Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ is committed to proclaiming God’s love for all people as we work to help our neighbors near and far. We do this by serving in a variety of ways:

• Franklinton Center at Bricks, in Whitakers, N.C., is a former slave plantation that was transformed into one of the first accredited schools for African Americans in the South. Today, The Franklinton Center at Bricks is a UCC conference, retreat, and educational facility. Our annual Franklinton Center Work Trip usually includes some general maintenance and painting around the grounds and other repairs as needed. Work is often performed in the community as well. The trip is usually scheduled over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in January.
• Homewood Auxiliary Support uses donations from the congregation to cheer residents in the Health Care Center with items such as televisions, live entertainment, flowers and tablecloths for the dining tables. Hospitality carts are stocked with free items residents may need and are delivered by volunteers.

• Homewood Chapel Services bring worship to Health Care Center patients on the third Sunday of the month a few times a year. Volunteers meet in the Community Center at 1:45 P.M. and proceed to the Health Care Center to wheel or assist residents to the 2:30 P.M. service and accompany them back to the Health Care Center afterward.

• Frederick County Public Schools Annual School Supply Distribution Project: ERUCC works with other community partners to organize this annual event which provides and distributes backpacks and school supplies to children and families with limited resources. Donations of school supplies and money to purchase additional supplies are always needed.
• Heartly House: Male members of the congregation are invited to participate in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®, an annual event that challenges men to literally walk one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes as a way to raise funds for Heartly House and its efforts to support victims and survivors of domestic violence.
• Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs: ERUCC hosts the emergency family shelter several times during the year to assist those in need of transitional housing. Volunteers are also needed to serve at the Emergency Shelter.
• Social Action and Justice: Congregation members regularly participate in community rallies as well as national marches to promote issues of social justice, including LGBTQ rights, gun control and environmental and climate concerns.
• Emergency Response: Our members generously donate their time and talents to travel to places such as Puerto Rico and the Gulf Coast to help those affected by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding and tornados.
• Lancaster Theological Seminary educates and nurtures its students as they are encouraged and challenged in their beliefs and spiritual formation. Students are taught by renowned faculty and build lasting bonds with their peers as they learn, worship, and grow together. Many ERUCC pastors received their theological education at Lancaster Seminary.
• ERUCC Needs: Volunteers are always needed to assist on Sundays. Opportunities include fellowship coffee hour hosts, sound system operators, nursery volunteers, children and youth faith formation teachers, musicians, singers and more. In addition, help with special projects is also needed, including church grounds yard work and digitization of church records.

If you would like to get involved with any of these efforts, contact the church office at erucc@erucc.org or 301-662-2762.

In addition to these organizations, members are always encouraged to serve any of our local nonprofits as a way to put their faith into action.