Office Administrator
Mike Shober
Organist
Our Mission Statement
To live authentic spiritual lives in a changing world.
Our Vision
Embracing
each other, neighbors, and world community
Engaging
service, worship, and justice
Evolving
spiritually, socially, and individually
What does “Open & Affirming” mean?
Salem UCC (Rohrerstown) believes that all people are created in God’s image and thus are loved and blessed equally by God. We are a warm, welcoming congregation of imperfect people who invite and welcome to participate fully in the life of this church persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, race, nationality and social status, faith background, marital standing and family structure as we seek to grow together in a safe and nurturing community where we live out the belief that God is still speaking. We strive to show in all ways that “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
Committees
Growing in Faith Team (GIFT)
This team plans activities for Sunday morning Children’s Church, our annual Easter Egg Hunt, Salem’s traditional Live Nativity, and some fun gatherings that we call Messy Church.
Finance Committee
This committee discusses all items related to Salem’s financials. They also maintain Salem’s budget, and weekly income/expenses.
Vitality Committee
Vitality committee meets to discuss the future of Salem. It aims to improve its impact inside the church and throughout the community.
Property/Facility Use
Property committee maintains the interior and exterior of all its buildings. Facility Use maintains relationships with all organizations that utilize Salem’s Buildings.
Social Justice and Social Action
This committee seeks to live out Salem’s ONA covenant and fulfill its requirement to be a peace church.
Bazaar Committee
Bazaar Committee works to create a successful Bazaar fundraiser each year. They do this through 30+ vendors, basket raffles, bake sales, and home made food.
Mission Outreach
Promote opportunities for Salem to benefit others in our community, nation, and world.
Worship and Music
This committee helps to plan meaningful, creative, worship services and maintain the choir, and bell choir.
Salem Servers/Fellowship
This committee works hard to provide home made food at each of Salem’s events.
Congregational Care
Congregational Care provides outreach to homebound, ill, and elderly members within the church or those related to them.
Our History
A group of people from Lutheran and Reformed backgrounds met in a schoolhouse near the present site of Salem Church
A frame church was built on this site and was called Zion Church.
Reformed Congregation was formally organized.
A new church was built of brick on the same site after the original building was destroyed in a fire. This new church was called Salem which in Hebrew means “Peace.”
Construction of the present building was completed.
Pipe organ installed (still in use).
Salem’s official name became Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church of Rohrerstown.
Salem’s official name became Salem United Church of Christ when four faith traditions, The Reformed Church, The Evangelical Church, The Congregation Church and The Christian Church, united under the biblical idea “That all may be one.”
The Christian Education wing was added.
The new parsonage was built to replace the previous parsonage which had been used since 1935.
The sanctuary was upgraded and the new fellowship hall was added.
Slate roof restoration on Main 1906 building.
Exterior metal restoration and painting of bell tower and 1906 and 1927 building.
UCC Mission
Purpose Statement
(from the Gospel of Matthew)
To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.
Vision Statement
United in Christ’s love, a just world for all.
Mission statement
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.