About Us
Sewickley Presbyterian Church is built on a rich history spanning over 250 years. Before the United States was officially formed, early Presbyterian inhabitants gathered and formed a congregation, known today as Sewickley Presbyterian Church.
Our church has always valued our history, community, and families. Our very foundation was built on local families who were eager to hear the Word of God and attend church service. Today, we move forward with the same drive of those who came before us over 250 years ago: to declare the Word of God.
When it comes to worship, we’re what you would call a “traditional” church. We sing traditional hymns with no choir or full band. Our hymns are accompanied by our talented organist or pianist.
Our doors are open to whoever wants to join us. There is no formal dress code. We strive to show each visitor Christ’s love, no matter who they are. God wants your heart!
Mission Statement
We are a Bible-believing church that is dedicated to supporting believers and declaring the Word of God.
Our Core Values
We believe in the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. Some of these include, but are not limited to:
The Trinity: God is three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Christ’s Deity: Jesus was God’s only begotten Son, sent to Earth. He lived as fully man and fully God, sharing in deity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
His Death on the Cross: Jesus was blameless and sinless, and He suffered death on the cross so that He may act as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus rose up three days after His death, alive again.
Salvation Through Faith: All who believe in Christ, by grace through faith, receive salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. From this saving faith comes genuine repentance (turning from one’s sins) and water baptism, just as the Bible describes.
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit, the third person of God, guides and reminds us believers of God’s teachings and His word.
The Bible is the Word of God
As we said in our mission statement, we are a Bible-believing church. This means that we hold the 66 books contained in both the Old and New Testament as the revelation of God’s work. We teach according to the Holy Scriptures because we acknowledge that all scripture is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
All scripture is God-breathed, meaning it was divinely given to human authors via revelation from God himself. Because of this, we hold scripture in full and utmost authority on all subjects regarding morals and ethics, the creation of the world, God’s plan for salvation, and all other forms of knowledge of God’s plan for humanity.
Acting in Light of Jesus’s Love
Jesus tells us to serve others, just as He did (Matthew 20:26-28). The Bible clearly instructs believers to live a life of sacrifice and generosity. Here at Sewickley Presbyterian Church, we take that call seriously by serving our community in various ways.
Meeting the Needs of Families: We have partnered with Mendon Elementary School in Ruffs Dale to help families in need, who may need financial assistance. In this school, over half the children get free or reduced lunches due to high poverty levels.
Winter Clothes Giveaway: During the pandemic, we’ve hosted a clothing drive out of our church. We collected hats, gloves, and scarves for anyone who needed them.
Monetary Donations to Local Causes: The generosity of our congregants has allowed us to send monetary donations to various organizations, such as the Westmoreland Food Bank and Samaritan’s Purse.
If you are interested in helping us serve, whether with your time or finances, please contact us.
Church Leadership
Pastor Karen Kifer (Pictured)
I became involved in church leadership by volunteering for Vacation Bible Study and Youth programs at West Hempfield Presbyterian Church. There, I also served as a Deacon and Elder for multiple terms. After I retired from West Penn Power, I became a Commissioned Pastor with Redstone Presbytery by completing a 2-year Inter-Presbytery Leadership Formation Program.
God led me to a leadership role at Sewickley Presbyterian Church in 2020. With God’s Help, I am dedicated to providing encouragement, support, and opportunities for spiritual growth for people in all stages of their journey with Christ. I strongly believe God established and provided for Sewickley Presbyterian Church throughout its 250-year history. He will continue to provide for His people and stand by us as we face the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Elders: Amanda Albright, Connie Keefer, Twana Maturkanic, and Sharon Williams
Organist: Verna Branthoover
Important to Know
- We are not affiliated with another church of the same name located in Sewickley, PA. We understand that this may cause some confusion when searching for our church online. As stated on our History page, Sewickley Presbyterian Church was founded in 1772. Our name comes from our location being close to Sewickley Creek. “Sewickley” is a derivative of the Native American phrase meaning “sweet water”.
- Our church no longer has ownership of the attached cemetery (Milbell Cemetery). Therefore, we are not able to assist anyone with inquiries or information. To get in touch with the appropriate personnel, reach out to Pastor Karen at pastorkarenk@gmail.com, or at (724) 515-5613.
- When Visiting: Please park in the gravel along the road by the cemetery. It is also important to note that the left front door has no steps to enter the church.