The mission of Grace is to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church and the Church Universal; to render loving service toward mankind; and to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace.
As Martin Luther was founder of the Lutheran Church, Ulrich Zwingli was the founder of the Reformed faith. Grace United Church of Christ grew out of the Reformed Church of Germany and Switzerland.
In the spring of 1709, a large number of German immigrants came to Pennsylvania, many of the Reformed Church. It was not easy to keep up their religious life in the new world. Often no minister was available, so they asked a schoolteacher and farmer named John Boehm to became their pastor, who was later ordained and drew up a constitution for his congregations. Thus, the Reformed Church in America was born.
By the early 1700's many people in the Shenandoah Valley were of Reformed and Lutheran faiths. They shared facilities and ministers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Europe. In the 1730's a church was built on Rude's Hill, (near Shenandoah Caverns Rd. and Route 11), where Lutheran, Anglican, and Reformed groups worshiped.
Prior to 1783 the Reformed and Lutheran Congregation moved to the Middle Road and were called Pine Church. In 1868 it was decided by mutual consent to dissolve the union.
Col. Levi Rinker, a Reformed member donated the land for Grace Church to be erected at Rinkerton in 1874. The sanctuary was built in the customary German way two doors to the front, one for men and one for women. Kerosene lamps on hanging brackets and on the organ gave light, and two wood burning stoves gave heat. The building was dedicated on August 29th 1875, and the congregation was named "Grace".
On June 26, 1934, the Reformed Church and the Evangelical Synod merged, and in 1957 the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged with the Congregational Christian Church forming the United Church of Christ.
Grace's education building was erected in 1962, including a library, a pastor's study, and five classrooms. On April 13th 1986, the newest addition was dedicated, including a modern kitchen and a social hall.
In 1987, Grace Church left the Mill Creek Charge to become independent. Our congregation's outreach includes yearly collections for the international program of "One Great Hour of Sharing", and "Our Churches Wider Mission". Regionally, we support Hoffman Home for Youth, and the Lancaster Seminary, in Lancaster, PA. Locally, Grace supports Young Life, The Food Pantry, The Transient Fund, The Boy Scouts, 4 H, Narcotics Anonymous, and a Reading Readiness program.
Grace is a congregation of giving, caring people who welcome you to join us for worship and our other ministries included below.