Hi, we're Life Church Lancaster, and we're glad to meet you!
If we've never met, or it's been a while since we've seen you, you might have some questions for us. So let's get to know each other better.
Q. Where are you from?
Life Church Lancaster started as a church plant, meeting in the Marriott Convention Center in downtown Lancaster. We then moved to Manheim Township and set up shop in Bucher Elementary School and the former Manheim Township Middle School, before finding our permanent home in the Kissel Hill Commons development. We are located at 700 Brentwood Drive (south of Lititz).
Q. What kind of church are you?
We are a faith community comprised of people who come from all over Lancaster County. We embrace the questioners, doubters, seekers, wanderers, outcasts, average people, and anyone that wants to develop a relationship with Jesus. We hold space for differing beliefs, placing relationships above "rightness." We value the dignity and humanity of all people and are fiercely supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
Q. When do you meet?
Services start at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings. If you're not sure about joining us in person, you can check out our livestream on YouTube and watch live at 10:45 a.m. or at your convenience. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChOL5zZuG_UnYmV2cbXzjCA.
Q. What's a Sunday morning like?
We're a casual community with contemporary music, a vibrant children's program for babies up to high schoolers, and friendly people trying to figure out how to faithfully follow Jesus in today's world. We start each Sunday morning with a unifying and centering breath, sing some songs together, hear announcements about upcoming events, listen to a message from one of our two pastors or a teacher in our community, and sing another song to end the service.
Q. How should I dress?
Wear whatever makes you comfortable! On a Sunday morning you’ll see people in T-shirts, shorts, tank tops, jeans, flip-flops, sandals, sneakers, dresses, skirts, polo shirts, button-downs, khakis. Some of us even dress up for Halloween and Christmas!
Q. What do you do the rest of the week?
We love to have fun and take as many opportunities as we can to be together! We highly encourage our members to join one of our small groups, which can be found on our website: https://lifechurchlancaster.org/group. This is a great way to forge strong connections, and it’s easier to do life with friends. We also love to hike, and offer group hiking outings in the summer and fall. Our regular attenders are runners, coffee drinkers, tea drinkers, singers, artists, writers, gamers, sports fans, music lovers, readers, geeks, nerds, science lovers, teachers, engineers, government officials, introverts, extroverts, dog people, cat people, vegans, carnivores, parents, singles, couples, teenagers, college students, babies, toddlers, elementary students, and preteens.
Q. What do you believe about the Bible and Jesus?
We look to the Bible for inspiration and guidance. We also understand that the Bible is complicated. It includes many kinds of literature and diverse perspectives. We take seriously the historical and cultural contexts in which it was written. We worship Jesus, we seek to follow his example as we find it in the Bible, and we know that we don't always get it right. We learn. We apologize. We try to do better.
Q. What if I'm not sure what I believe about God, Jesus and the Bible?
We welcome you to join us with your questions, doubts, hopes, and curiosities. We're in this together! Many members of our congregation have been unsure about what they believe at some point in their faith journey. You can come to Life Church as you are.
Q. Can I get more involved if I decide Life Church is a good fit for me?
Yes! Please join one of our small groups that meet weekly for fall, winter, and spring sessions. We also have volunteer opportunities to work with kids, play or sing with the band, coordinate the audio/visual elements of our in-person and livestream services, and welcome guests or host events. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can serve in our community. Find out more here: https://lifechurchlancaster.org/volunteer-opportunity. Please Note: We do require children’s volunteers to pass background clearances and participate in mandatory reporter training.
Written by Lisa Bartelt