Methodism began as a lay movement within the Church of England. Its hallmark was the dedicated study and practical application of Scripture by the laity into their daily life, work and play. Methodism has always been concerned with how a person is spiritually formed and in what ways their spiritual formation finds expression. As the twentieth century unfolded, it would bring about tremendous shifts in technology, science, education, medicine, politics and social changes on a worldwide scale. The people of Christ Church demonstrated that unique spirit in Methodism by finding a wide variety of ways in which they have reached out to their community in love and compassion. Informed by the study of the Bible and the writings of John Wesley, the people of the church found it a natural consequence of their faith to reach out to others in need.

In 1917, Woodrow Wilson was president of the 48 United States as Europe was locked in a grinding and devastating world war. As armies tore apart the pride of Europe in wave after wave of destruction, the United States was drawn into the conflict. Every city, town and village in America was involved. From here in Waynesboro, many would be drafted and would serve in the United States military forces, including 52 sons and 2 daughters from Christ Church. They served in a variety of ways and, thankfully, all returned home safely.

For its part, the congregation prayed, looked after families left behind, sent caring letters and packages to those serving overseas, not only from among its congregation, but from the community as well. Quilts and comforters were stitched together to be used in hospitals here at home and abroad for soldiers recovering from their wounds. The Women's Missionary Society purchased Liberty Bonds to aid the war effort. Those serving the Waynesboro community as Home Guards were met in the night by church members bearing hot coffee and something to eat as a way of honoring their service. When the men and women returned home from war, prayers of thanksgiving were earnestly prayed within the sanctuary.

Immediately following the war, the world again faced calamity as the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-1919 swept across the world, including here in Central Pennsylvania. Again, the members of the church were called upon to share the work of mercy in caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the widowed and orphaned, and preaching hope at all times.

The congregation was very active in sharing ministry with other congregations. The records show that there was a great deal of cooperation with the other churches in Waynesboro and often a sharing of service for special occasions such as Lenten and Thanksgiving services. Methodism by its nature has always been at the forefront of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue. The members of Christ continue to support this tradition.

Although the church building was only less than a quarter century old, when the Rev. Edward L. Eslinger was appointed as pastor in 1923, the church was found to be needing a great deal of attention. The inside of the building needed a fresh coat of paint. The heating system was already antiquated, the roof had several leaks, leaving water-damaged walls and ceiling. The carpets were threadbare and by an account left by the trustees of the church, things looked shabby. The congregation and pastor entered into great discussions over the need and the congregation was plainly unwilling to take upon itself the debt that such repairs would require.

The situation seemed to be at an impasse until the women of the church stood up and encouraged the church by giving of their little to the great need before them. They offered their hands and hearts in respond to the need. They volunteered to make soups and jelly and sell them to repair the church. It was their courage to stand and their willingness to work that carried the day. And from this effort, the congregation took heart and, by early fall of 1923, pledges were raised and the work begun. The reward for the faith and vision of these women was that the building was renovated beyond the initial expectations and all debt was paid by the following year. And it was not long before interest in the church was evident in the community and Pastor Eslinger received so many new members that several new classes for children and adults were formed.

The decade of the 1920's proved to be a time of great growth spiritually and numerically for the church. And, from that time onward -and it continues to be a strong feature in the leadership of the laity in the church-- attention to the material needs of the church building for the purpose of maintaining an attractive and welcoming environment is just an ongoing part of our work at Christ Church.

During the years of the Great Depression, Waynesboro was hit as hard as any community in America. But it was also a time of renewed interest in faith. Again, the women of the church organized something that has now become a regular feature in the church -Children's Vacation Bible Schools. Efforts were made to contact the children of the neighborhood and provide food for their bodies as well as for their souls. Many of these children, who are from the generation that author and broadcaster Tom Brokaw has called, "America's Greatest Generation," learned lessons in faith and values that later would sustain them during the Second World War and into that time of prosperity that has been unequalled in America's history.

Still, the Women's Missionary Society managed to raise funds through jelly and soup sales and church suppers to provide funds to missionaries on the field in far-flung corners of the globe. Some of their soup and jelly, as our records show, were given away to those hard pressed to put food on their tables. Scholarships for students were given in this time of economic hardship. Clothes were collected, mended and taken to the Methodist Children's Home in Mechanicsburg for use by the children residing there. The church was a place of much activity for the good of the community as well as for the congregation.

The faithfulness of people in small and seemingly insignificant tasks is what keeps communities together. The people of what was then called the Methodist Episcopal Church of Waynesboro accomplished a great deal simply by being faithful to the tasks before them. Their faithfulness in loving God and neighbor in practical ways has touched so many lives along the way and continues to do so.

In 1939 the congregation had a name change. The Methodist Episcopal Church became simply "The Methodist Church" with the merger of the Methodist Protestant Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South uniting together with the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the reuniting of a "family" long separated by past differences. The merger strengthened the united church bodies and prepared them to have a greater reach during the trial by fire of the Second World War.