Lenten Wednesdays: Practicing the Way of Jesus
2026-03-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Trinity Lutheran Church, 121 S Home Ave, Topton, Pensylvania, 19562, United States
Midweek worship services for everyone—starting February 25
Looking for something meaningful this Lent? The Brandywine Area Churches are hosting Wednesday evening worship services at 7:00 PM, beginning February 25 and continuing through Holy Week. Each week we’ll meet at a different local church, giving you a chance to experience worship in various settings and traditions.
This year we’re exploring what it means to actually live like Jesus—not just believe the right things, but practice the rhythms that shaped his life. Drawing from John Mark Comer’s book Practicing the Way, we’ll dive into practices like solitude, prayer, Sabbath, simplicity, and community. The idea? Transformation isn’t about white-knuckling your way to holiness—it’s about putting yourself in places where change happens naturally.
Whether you’re a longtime churchgoer or simply curious about the Christian faith, you’re welcome. Over six weeks, we’ll walk together toward Easter, encouraging each other along the way.
Where We’ll Be:

Feb 25 – Christ Mertz Lutheran, Dryville
Mar 4 – Hope Lutheran, Bowers
Mar 11 – Christ Delong UCC, Bowers
Mar 18 – Trinity Lutheran, Topton
Mar 25 – Grace Lutheran, Topton (Lutheran Home campus)
Apr 1 – St. Paul’s Lutheran, Mertztown

Come for one service or come for all six. We’d love to have you join us for worship, reflection, and fellowship.

Rediscover the Foundations of Faith
2026-03-22 07:00 - 20:00
Five Sunday evenings exploring what Christianity is really about
Session 5 – Sunday, March 22ns, 2026 via Zoom
Ever wonder what Christians actually believe—or why? Maybe you grew up in church but drifted away. Maybe you’re curious but intimidated by all the religious language. Or maybe you’ve been in the pews for years and realize you’d like to understand the “why” behind it all a bit better.
This Lent, we’re offering “Simple Christianity”—a five-week series that cuts through the jargon and gets to the heart of what we believe and why it matters. We’ll meet Sunday evenings from February 22 through March 22 at 7:00 PM, either in person or via Zoom.
Using N.T. Wright’s book Simply Christian, we’ll explore how faith isn’t just a list of doctrines to memorize—it’s actually a response to the deepest human longings we all share: for justice, for meaning, for connection, for beauty.
What We’ll Cover:

God – Who is God, really?
Jesus – Why does Christ matter?
Holy Spirit – How does the Spirit work in our lives?
Church – What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ?
Scripture – How do we actually read and understand the Bible?

Each week combines video content with real conversation—the kind where questions are welcomed, not shut down. Whether you’re brand new to faith, coming back after some time away, skeptical but curious, or a longtime churchgoer wanting to go deeper, you belong here.
No theology degree required. No dumb questions. Just honest exploration.
Join us in person or online for five meaningful evenings this Lenten season. Wherever you are in your journey, there’s a place for you at the table.

Lenten Wednesdays: Practicing the Way of Jesus
2026-03-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Grace Lutheran Church, One Home Ave, Topton, Pensylvania, 19562, United States

Holy Week: Palm Sunday Worship
2026-03-29 09:00 - 23:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Hosanna! Come to Palm Sunday Worship — March 29
Something remarkable happens on Palm Sunday. In a single service, we travel the full arc of Holy Week — from the jubilant waving of palm branches and the crowd’s cry of “Hosanna!” to the shadow of the cross and the weight of what it cost. We begin with joy and stay for the truth: that the One the crowd cheered on Sunday was crucified by Friday, and that this is precisely where God’s love is most clearly seen. Whether you’ve been in the pew every week or haven’t darkened a church door in years, you are welcome here. Come with your faith, your doubts, or just your curiosity. There is a place for you in this story.
Palm Sunday, March 29 @ 9:00AM
Christ Mertz Lutheran Church • 16 Fleetwood Rd, Fleetwood PA
Phone/Email • 610.682.7664 – christ@christmertz.org

Lenten Wednesdays: Practicing the Way of Jesus
2026-04-01 19:00 - 20:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 50 Luther Dr, Mertztown, Pensylvania, 19539, United States

Holy Week: Maundy Thursday Worship
2026-04-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Come to Maundy Thursday Worship — April 2
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus did something no one expected: he got down on his knees and washed his disciples’ feet. No grand speech, no miracle — just a basin of water and the hands of a servant. Maundy Thursday takes its name from Jesus’ command that night: “Love one another as I have loved you.” We gather to hear that command, to share in the Lord’s Supper, and — if you’re willing — to wash and be washed in an act of humility that is as strange and powerful today as it was then. This is the night the Three Days begin. Whether you’ve observed Holy Week for decades or are coming for the first time, there is room for you at this table.
Maundy Thursday, April 2 @ 7:00PM
Christ Mertz Lutheran Church • 16 Fleetwood Rd, Fleetwood PA
Phone/Email • 610.682.7664 – christ@christmertz.org

Holy Week: Good Friday Worship
2026-04-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Come to Good Friday Worship — April 3
Why do we call it Good Friday? Because we know how the story ends. But we’re not there yet. Good Friday is the day we sit with the weight of the cross — the arrest, the trial, the nails, the words “It is finished.” John’s gospel tells the story not as a defeat but as a strange and costly victory: the one who is crucified as a criminal is, in the same moment, reigning as king. We gather on this day to hear that story, to pray for a broken world, and to reverence the cross on which hung Christ, the savior of the whole world. It is a quiet, spare, and profound service — one that takes the darkness seriously so that Easter can mean what it means. All are welcome.
Good Friday, April 3 @ 7:00PM
Christ Mertz Lutheran Church • 16 Fleetwood Rd, Fleetwood PA
Phone/Email • 610.682.7664 – christ@christmertz.org

Easter Egg Hunt at Christ Mertz Lutheran Church!
2026-04-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
🐰 Easter Egg Hunt at Christ Mertz Lutheran Church!
Saturday, April 4th | 10:00 AM | Rain or Shine!
Grab your basket and get ready to hunt! Hop on over to Christ Mertz Lutheran Church for our annual Easter Egg Hunt — a FREE, fun-filled morning the whole family will love!
Kids will search for Easter eggs in age-sorted groups so that every child gets a fair and exciting hunt. And keep your eyes peeled for the special prize eggs hidden throughout — find one and trade it in at our prize table for something extra fun!
Come for the eggs, stay for the smiles. We promise an egg-cellent time for everyone! 🥚✨
All ages welcome!
📅 Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
🕥 Time: 10:00 AM
🌦️ Rain or Shine!
📍 Location: Christ Mertz Lutheran Church | 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522
Questions? We’d love to hear from you!
📧 christ@christmertz.org
📞 610-682-7664
We can’t wait to celebrate with your family on April 4th!

Easter Sunday Worship
2026-04-05 09:00 - 10:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
He Is Risen! Come to Easter Sunday Worship — April 5
Easter turns the world upside down. The tomb is empty. The women who go to mourn come back running — terrified and overjoyed at the same time. The one who was crucified on Friday is alive on Sunday, and nothing will ever be the same. This is the central claim of the Christian faith, and once a year we gather to celebrate it with everything we’ve got: music, light, words of scripture, and the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper. Whether you’ve been here every week of Lent or haven’t been to church in years, Easter Sunday is a wide-open door. Come and celebrate. Come and hear the story. Come and see what it means that death does not have the last word.
Easter Sunday, April 5 @ 9:00AM
Christ Mertz Lutheran Church • 16 Fleetwood Rd, Fleetwood PA
Phone/Email • 610.682.7664 – christ@christmertz.org

