Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mission Statement
To invite and welcome all people to know Jesus, to provide spiritual nourishment
and to join in God’s ministries so that we will be strengthened to serve.
Upper Dublin Lutheran Church
411 Susquehanna Road
Ambler, PA 19002
215.646.7999
www.udlc.org
9:00 a.m. Classes for ages 3 through adult (during school year)
A nursery for infants through age 3 is staffed every Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Vision Statement
We seek to become faithful servants glorifying God, by leading people to Jesus, by
ministering to our community and world with good works, and by empowering
disciples for Christ.
The Worship and Music Committee is responsible for worship services and devotional aids that
meet the worship needs of the congregation and are consistent with the liturgical worship
practices of the ELCA. Members oversee the format and schedule of regular and special services
as well as instrumental and choral music, altar paraments and communion supplies. The
Committee meets every 2 – 3 months.
Worship Team
There is a place for everyone who wishes to serve God in worship. Whatever your gift and
passion, all are welcome to join the following ministries to serve as part of UDLC’s Worship
Team:
Psalm 108 – “I will sing and make music with all my soul”.
Children’s Choirs, the Chancel Choir, and the Hand bell Ensemble are among the music
opportunities to lead worship. All are welcome to participate!
Luther’s most famous quote on music is this: “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the
highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to all that they
should proclaim the Word of God through Music.”
You are invited to share your talents - vocal or instrumental, solo or group. We have openings in
all the choirs; please sign up on the clip board in the choir loft or contact Carol Evans for more
information.
Chancel Choir (Adult Choir) – Leads worship weekly at the 10:30 a.m. service from September
through May.
Warmups: Sundays 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Regular Rehearsal and Special Music Preparation: Sundays 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Festival Choir (Choir for special festival services and cantatas) – Rehearses Sundays at 11:30
a.m. (after worship)
Voices of Praise (Children’s Choir - all ages are welcome) - Children meet to sing and play
instruments on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. and continue on to Sunday School by 9:15 a.m.
Grace Notes (Ages 3-7) – These young children make music through singing and ringing melody
(color) bells on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. Parents contribute each week to snacks
and a closing game. (Son Room)
Joyful Chimers (Ages 7 - 12) - This group meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:45 p.m., playing
chimes and reading music. (Son Room)
Jr. High Youth Bells (Middle School/Junior High) - Meets Tuesdays at 6 pm (Chapel)
Bells of Praise (High School through Adult) – Hand bell ensemble rehearses Tuesday evenings
from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Joyce Rosenquist and Deena Hopkins, Directors.
Special Solos and Duets - Young adults and high school students are invited and encouraged to
sing in small ensembles.
Christian Education for Children & Youth
Olivia “Livvy” Steffens, Director
215-646-7999 x 102, lsteffens@udlc.org
A ministry for families with children from birth through 3 years of age. Families are provided
with materials regarding normal growth and development of babies and toddlers, suggestions for
age appropriate activities with little ones, and ways parents can create a God centered home for
their families.
Children and Youth Sunday School Livvy Steffens & Karen House, Coordinators,
schlomograndma@comcast.net
Held each Sunday from mid-September to late May, 9 to 10 a.m. This program for potty trained
3 year olds through Senior High School is centered on a core curriculum that provides structure
and continuity in the education and faith journeys of our children and youth.
Group First Holy Communion: In the spring of each year our 5 th Grade Sunday
School class and their teachers, in conjunction with a Pastor, present a Family
Education Gathering about the sacrament of Holy Communion during the Sunday
School hour. This is a wonderful family experience where children and parents
get to rehearse receiving Holy Communion. A Pastor is present to answer any
questions you may have. Families receive packets with all our Holy Communion
resources at that time and are encouraged to read them with their children.
Children also make Ceramic First Communion plates at this gathering.
Special Events Livvy Steffens & various Sunday School classes, Coordinators
Throughout the school year Catechetics & Sunday School students participate in various servant
projects and enrichment activities. Many adult and teen volunteers are needed as we share God’s
love by serving others. All monies and goods collected are donated to charities. These events
include:
Souper Bowl of Caring World Hunger Lenten Offering
School Supplies Collection Chosen 300 Valentines
Distribution and Blessing of Bibles Helping & Serving at Chosen 300
Thanksgiving Food Collection Assist with UDLC Flea Market
Christmas Gifts Collection
Catechetics Faith Journey to Confirmation
Pastor & Livvy Steffens, Coordinators
The Catechetics Faith Journey is a two year faith journey for 8 th and 9th grade students. Seventh
grade students whose parents feel they are spiritually ready to begin this faith journey are also
most welcome. Throughout the Catechetics Faith Journey, Pastors, students and adult leaders
spend time learning, sharing, serving, and having fun while we grow in faith, knowledge, and
discipleship together. The course of study is divided into 3 terms each year: 10 week Fall
Session; Fall Retreat; 5-6 week Winter Session; 5-6 week Spring Session. Discipleship
opportunities of Servant Projects and Worship Leadership enrich this wonderful faith journey! At
the end of two years students have the opportunity to affirm the faith and baptismal vows their
parents and sponsors made for them when they were younger.
This ministry is held once a week during the month of July from 6-8PM. It is offered a different
day of the week each week to make it possible for more people to join us. The evening includes:
dinner with worship, a Bible story, music, and Holy Communion; various centers and special
events where adults and children of all ages participate together. Some of the centers include:
music, arts & crafts, games, snacks, science. Special events have included: a visit from the
Elmwood Zoo, line dancing, Kona Ice, etc. Many volunteers are needed, and all people and ideas
are most welcome!!
Weekday Christian Nursery School Kathleen Vega, Director
215-646-7812, kvega@udlc.org
A ministry of the church which serves children and families through weekday classes designed to
nurture students and provide them with a positive pre-school experience. Curriculum is Christ
centered with children attending weekly Chapel led by pastors. Classes are available for 2's, 3's,
4's, and 5's, with a variety of morning and afternoon offerings.
As we walk our journeys of faith, our ministries for adults are centered on strengthening our
relationships with God and His people, enriching our knowledge and experiences of discipleship.
Please contact Dottie with any questions and/or requests for additional information about these
ministries.
Adult Sunday Class (Adult Forum) Dottie Long, Coordinator,
dlong@udlc.org
Features small group topics and sharing Bible studies. Sessions are led by staff, members of the
congregation, and guest presenters. Gather on Sundays, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., in the Church
Library/Lounge from Sept. – May.
Youth Ministry
Ray Hopkins, Director, 215-646-7999 x 109, rhopkins@udlc.org
Youth Ministry at Upper Dublin is centered on coming together in Jesus Name and is not a “youth
group” for UDLC Members. We strive to develop a welcoming community for any young person
looking for a community where they can explore their Christian Faith, ask questions, develop
meaningful relationships, play spoons, dine together, travel together, and be supported. We are
not looking to make people into what some may think they should be, but we walk with them as
they find the person they desire to be.
Youth Leadership Team
In 2017, we re-launched a leadership team made up of teens who desire to help dream, plan and
run events for Youth Ministry. They also work with other programs and ministries at UDLC and
in the community to find ways to plug our youth into other places throughout the community.
Present Members:
Rhianna Gonzales – 10th - 12th Grade Representative
Solomon Thistle – 8th – 9th Grade Representative
Sum Harris – 6th – 7th Grade Representative
Lucy Niemira – At Large Rep
Emily Joyce – At Large Rep
Junior Varsity
6th through 7th graders come together for faith and fun. Events include on-site Sunday gatherings
as well as off-site activities. We hope that by offering a community for these young people, they
will find ways to plug into the church community and give them a sense of being a greater part of
the community.
Jr. Varsity will gather a few times a year to build relationships with each other and the church
community. The intent is to build a foundation for these youth prior to the movement up to Sr.
Varsity, which is for 8th - 12th grade.
We work to establish a mix of social and service events specific for our group, as well as
gatherings where we include youth from 6 - 12th grade for church wide events, or events where
families as a whole can enjoy time together, e.g., the flea market, church clean up, and meal
packing events.
Varsity
8th through 12th graders come together to connect and discuss everything from faith issues, life
issues, or just find a place to rest with friends.
We gather on the 2nd and 3rd Sunday each month, for something we call "SUNDAY DINNER".
Sunday Dinner is when we gather to do everything from taking part in care packages for
college/military folks, play board games and discuss the issues in everyday life.
Varsity also takes part in events like camping, lock-ins, laser tag, bowling, cookouts, synod youth
events, and every 3 years the National Youth. Most of the offsite events are posted
approximately 6 - 8 weeks prior and registration is done via sign up genius. We like to do a mix
of events at UDLC, but venture off for events like retreats, bowling, laser tag or events with other
groups in the area.
This is our annual summer servant trip to do home repairs in the Appalachian region of the East
Coast. 9th to 12th grade youth and adult participants are welcome to this ministry. Applications
for this trip are taken in early winter, but sometimes spots do open for the upcoming summer.
Helping Hands is a volunteer community outreach program that was established in 2011 as an
extension of our Appalachia Service Project (ASP) program. It is a way to support our local
community in simple but helpful ways. These jobs are typically discovered by word of mouth
through the congregation and reviewed by the adult committee. The jobs must be safe and able to
be supported by youth and non-professionals. The goal is to bring the experience of ASP to our
hometown while providing support throughout the year to those in need.
Member Care
Members of this team accompany and pray with congregants dealing with grief, aging, illness,
loneliness, job layoffs, or divorce. Team members do not counsel, problem-solve or cure. We
contact our care receivers by phone, regular mail, email and personal visits. New team members
are always welcome.
Volunteers hold monthly worship services and communion for 2 local nursing homes.
Luther Woods: 1st Sunday of the month from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Coordinator: Tom Hanko, tmhanko@gmail.com
rd
Silver Stream: 3 Sunday of the month from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Coordinator: Carol Smith, crs804@verizon.net
Social Ministry
The Social Ministry Committee is charged with the responsibility of assessing the needs of our
congregation and our community and helping fill those needs using the strengths and the
resources of the members of UDLC. Volunteers are needed for occasional projects and to help the
committee respond to the needs of the community. Committee meetings are infrequent.
Contribute staple household and food items regularly on the first Sunday of each month for the
Ambler Community Cupboard and Northeast Churches Community Cupboard. Bins for donated
goods are located in the Narthex.
Our "Beds for Kids" program provides new twin beds to needy families. Need donations to buy
these beds and also donations of new or gently used twin sheets, blankets, mattress pads and new
pillows. Volunteers help deliver them on Saturday mornings.
Loaves and Fishes, our “frozen food ministry”, has dinners available in the freezer in the church
kitchen for those who could use a helping hand in the form of a prepared meal. The freezer is
periodically restocked with fresh meals. If you know of someone (friend, neighbor, family
member) who could use a meal to help them cope during a stressful time, please take what they
need.
The Advocacy Team at UDLC is a group motivated to educate, advocate, and take action on
issues affecting the rights and dignity of all people. In keeping with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry
in PA (LAMPA), we participate in and support advocacy around the issues of civil rights, creation
justice, child protection and welfare, economic justice, education, healthcare, housing, hunger,
immigration, predatory lending and racial justice, among others.
“As Lutherans, our understanding of scripture and our theology provide a moral obligation to get
involved with the public debate as a concrete expression of loving and serving our neighbor.”
(LAMPA)
Dedicated to service and fellowship. Meets 4th Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Secular books are selected and reviewed monthly by members. Meets the 3rd Monday at 7:30
p.m.
Evangelism
This exciting team plans and supports the programs that enhance our personal and congregational
growth through the joy of giving our time, our talents and our treasures. A special focus is the fall
Stewardship Campaign each October and November. Recent initiatives include making it easier
to give digitally and the Living Waters Endowment Fund, which receives “legacy gifts” to build
our endowment.
Finance
The Finance Committee supports the mission and ministry of the congregation by managing the
expenditures and the capital of the congregation.
The Committee manages the investments of the Perpetual Care Fund for Rose Hill Cemetery.
Members review investment balances quarterly and meet once a year with the Fund Investment
Advisor to review investment performance, allocations, and liquidity.
Property
The committee plans, organizes and supervises projects that are necessary for the care and
maintenance of our buildings and property. Volunteers with various skills are needed to assist the
committee in its work.
Help is always needed to keep our outside spaces beautiful. Landscaping and seasonal upkeep of
our plantings.
Cemetery
The Committee oversees the management of Rose Hill Cemetery and meets approximately every
6-8 weeks. Members review financial operations to date, and discuss the status of
equipment, landscaping needs, etc. Marketing ideas and pricing may also be discussed.
Ministers
Each Member in Daily Life