The Rev. Barry M. Ridge will be the guest preacher on Sunday, September 22. Pastor Ridge served here from 1977 to 1987, during the time when the current sanctuary was constructed. He will present us with a copy of his recent book, A Time to Build, a collection of sermons and photographs related to his time in Downingtown.
Prior to the construction of the current sanctuary, Messiah was housed in a building at the same location, which had previously served as a Presbyterian church, a bank, and a community center. As Messiah experienced significant growth in the 1970s, several avenues for expansion were explored, including moving from its Lancaster Avenue location. Happily, a solution was found when the small shopping center next to the old building came up for sale. The congregation purchased the shopping center (which became the educational wing), constructed a new sanctuary in the shopping center parking lot, and tore down the old building. Additional space for Christian education was added in 1994.
In 1987, Pastor Ridge received a call to Simeon United Lutheran Church in Gratz, Pennsylvania, where he served until retiring in 2011. In 2018, he published an account of his ministry there along with sermons associated with current events, in a book called Church and World. Pastor Ridge and his wife, Hope, continue to reside in the Gratz area.
The services on September 22 will be at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend.