About Venice Church
Established in 1849, the church has continued to thrive, reaching out to its neighbors and the community. Venice Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church USA and the Confessing Church Movement.
History of Venice Presbyterian Church
Venice Presbyterian Church (USA), and its predecessors know by other similar names, has always met in the same general location. Beginning in September of the year 1849 and continuing through to this day, the Church has gathered for worship, ministry, and fellowship activities along Route 50 in the village of Venice, Pennsylvania.
The original congregation belonged to the Associate Presbyterian Church, and co-existed in the area with the Associate Reformed Congregation of Millers Run that was organized approximately one year later. In 1858 their two Presbyterian denominations merged nationally; and so too did these two Venice congregations merge. Thus on November 8, 1858, the Venice United Presbyterian Church was formed and became part of the united denomination known as the United Presbyterian Church of North America. A century later this UPC-NA merged with the Presbyterian Church USA. By way of one more merger in 1984, there was formed the current Presbyterian Church (USA), the denominational banner under which we now stand.
Venice continues to present the Lord’s truth and His claim upon all our lives. By way of sound preaching and worship, solid Christian education, and energetic activities for children and youth, we joyfully proclaim Jesus Christ—changing lives now and for eternity.
Purpose Statement/Core Values
Purpose Statement:
To proclaim Jesus Christ, changing life now and for eternity.
Core Values:
1. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior
2. Scripture is truth, and is foundational.
3. Always reflect God's love.
4. Use all our resources to glorify God.
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has approximately 2.4 million members, 11,100 congregations and 14,000 ordained and active ministers. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.
Confessing Church Movement
The Confessing Church Movement is a continually growing, unstructured, grassroots, collection of independently gathered churches and individuals within the Presbyterian Church (USA) that have agreed to assert the reaffirmation of three basic confessional statements.
The first is essentially an affirmation of that Jesus Christ alone is Lord and Savior of humankind and none come to the Living God except through Him. The second affirms that Holy Scripture alone is the rule, guide and standard for theology and polity of the Church of which Christ is the head. The third affirms that we live by grace alone and are called to live a holy life in our conduct because our God is holy. Such holiness embraces sexual relations, which are proper only within the context of marriage between a man and a woman.
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