As God’s people, we commit ourselves to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives.
our beliefs
We believe that:
God offers us all a new way of life and salvation from sin through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus calls us to follow him by continuing his ministries of service, love, justice, and peace.
The Bible is our authority for faith and life, and is most fully understood when studied together, with guidance from God’s Spirit.
The church is a community of love and hope; offering support, compassion, and care; serving others as Jesus taught.
God’s Spirit empowers us to be peacemakers, to love our enemies, to forgive, seek justice, and reject violence.
For more information about Mennonite beliefs:
Our spiritual practices include:
Prayer
Baptism of believers
Communion
Foot-washing
Anointing
Service and missions
Learning and Bible study
Fellowship
our practices
VISION STATEMENT OF MENNONITE CHURCH USA
God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ and,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace,
so that God’s healing and hope flow through us to the world.
VISION STATEMENT OF BLOOMING GLEN MENNONITE CHURCH
People on a journey with Jesus.
OUR GUIDING VALUES
Growing faith, reaching out, making peace, worshiping God, building community
OUR PRIORITIES
Serving the local community
Cultivating lifelong faith families
Strengthening community life within our congregation
our history
Blooming Glen Mennonite Church began as Mennonites migrated north from Germantown, near Philadelphia. The first meetinghouse, built in 1753, was a small log cabin structure located across Blooming Glen Road from the present building. Artist, Berdine Leinbach, has created the rendition seen here.
The following 250 years included many changes and challenges. Faithfulness to following Jesus was often unpopular. New innovations such as Sunday school brought transitions to the church, including a move from the German language to English.
As time passed new leaders were ordained and meeting houses were built and added to. New areas of mission and outreach were created and new programs and church organization instituted.
In 2003 Paul Lederach, who served as a pastor and bishop for the congregation, wrote a history book, Seeking What Cannot be Seen, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the church. It concludes with a reference to the anniversary hymn, “O Blessed Church,” written by J. Edward Moyer. The hymn notes that Blooming Glen is a singing church, a praying church, a preaching church, and a sharing church. These foundational practices of Mennonite faith have been shared by thousands of people through the years at Blooming Glen and today their stories of faith blend with our current stories as we seek to follow Jesus faithfully.
[Book and Fraktur are available for a donation.]
Seeking What Cannot Be Seen
by Paul Lederach
250th Anniversary Commemorative Fraktur
by Cheramie Moyer Lutz