A Church on Concord Road
Mount Hope United Methodist Church sits at 4020 Concord Road in Aston, Pennsylvania, a few miles south of Chester in the heart of Delaware County. For families in Aston and the surrounding communities, Mount Hope has become a fixture: a place with both a long-running preschool and a long-running food pantry, both a traditional and a contemporary service on Sunday morning, and a children's program that runs from nursery all the way through twelfth grade. The church's motto is simple and direct: "Love God, Love Others, Serve." That motto shows up in everything from its weekly worship schedule to its outreach to neighbors in need.
Two Services, One Sunday Morning
Worship at Mount Hope is built around two Sunday morning services in the sanctuary, each with its own musical style and feel. At 9:00 AM, the Sanctuary Choir leads the Traditional Service, featuring time-honored hymns and anthems. An hour and fifteen minutes later, at 10:15 AM, the Praise Band leads the Contemporary Service, described by the church as "uplifting, handclapping, vibrant." Parents are welcome to bring infants and toddlers to either service, but a professional nursery is staffed and ready during both services, with all nursery staff carrying Pennsylvania state clearances and following the church's Safe Sanctuary Policy. Sunday School for children from preschool through seventh grade is offered during the 10:15 AM service, with classrooms organized by age group.
Pastoral Team
Mount Hope is led by Reverend Johnson Dodla, who became Lead Pastor after a ministry career that began in his native India. He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Theology from both Trinity Christian College and Hindustan Bible College, and began his work as a Youth and Outreach Coordinator at Centenary Methodist Church in Hyderabad. From there he served at St. John's Anglican Church in Leyland, England, and then worked with "The Pittsburgh Project," a Christian community development organization serving inner-city at-risk youth. He met his wife Christyn in Pittsburgh, and the couple eventually settled in Downingtown. Pastor Johnson served as Director of Youth Ministries at Hopewell UMC, then as Pastor at Crossroads UMC in Exton, then as Lead Pastor when Crossroads merged with the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection to form Exton UMC in 2011. From 2017 to 2019 he led Olivet UMC in Coatesville. He, Christyn, and their four children (Samara, Elijah, Annika, and Josiah) now call Aston home. Christyn Dodla serves at Mount Hope as both Director of Traditional Music and Director of Youth Ministry. Pastor Joanne Hennessy Slawter serves as Pastor of Visitation. Donna Kelly directs contemporary music. Michelle Hall leads children's ministry. Kim Marino directs the Children's Center. Mount Hope is a congregation of the United Methodist Church.
Mount Hope Children's Center, Since 1989
Long before many of its current programs were established, Mount Hope started a preschool that has been operating since 1989. The Mount Hope Children's Center is described on its materials as an outreach ministry of the church, providing a Christian early childhood learning environment for children from 31 months old until they are ready for kindergarten. The Center's curriculum is developmentally appropriate, covering physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth through an integrated approach, with lesson plans shaped in part by monthly Bible verses. Activities include arts and crafts, block building, manipulatives, water play, books, reading readiness, writing, science, food experiences, dramatic play, songs, and outdoor play.
Older two-year-old classes meet two or three days a week, with Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes at $245 per month and Tuesday and Thursday classes at $195 per month. Class size is limited to ten, and class time runs from 8:50 to 11:35 AM. Three-year-old classes meet in mornings for either three or two days a week at $265 or $230 per month, with class sizes limited to sixteen. Pre-K classes meet three days or five days at $275 or $375 per month, with class times running either 8:50 to 11:50 AM or 12:30 to 3:00 PM. A non-refundable $50 registration fee per child applies, and families with two or more children enrolled receive a 20 percent discount on the younger child's tuition. The Center is dismissed under the carport. Families interested in the Center can contact jen@mthope.org or call (610) 558-0442.
Children's Ministry and Sunday School
Children's ministry at Mount Hope offers weekly Sunday School for all ages during the 10:15 AM service. Preschoolers meet in Room 103, kindergarten through third grade in Room 101, and fourth through seventh grade in Room 102. Each year the ministry organizes family favorites like Trunk-or-Treat, an annual Easter Egg Hunt, and an MLK Day of Service. Vacation Bible School is offered each summer free of charge to children completing Pre-K through Grade 5, with a different theme each year. Children and volunteers register in the spring, and adult volunteers are required to obtain Pennsylvania state clearances before serving. The program also maintains a Safe Sanctuary policy for the protection of children.