Scavenger Egg Hunt — Sunday, April 12
2026-04-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
🥚 Scavenger Egg Hunt — Sunday, April 12
Think you can find them all? Game on.
This isn’t your average egg hunt. We’re leveling up — and we need YOUR detective skills to crack the case.
On Sunday, April 12, following the morning service, Christ Mertz Lutheran Church invites all youth from 5th through 12th grade to join us for the ultimate mashup of candy, competition, and clues: the Scavenger Egg Hunt!
Hidden throughout will be eggs loaded with sweet treats AND eggs hiding secret clues — pieces of a puzzle you’ll need to put together to unlock words and phrases. These eggs won’t give themselves up easily, so bring your sharpest eyes and your best game face.
Part Easter tradition. Part detective challenge. Totally awesome.
📋 Event Details
📅 Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
🕥 Time: 10:30 a.m.
📍 Location: Christ Mertz Lutheran Church 16 Fleetwood Rd., Fleetwood, PA 19522
Open to all youth in grades 5–12

Mother's Day: Seeds, Breakfast & a Celebration of Love
2026-05-10 09:00 - 11:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
🌷 Mother’s Day
🌱 Seeds, Breakfast & a Celebration of Love
There is something quietly miraculous about pressing a seed into soil — the trust that something hidden will bloom. This Mother’s Day, we invite your family into that wonder together. ✨
Children will plant seeds for their moms 🌱, discovering along the way how new life springs from what is buried — a small, earthy echo of Christ’s resurrection. 🌿 Mothers and their little ones will then gather for a morning breakfast of pastries 🥐, fresh fruit 🍓, and warm drinks ☕ — simple pleasures, shared with gratitude.

📅 Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026
🌸 Activity Begins: 9:15 AM, during Sunday School
🥐 Breakfast: Following the church service
📍 Location: Christ Mertz Lutheran Church | 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522
All ages welcome! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Come for a morning of gratitude and love — we’d be so glad to have you with us. 💛
Questions? We’d love to hear from you! 📧 christ@christmertz.org 📞 610-682-7664

Sequence and Sundaes — A Sweet Send-Off for Confirmation Year
2026-05-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Sequence and Sundaes — A Sweet Send-Off for Confirmation Year
Sunday, May 17 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The last day of the school year calls for something special — and we’re delivering with board games, ice cream, and good company.
Join us on Sunday, May 17 right after worship for a celebration to close out our Confirmation year. We’re talking a rousing game of Sequence and a build-your-own sundae bar that will make skipping breakfast feel like a very wise decision.
What is Sequence?
Never played before? No problem — we’ll show you the ropes. Sequence is a fast-moving, strategy-meets-luck board game that’s easy to learn and surprisingly competitive. If you’re the type who loves outsmarting your friends across a game table, this one’s for you.
Who’s Invited?
All youth in grades 5 through 12 — not just Confirmation students! Whether you’re wrapping up a year of faith formation or just looking for a fun Sunday morning, come hang out.
This is a wonderful way to celebrate the season together before we head into summer and before our Confirmation students are received into membership on Pentecost Sunday.
Event Details
📅 Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
🕥 Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Rd., Fleetwood, PA 19522
🎓 Open to: All youth, grades 5–12
Questions?
Reach out to us at christ@christmertz.org or call 610-682-7664. We’d love to see you there!

CMLC Scholarship Opportunities — 2026
2026-05-28 - 2026-06-30
Christ Mertz Lutheran Church offers two memorial scholarships for students pursuing higher education — college, seminary, or technical institute.
The Linda Potteiger Memorial Scholarship is open to active CMLC members. Applicants submit a description of their career path, recent grades, and a personal statement. Apply here
The Marjorie Bailey Memorial Scholarship is open to any active Christian student, centered on an open essay reflecting on ambitions, goals, community involvement, and faith. Apply here
Both scholarships require full-time enrollment and a letter of acceptance.
Applications are due June 30, 2026.
Award notifications go out by early August.
Questions? Contact the church office.

BHHS Chamber Singers & Treble Choir Concert — Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 PM
2026-05-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
We’re honored to open our doors to the Brandywine Heights High School Chamber Singers and Treble Choir for an evening of music on Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 PM.
Come out and support these talented young musicians. It’s going to be a wonderful night.
Thursday, May 28 · 7:00 PM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA

Baccalaureate at CMLC — Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 PM
2026-05-31 15:00 - 17:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Graduation season is here, and we’re honored to open our doors to the Brandywine Heights High School community for their Baccalaureate Service on Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 PM.
Baccalaureate is one of those rare moments when a community pauses — just before the caps get thrown and the party starts — to take a breath, say a prayer, and send these young people off with something more than a handshake and a diploma. We think that’s worth showing up for.
Proud parents, grandparents who’ve been counting down to this day, teachers who poured themselves into these kids — you’re all welcome here. Come celebrate. Come pray. Come wish them well from the soul, not just the stands.
Sunday, May 31 · 3:00 PM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church

Fill the Truck — Saturday, June 7, 8:00 AM to Noon
2026-06-07 08:00 - 12:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Here’s a simple way to make a real difference for your neighbors in Berks County: show up with stuff.
On Saturday, June 7, Opportunity House is bringing their truck to Christ Mertz Lutheran Church from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We’re collecting furniture, clothing, and household items to help families get back on their feet — and canned goods, cereal, beans, and juice to help put food on the table.
Accepted Items:

Furniture
Clothing
Household Items
Canned goods
Cereal
Juice

Exclusions are:

Electronics
Baby furniture
Car seats.

They will not take those items.
You probably have more than you need. Someone else needs exactly what you’ve got.
Drop it off. Fill the truck. Feed some neighbors.
Saturday, June 7 · 8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA

End of School Year Party — Sunday, June 7, 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
2026-06-07 10:30 - 23:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
School’s out, summer’s in, and we’re celebrating — with Rita’s Italian Ice and plenty of good company.
Join us right after worship on Sunday, June 7 for our End of School Year Party. This one’s open to the whole congregation — kids, parents, grandparents, all of it. We’ll have desserts, snacks, and a chance to simply enjoy being together as we kick off summer and look ahead to Vacation Bible School.
Come for the treats. Stay for the people.
Sunday, June 7 · 10:30 AM–11:30 AM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church
Questions? Reach us at christ@christmertz.org or 610-682-7664.

Come Thirsty: Table Talk — A Summer Dinner Session 1
2026-06-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Summer has a way of scattering us. Schedules go sideways, vacations happen, and before you know it September arrives and we realize we haven’t really seen each other in months. We’ve been in the same building on Sunday mornings — but there’s a kind of knowing that only happens around a table, over a real meal, with nowhere to be for a couple of hours. That’s the gap Table Talk is meant to fill.
This summer, Christ Mertz is gathering for three Saturday evenings built around cooking together, eating together, learning together, and closing with communion. Not a replacement for Sunday worship. Something different — smaller, slower, and a lot noisier.
First up — Session One: The Word Saturday, June 13 · 5:00–7:00 PM
We’ll explore how to actually encounter God through Scripture. Not just read it — encounter it. The Bible is large, complex, and sometimes baffling. But underneath all that is deep wisdom, and more than wisdom: the presence of God, ready to meet you. We’ll offer practical tools to help you read with more clarity — and more delight.
Whether you’ve been following Jesus for decades, or you’re brand new and hungry to know more, or you carry more questions than answers but still feel the pull — there is a seat for you at this table.
Saint Augustine wrote, “Lord, you have put salt on our lips that we may thirst for you.”
Come thirsty.
Sign-up details coming soon.

