Pastor Ben giving the sermon near a prop campfire

The Children’s Sermon

The Lector reading announcements

Communion

We apologize to anyone who experienced technical difficulties while watching our service this morning. The sound starts at 15:27 in the recording. We hope you’ll join us for the 2nd part of the service!

You can watch here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=PUPJ...

#UCC #SundayService #Lent #HamburgPA

YouTube video by First Reformed UCC Hamburg PA Staying Awake in the Garden of Gethsemane - Afternoon Lenten Worship Service - Thurs, Feb 26, 2026

Staying Awake in the Garden of Gethsemane

You can view this special Thursday afternoon Northern Berks Ministerium community Lenten worship service at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFUR...

Photo of olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Garden of Gethsemane

First UCC will be hosting the Northern Berks Ministerium Community Lenten Worship Service on Thursday, February 26 at 11:30am followed by a free soup & bread luncheon.

This Thursday’s theme is the Garden of Gethsemane.

More info: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/lent-...

Take a Walk With Us this Lent

The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life

Two options to share in this walk:

Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Beginning Feb 25
Details: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/bible...

Sundays at 9:00am
Beginning Mar 1
Details: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/coffe...

Thank you to everyone who helped make this worship service possible!

Pastor Ben giving the sermon from Hawk Mountain

Ethan reading the opening prayer from a field

Pastor Ben preaching from Hawk Mountain

James reading the scriptures

Pastor Ben took the opportunity presented by the snow day to preach about the Sermon on the Mount from Hawk Mountain!

Thanks to all who participated!

You can watch today’s snow day service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhu...

#SundayService #SermonOnTheMount #UCC #HamburgPA #HawkMountain

Individuals sitting on snow tubes at the top of a snow covered hill.

Individuals sitting on snow tubes at the top of a snow covered hill.

Individuals standing next to snow tubes at the top of a snow covered hill.

Individuals riding snow tubes down a snow covered hill.

Snow Tubing

Our youth group and chaperones had a great time snow tubing at the Blue Mountain Ski Resort.

Due to Snow: Virtual Worship Only on Sunday, Feb 22, 2026

Journey with Jesus up the mountain to hear the beatitudes in our snow day worship service, by clicking on the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhu...

Sunday school, in-person worship, & youth group are cancelled for Feb 22, 2026

The imposition of ashes

The imposition of ashes

The imposition of ashes

The children’s sermon

At tonight’s Ash Wednesday service, Pastor Ben shared the message that while we fell short of God’s Will for us over the past year, God chooses to respond with grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

You can watch tonight’s service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=vthB...

#AshWednesday #UCC #HamburgPA

Ash Wednesday

We invite you to share in worship this Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00pm for the beginning of the season of Lent.

Ashes offered. Holy Communion served, as the last meal before beginning a Lenten fast.

More info at: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/ash-w...

Welcome to our newest members!

Our new members, Paula, Kelsey, Adam, Herbert, and Emma Jean, joining the Church

Pastor Ben after accepting the call to become our full-time Pastor

The Children’s Sermon

The Church Choir

It was an exciting Transfiguration Sunday at First UCC! The congregation voted to call the Rev. Dr. Ben D. Motz to be our full-time Pastor and he accepted! We also welcomed five new members!

You can watch today’s service here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQpa...

#TransfigurationSunday #UCC #HamburgPA

Text from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describing love as patient, kind, and enduring on a red background with the United Church of Christ logo.

❤️ Love is patient, love is kind.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

#Love #ValentinesDay

This Sunday, February 15, we will be:
Welcoming New Members;
Voting to Call a Pastor; &
Receiving Donations of cans of soup, non-perishable food items, & financial donations to support the Northern Berks Food Pantry www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/soupe...

www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/trans...

Discussing the Souper Bowl of Caring during announcements with the children and youth

This morning’s lector reading the scriptures

The Children’s Sermon

The Church Choir performing

This morning Pastor Ben taught us the importance of having a right relationship with God and others. Our world needs us to practice our faith in word and in deed. May each of us be the salt of the Earth and the light of the world.

You can watch today’s service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=z1KU...

