Who we are and what you can expect when you enter the doors at Lauvers

Lauvers Mennonite Church, a congregation of Believers near Richfield, PA offering all who attend - a chance to become part of Kingdom Life, to grow in their love of God and for one another within our Christian community. We are rooted in the Word of God and believe worship is something that can be expressed in everything we do. Our way of living is founded on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The church family at Lauvers includes, teachers, truck drivers, medical personnel, farmers, mechanics, homemakers, and families of various sizes and ages. Some of the activities we enjoy together are: softball, canoe trips, volleyball, fishing, hunting, getting away at the church wide retreat weekend and fellowship after services and around meals.

Upon entering the doors you will be greeted by our volunteer door holders. We rotate this ministry throughout the congregation so over time you will have the opportunity to have many different families welcome you as you arrive. We usually begin our worship services singing both modern and older songs and Pastor Curtiss ends our time together by preaching word-for-word through a book of the Bible. Currently we are going through advent for the Christmas season.

Our dress is casual and encourage you to come as you are. No matter who you are, there’s a special place for you at our church. Get in touch today or come and visit us in person.

Lauvers Mennonite Church is a participating member of the Rosedale Network of churches, to mature and multiply churches locally and globally.

Who are Mennonites?

Mennonites are, first and foremost, followers of Jesus.. As Christians, we share the conviction that the teachings of Jesus should be lived out in real and authentic ways. The "Sermon on the Mount" (Matt 5-7) is seen as relevant for the here and now. Mennonites take their name from Menno Simons, a Catholic priest of 500 years ago who broke from the Catholicism and joined reformers at that time.

Beliefs that Mennonites value include:
1. the importance of having Jesus as Lord in our lives through a personal experience of being forgiven, of turning away from evil, and of living a godly life.
2. being faithful to serve as the "hands" of Jesus to serve the needy peoples of the world.
3. having a strong commitment to living peacefully at home, in society, and in the world
4. being committed to living simply so others can simply live.
5. teaching the importance of adult baptism as a voluntary public expression of faith in Christ.
6. being diligent in sharing the news that God showed up on our planet to visit in the person of his Son, Jesus, to call us to the kingdom of God.

Anabaptists represent a stream of faith that emerged 500 years ago in Europe. At about the time Reformers were challenging the Catholic Church, a small group of people in Switzerland were studying the Bible. They came to the conclusion that Jesus meant what he said in the Sermon on the Mount. As a result they emphasized the practice of non-violence and the belief that the church should be a voluntary community. You see, back then church wasn't a voluntary thing. You were born into it. And baptism was used to create a citizen for tax purposes; it wasn't just religious.

The Anabaptists got into trouble with this behavior. They stopped baptizing infants which angered the state, and they re-baptized adults which angered the Catholic Church. (That's how they got there name. "Ana-" means "again," so the name "Anabaptist" means to baptize again). Both the Catholics and the Reformers began arresting, drowning, and burning Anabaptists at the stake for their religious and civil crimes. Because the Anabaptists practiced non-violence, they refused to fight back and instead withdrew from city centers for survival. It was a painful beginning, and they remained distant from mainstream society for several generations.