Jamming with Jesus — Sunday, June 14, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
2026-06-14 10:30 - 12:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
June is peak strawberry season, and we’re making the most of it.
Join us right after worship on June 14 for Jamming with Jesus — a hands-on, all-ages afternoon where kids roll up their sleeves and help make a fresh batch of strawberry jam while we dig into something equally rich: the Psalms, and the raw, honest practice of praying through hard times.
King David didn’t have it all together. He wrestled, complained, wept, and doubted — and then he prayed. Loudly. The Psalms are proof that God can handle whatever we bring to the table. Mashing strawberries turns out to be a pretty good metaphor for all of it.
Trials and tribulations are rarely fun. But they have a way of refining us — pressing out something better than what was there before. Sound familiar?
All ages welcome. It’s going to be a sweet time.
Sunday, June 14 · 10:30 AM–12:30 PM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church Questions? christ@christmertz.org or 610-682-7664

The Bigger Picture — A Summer Sermon Series
2026-07-05 09:00 - 10:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Every Sunday in July · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church
What if the movies we love are saying more than we realize?
This July, we’re spending four Sundays exploring some of the most compelling films ever made — and the ancient texts that saw it all coming. Each week pairs a great movie with the lectionary Gospel, and the conversation that follows might surprise you.
July 5 — The Shawshank Redemption
“Come to me, all you who are weary.” Matthew 11 meets one of the greatest stories of hope ever put on screen.
You don’t need to have seen the movies. You just need to show up.
Sundays in July · Worship at 9:00 AM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church

The Bigger Picture — A Summer Sermon Series
2026-07-12 09:00 - 10:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Every Sunday in July · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church
What if the movies we love are saying more than we realize?
This July, we’re spending four Sundays exploring some of the most compelling films ever made — and the ancient texts that saw it all coming. Each week pairs a great movie with the lectionary Gospel, and the conversation that follows might surprise you.
July 12 — Field of Dreams
The Parable of the Sower. Seeds, unlikely soil, and the kind of faith that looks absolutely ridiculous — until it doesn’t.
You don’t need to have seen the movies. You just need to show up.
Sundays in July · Worship at 9:00 AM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church

Vacation Bible School 2026 — Rainforest Falls
2026-07-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-14 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-15 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Exploring the Nature of God
July 13–17, 2026 · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Grab your explorer’s hat. This summer, we’re heading somewhere wild.
Step through the mist into Rainforest Falls — overflowing with wild waterfalls, towering trees, and colorful creatures. Beneath a canopy of chattering birds and howling monkeys, kids plunge into a lifelong adventure of discovering the nature of God. Each morning is packed with music, games, hands-on science, Bible stories, and big questions about who God is and how we find Him in the world around us.
At the heart of it all is a simple but profound idea: kids were made to be rooted in relationship with God — their creator, their safe place in life’s storms. That’s what Rainforest Falls is designed to do.
Pre-K through 6th grade are welcome.
Spots fill up, so don’t wait! Register Now
July 13–17, 2026 · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church

The Bigger Picture — A Summer Sermon Series
2026-07-19 09:00 - 10:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Every Sunday in July · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church
What if the movies we love are saying more than we realize?
This July, we’re spending four Sundays exploring some of the most compelling films ever made — and the ancient texts that saw it all coming. Each week pairs a great movie with the lectionary Gospel, and the conversation that follows might surprise you.
July 19 — Arrival
The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds. What do you do when you can’t tell the difference yet? You wait. You trust. You stay.
You don’t need to have seen the movies. You just need to show up.
Sundays in July · Worship at 9:00 AM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church

The Bigger Picture — A Summer Sermon Series
2026-07-26 09:00 - 10:30 | Christ Mertz Lutheran Church, 16 Fleetwood Road, Fleetwood, PA, 19522, United States
Every Sunday in July · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church
What if the movies we love are saying more than we realize?
This July, we’re spending four Sundays exploring some of the most compelling films ever made — and the ancient texts that saw it all coming. Each week pairs a great movie with the lectionary Gospel, and the conversation that follows might surprise you.
July 26 — Soul
The kingdom parables. Hidden treasure. The pearl of great price. What is it, exactly, that makes life worth living?
You don’t need to have seen the movies. You just need to show up.
Sundays in July · Worship at 9:00 AM · Christ Mertz Lutheran Church