Ordaining Elders: Lyndell Johnson & Lari Leiby; Deacons: Cindy Adams, Dan Billman, & Sharon Yelles; installing Consistory: Dan Billman, Lyndell Johnson, Al Muller, & Sharon Yelles; & giving thanks for outgoing leaders: Ann Marie Henne, Michelle Henne, & Bruce Yelles.

www.youtube.com/live/iI0ALL3...

Pastor Ben teaching why we burn the palms

Pastor Ben demonstrating the burning of the palms

Pastor Ben demonstrating the burning of the palms

Pastor Ben demonstrating the burning of the palms

This morning during Sunday School, Pastor Ben explained why we burn last year’s Palm Sunday palms to make the ashes for this year’s Ash Wednesday worship service. Pastor Ben and Sunday School attendees braved the cold so he could demonstrate the process.

#UCC #SundaySchool #Palms #HamburgPA

Ordaining new Elders and Consistory members

Ordaining new Elders and Consistory members

Pastor Ben giving the sermon

The children’s sermon

After all the snow, it was wonderful to be able to come together to worship this morning! During the service, Pastor Ben ordained our new elders and deacons.

You can watch today’s service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=iI0A...

#UCC #SundayService #HamburgPA #UnitedChurchofChrist

Called 2 Care

Session #2 of our lay visitation training program will be on Wednesday, January 28 at 6:00pm.

More info at: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/c2c-2...

Looking for something to do on a snowy Sunday? Pastor Ben and the Youth Group pre-taped a snow day service at their Lock-In on Friday night! Thank you to the Youth Group and everyone who made this service possible!

You can view the service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlly...

#SundayService #UCC

YouTube video by First Reformed UCC Hamburg PA "Gone Fish'n on a Snow Day" - 3rd Sunday after Epiphany - Sunday Worship, January 25, 2026

Snow Day Worship Service

Due to the snow storm, there is no Sunday school, in-person worship, or youth group on Sunday, Jan 25.

During the Lock-In we recorded a special snow day worship service, which you can view beginning this Sunday, Jan 25 at 10:15am at this link: youtu.be/Dlly7_WDqEc

Thank you to all the individual community leaders who came to discuss the needs and resources of our community, and thank you to the Berks County Community Foundation and the Institute for Conservation Leadership for their leadership of this effort.

A fun (and chilly) day on the slopes.

Snow Cancellation

Wanting to keep everyone safe - Sunday school & worship are cancelled for Sunday, January 18, 2026.

Snow cancellation updates can be found at: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/cancellation

Past worship services can be viewed on our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@firstreform...

Children gathered with pastor for children's sermon, with a blue tarp to protect the chancel, and a girl squeezing a bottle of chocolate syrup.

Covered in Sin - Caught on Video

For those hoping there was video from this Sunday's children sermon. There was. You can view it at: youtu.be/BzOjZIxPdI8?...

Youth Group Lock-In — First Reformed United Church of Christ, Hamburg, PA Overnight Youth Group Event in the Church Building

Youth Group Lock-In

Note: The new date for the Youth Group Lock-In is Friday, January 23, 2026.

Info at: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/locki...

Snowtubing - February 15

The Youth Group is organizing a snowtubing trip to Blue Mountain on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

More info at: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/events/snowt...

Lighting the candles

Children’s sermon

Children’s sermon

Children’s sermon

On this first Sunday after Epiphany, Pastor Ben shared that Jesus fully walks with us and demonstrated to the children how sin makes a mess using items from his refrigerator.

You can watch today’s service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=BzOj...

#UCC #worshipservice #HamburgPA

Teenagers standing on green grass in front of a red barn.

First UCC’s Youth Group, for youth 12 years old and up, meets on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month at 6:00pm. Our next meeting is this Sunday, January 11 at 6:00pm.

More info about our Youth Group can be found at: www.hamburgfirstucc.org/youth-group

Children’s sermon

The youth presented a skit about the Three Wise Men

Pastor Ben reciting the Gospel

The church choir

On Epiphany Sunday, Pastor Ben shared a message about New Year’s resolutions and our continued growth within our faith. The youth also shared a skit about the Three Wise Men.

You can watch the service here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=73Ch...

#EpiphanySunday #WorshipService #HamburgPA #UCC