Youth Ministry for Grades 6-12
The Mount Hope Youth Group welcomes students in grades six through twelve, and Sunday evening meetings run from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The youth ministry describes itself as a place where teens can come whether they are new to faith, questioning their faith, wanting to learn more, or seeking to deepen their relationship with God. Lessons center on four questions: Who is God, who am I, what does God want with me, and how does God call me to be in this world? Special events include a spring retreat, a summer mission trip, and fundraisers like the Christmas Cookie Walk and Family Feud. Past events have included a Super Market Sweep challenge that taught teens about food insecurity while collecting supplies for the Bread of Life pantry. Youth entering seventh grade and older are eligible for the summer mission trip.
Bread of Life Food Pantry and Angel's Closet
Bread of Life is one of Mount Hope's most visible outreach ministries. Established to combat food insecurity in Aston Township, it serves forty to fifty families each month with a complete order of fresh produce, eggs, proteins, non-perishable canned goods, personal hygiene items, and paper products. Distribution happens on most third Saturdays of the month. Setup begins at 8:00 AM and distribution runs from 9:00 to 11:30 AM, with families moving through a station-style selection process and youth volunteers serving as "runners" who push carts and load food into cars. For Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions, every participant receives a turkey or ham in addition to the regular items. The pantry is funded by the congregation and supported by the Aston Township Lions, Aston Township Lioness, Aston Elementary School, the Chester Postal Service, and local businesses and markets.
A few weeks after the pantry began, a clothing ministry called Angel's Closet was added. Gently used clothing donated by the congregation and community is arranged by size and gender, with sizes from newborn to adult. Each year a Winter Clothing Drive collects coats, jackets, blankets, and warm socks. Families receiving Bread of Life assistance are invited to select clothing from Angel's Closet. Anyone interested in receiving food assistance can call 610-459-9875 and leave a message, while those who want to volunteer can call the church office at 610-459-0248.
Music Ministry
Music at Mount Hope is split between two ensembles matched to the two Sunday services. The Sanctuary Choir performs at the 9:00 AM Traditional Service, offering time-honored hymns and anthems. The Praise Band leads the 10:15 AM Contemporary Service, playing current worship songs in an upbeat setting. Both ensembles are central to their respective services and offer ways for musicians to serve.
Life Groups and Grief Support
Mount Hope's Life Groups ministry offers several weekly or biweekly gatherings designed to put people in study and fellowship with one another. The Men's Fellowship meets the first and third Mondays at 7:00 PM in Room 102. The Kelli Girls meet the first and third Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Lounge. The Belonging Group for Women gathers every other Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the Lounge for Bible study. A home-based Life Group meets selected Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Rodgers' home for Bible study using Adam Hamilton's Unafraid. GriefShare, a support program for those who have lost a loved one, meets Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the Lounge and is facilitated by Pastor Joanne. The Seeker Sunday School class meets at 10:15 AM in the Lounge for a study tied to the current sermon series.
Sermons and Online Worship
The current sermon series walks through the book of Genesis, with messages covering Creation, Noah and the Flood, God's Promise to Abraham, Isaac Born to Sarah, the Binding of Isaac, and Jacob's Dream, each drawing on listed scripture passages. Sunday services are livestreamed on the church's Facebook page, and sermon recordings are available to watch on the church's YouTube channel and to listen to as a podcast on Spotify.
Missions and Visiting
Beyond the local outreach of Bread of Life, Mount Hope invests in youth missions. Each summer, the church sends a team of youth entering seventh grade and older to an area of need around the country to serve others and learn more about Christ. The church is located at 4020 Concord Road, Aston, PA 19014, and can be reached at 610-459-0248 or office@mthope.org. Worship is held in the sanctuary at 9:00 and 10:15 AM on Sundays, with nursery care during both services and Sunday School during the 10:15 AM service. The congregation belongs to the United Methodist Church and welcomes anyone who walks through its doors. Tithes and offerings can be given online through the church's secure giving platform.