A Congregation Built Around Mission
Christ Church UCC sits at 75 East Market Street, on the corner of Market and Center in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The congregation of the United Church of Christ has wrapped its identity around a single phrase: Called to know Christ and to Serve in His Name. The result is a church whose Sundays and weekdays both point outward, pairing traditional and contemporary worship with hands-on ministries that feed, clothe, and shelter people without homes in the Lehigh Valley.
Two Sunday Services, Two Different Settings
Christ Church holds two Sunday morning services that share a building but offer very different atmospheres.
At 9:15 AM, worshippers gather in the Gathering Place for a contemporary service with coffee, snacks, and conversation in a coffee-shop setting. Music is described as both lively and meditative, and the hour includes a small-group moment for sharing the highs and lows of life and looking for how God is at work in them. Those seeking a more personal, informal style of worship tend to find a home here.
At 10:30 AM, the sanctuary fills with a more traditional service. The chancel choir leads hymns alongside new favorites, the liturgy carries a more formal cadence, and the morning centers on a powerful message from the pulpit. Both services celebrate communion together on the first Sunday of every month, and both are livestreamed on the church's Facebook page, where past services are stored in the Videos section.
Sunday School for Every Age
From September through June, the Christian Education Program runs from 9:30 to 10:15 AM for children from Pre-K through grade 10 who have not yet been confirmed. Children dismiss in time to join their families for the 10:30 service. Teachers develop weekly lesson plans for children who know the Old Testament stories well and for those meeting Noah and Abraham for the first time, and registration is handled online.
A Choir That Welcomes the Whole Community
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM, entering through the Center Street door. It is open to anyone in the community ages 16 and older who enjoys singing, fellowship, and making music a form of prayer. The choir sings at Sunday services from September through June, plus special services through the church year, with summer off. Instrumentalists of any experience level are welcome to join the music ministry.
Three Partnerships That Define the Week
The mission work of Christ Church is organized around three long-running partnerships, each run out of the building and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Bagged Lunch Program
Run jointly by Christ Church UCC and Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, the Bagged Lunch Program prepares and distributes bagged meals to street neighbors every Saturday and Sunday between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Volunteer groups from a wide range of backgrounds help prepare the food and hand it out.
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering is a faith-based network of care that provides overnight shelter during the coldest months of the year. Volunteers are invited to prepare dinners on weekday evenings or to stay overnight. The pastor of Christ Church, Rev. Robert Rapp, Jr., previously served as Executive Director of Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering before answering the call to lead mission at the church in October 2018.
S.T.A.R. - Serving To Aid and Restore
S.T.A.R. distributes clothing and toiletries to neighbors in need every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers can donate time, goods, or both, and the ministry is led by a separate volunteer board that maintains its own Facebook presence.
Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals
The church hosts weddings of up to 600 guests, with both intimate ceremonies and grand celebrations in a building described as offering a traditional backdrop for vows and photographs. Baptisms are open to newborns, teenagers, and adults and take place during Sunday morning worship, with all who profess belief in the risen Christ welcome at the font. The church also hosts funerals and is open to members and non-members alike for these services. Information is available through the church office.
Rentals in the Heart of Downtown
Three spaces are available for outside rentals. The Gathering Place is a large, open room with its own entrance on Market Street, an overhead projector, a premium sound system, a kitchenette, and a serving counter, suited to parties, meetings, and presentations. The All Purpose Room (the APR) seats up to 50 and can be customized for meetings or classes, with a television, coffee service, and small kitchenette. Ebert's Hall accommodates up to 200 with round tables, chairs, a full sound system, and microphones for multimedia events. All rental spaces are handicap- and wheelchair-accessible.
Beliefs and Identity
Christ Church identifies with the United Church of Christ and lives out its calling through the words of Christ and the example of Matthew 25:40: Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me. The church teaches that preaching without service is empty, and that mission is the natural companion to worship.
Leadership and Staff
The congregation is served by Rev. Robert Rapp, Jr., Pastor, who came to Christ Church as a pastoral intern in the summer of 2016 before being called as Pastor for Mission in October 2018. Steven Paszkowski serves as Minister of Music. Mark Barger teaches the Christian education program. The staff also includes Deborah Brogan as Church Administrator, David Lee as Digital Coordinator, and Bethany Lee as Facilities Coordinator. All pastors, teachers, and staff meet the church's stringent safety requirements.
Planning a First Visit
Visitors can park on the city streets surrounding the church or use the James Funeral Home lot behind the building during Sunday services. Clothing runs the full range, from suits and ties to jeans and sandals. There are no formalities, handshakes, or fees required to worship, and visitors are not expected to give an offering. Coffee, snacks, and baked goods are served before and during the 9:15 service, and children of every age have a place in Sunday school.