The character of the Christ United Methodist Church comes from our founders and is encoded like DNA in our church's personality. John Wesley who ministered in England, Francis Asbury who ministered throughout the Eastern seaboard of the United States and from Jacob Gruber, who ministered here in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Their love for God, which they insisted could only be worked out by their love for neighbor in tangible ways, is the framework for our past, the guiding principle of our Present and the path forward to our future.

Our history is not so much driven by the past so much as our history invites us to receive the gift of our future. The members of Christ Church of former days have lived simple lives, unnoticed by the rest of the world, sought to work their faith out in loving acts towards neighbors near and far. The members of Christ Church today continue this tradition of caring and reaching in the name of Christ to Waynesboro and our surrounding communities. We intend to be a strong presence, living by word and example that we believe in the transforming love of God.

As this is written and published, Christ Church, along with so many churches in the Waynesboro community and in communities across America, is collecting funds for the relief work in the Gulf coast area, hit so hard by Hurricane Katrina. Every day, church members are out and about volunteering at the hospital, at nursing homes and at the Senior Center. They drive to the homes of the sick and shut-ins for Meals on Wheels. They lead Scout troops and ball teams coaching soccer, football and baseball. Church members volunteer to garden the area around the Dove sculptures by the YMCA, help in Red Cross blood drives, prepare and serve meals at the Lunch Place. They serve on community agencies like Head Start and they are volunteer fire fighters. Together, they are a loving presence shining light and hope into the community.

We are not a complacent people satisfied with our past. Our values impel us to reach further and to care in ever-greater ways. We are a biblically centered people who seek to love God and neighbor, to grow spiritually in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and to live as his faithful disciples, so that we might truly uplift and inspire one another, unselfishly love and serve all people and encourage our community to respond to God’s unfailing love as seen in Jesus Christ.

A prominent part of our church architecture is the Good Shepherd window, located on the Second Street side of our building. It has graced the sanctuary and inspired us for 105 years. Moreover, it is a significant symbol of our identity and purpose. Jesus, our Good Shepherd calls all those baptized into the shepherd ministry with him. This is our mission to Waynesboro and to our world.

There is still much work for us in our congregation as well as in the community to live up to our vision. Our world is certainly very different from the one that Jacob Gruber and Nathaniel and Phoebe Wilson.