About Covenant Church

WE EXIST TO BRING HOPE TO THIS COMMUNITY

The purpose of Covenant United Methodist Church is to be a vital and inclusive
Christian community of faith that reaches out to Springfield, Pennsylvania
and beyond through the love of Jesus Christ to make disciples
of all people through ministries of service, learning, and worship.

Our Essentials

Everything we do is centered around leading people through these four essentials.

Know God

Discover Purpose

Make a Difference

Find Yourself

Covenant seeks to be an inclusive, caring community. We would love to see you here on Sunday, or for any of our events. You don't have to be a member to visit. We welcome all people who bear faithful witness to Jesus Christ or who think they might want to. By all means, stop by on Sunday!

Our traditional-style worship opportunities on Sundays are filled with music by the worshiping community and our various choirs.

On the first Sunday of each month and on special occasions we participate in Communion, the Holy meal.

Children are welcome at our services including at the Communion table, but childcare is also available.

We have communal, silent and pastor-led prayers. During our pastor-led prayer we lift up those we know by name who need God's grace.

We have active learning opportunities for all ages from 9:15-10:15 a.m. each Sunday.

Dress is casual.

Feel free to come a few minutes early for silent meditation and reflection, to learn about events and service opportunities or to get to know us.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Our Senior Pastor

Mark Terry

Reverend Terry came to Covenant after completing 10 years as the pastor at Oxford UMC, in Southern Chester County. Prior to that he was the pastor at Bethel UMC (5 minutes from Camp Innabah), and before that he was pastor of Mount Carmel UMC in St. Peter's Village while attending Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is married to Jennifer, and they have 3 sons.

If Mark needed to sum up his beliefs, it would be that we are called by Jesus Christ to achieve eternal life in this life —that is, to seek the oneness with God that Jesus demonstrated in his earthly ministry. When we can live as Jesus did before us (engaged in acts of justice, mercy, and love) we can experience the eternal presence of God. People can find these moments by accident, or the faithful can join in community to support and love one another, so that these moments happen more and more often for ourselves and for our neighbors. He hopes to see us all engaged in joyful worship and humble service, guided by the Holy Spirit.

A Brief History of Covenant

In 1921 a group from the old Philadelphia Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church saw that a large number of Protestants, especially Methodists, were living in Springfield. A lay minister was sent, and services began on February 19, 1922, at the Old Central School on Saxer Avenue.

This “Community Church of Springfield” moved to its present location in 1924. In 1953 a much larger church building was erected. At that same time the old Covenant Methodist Church at 18th and Spruce in Philadelphia was closing. Funds from that sale were available to a church that would carry on the name "Covenant."

Over the next 15 years our membership and programs grew, requiring expansion of the physical plant. "Epworth," a classroom building, and "Kingswood," an activity center with fellowship hall, music room, meeting and multipurpose rooms were added to the campus in the 1950s and 1960s. A memorial wall and garden were placed in the courtyard between the buildings in 1994.

In 1956 the Covenant Nursery School was founded, and has served thousands of families in the years since then by providing affordable, quality education that prepares children for a lifetime of learning.

In 1979, a 39-rank Schantz pipe organ was installed. A five-octave set of Schulmerich handbells complements the organ and choirs in providing the wonderful music that has greatly enriched our worship services over the years.

The most recent addition to our campus, erected in 2001, is "Wesley Hall," a place for gathering, fellowship, and welcoming new people.

Covenant is a vital church that continues to uphold the purpose it established in 1922. We carry on the rich tradition of ministry, service, and hope that has always characterized this congregation.