Women from across the Bradford area are invited to join us for a special Community Movie Night on Friday, May 29, at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA.
Hosted by the Engage Prayer and EmpowHer microchurches, this evening is designed to create a welcoming space for women to gather, connect, and be encouraged through a powerful documentary-style film focused on healing, identity, and the love of a perfect Heavenly Father.
Many women carry wounds from broken relationships, rejection, abandonment, or difficult experiences growing up. This event is meant to offer hope, encouragement, and the reminder that no one has to walk through those struggles alone.
The evening will include pizza, popcorn, snacks, drinks, and time together with other women in a relaxed and supportive environment.
The featured film is appropriate for teen girls and adult women, though some sensitive themes are discussed. Parents are encouraged to use discretion for younger teens.
Event Details
Friday, May 29, 2026 6:30 PM Open Arms Community Church – Fellowship Hall 71 Congress Street Bradford, PA
Registration is encouraged but not required.
Whether you’re coming with friends, family, your microchurch, or walking in by yourself, you are welcome here.
If you’re looking for a church in Bradford, PA where you can find community, healing, and hope, we’d love to meet you.
In this message from the Acts series, Pastor Zoe Hatcher continues exploring the early church as it begins to grow, multiply, and share the Good News—while also facing increasing opposition. In Acts Part 4: The Vision of Stephen, the focus turns to Stephen, a faithful servant and the first Christian martyr, whose life and death reveal what it means to be full of the Spirit and to stand boldly for truth, even at great cost.
When the Gospel Disrupts Everything
The early church was never promised an easy path. As the Good News spread, opposition followed quickly.
Stephen, a faithful Jew who became a devoted disciple of Jesus, was accused of blasphemy and brought before the religious council.
Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” Acts 6:11
Rather than defending himself, he turned the moment into a proclamation. He walked through the history of God’s people and revealed a hard truth—they had consistently resisted God, rejected His messengers, and failed to keep the law.
you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Acts 7:53
This wasn’t new. Each time the resurrection was proclaimed, conflict followed. Healing led to interrogation. Obedience led to persecution.
But this pattern reveals something important: simple obedience to God has the power to disrupt entire systems.
Where there is much fruit, there will also be opposition.
A Servant Who Changed Everything
Stephen wasn’t one of the apostles. He was a deacon—set apart to serve, specifically to care for widows and ensure needs were met within the church.
Yet it is no small detail that the first martyr of the church was not a preacher, but a servant.
His life proves something foundational: kingdom practice is just as important as kingdom preaching.
His authority didn’t come from position. It came from how he lived.
A Life Marked by Fullness
Stephen is described in Scripture with a repeated word: full.
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them Acts 6:3
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Acts 6:5
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8
He was full of the Spirit, full of faith, and full of grace and power.
This wasn’t partial devotion. It was an integrated life—spirit, soul, and body fully surrendered to God.
This is what resurrection life looks like. Not just coming back to life physically, but living an entirely new life—marked by love, presence, and obedience.
A Vision in the Middle of Suffering
At the height of the confrontation, Stephen is given a vision.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:55–60
As the crowd turns violent and begins to stone him, heaven opens. The glory of God is revealed, and Jesus is seen standing at the right hand of the Father.
This moment confirms three powerful truths:
The ascension—Jesus is alive and reigning with God
The empowerment—the Holy Spirit gives strength to stand in the face of persecution
The reign—nothing can stop the authority and mission of Christ
Even in suffering, God is present. Even in death, there is victory.
Forgiveness That Defies Death
In his final moments, Stephen responds in a way that mirrors Jesus.
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Acts 7:60
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34
Instead of anger, there is forgiveness. Instead of retaliation, there is mercy.
This reveals something deeper: the way death is faced reveals where life is rooted.
Because identity was secure in Christ, fear had no control.
The Call to Examine Ourselves
This story is not just about Stephen—it is a mirror.
It asks a hard question:
Are we standing firm like Stephen… or resisting truth when it challenges us?
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
The call of Jesus is clear—deny self, take up the cross, and follow daily.
In today’s world, it is easy to surround ourselves with voices that reinforce what is already believed. But this passage calls for something different—to listen with discernment, even when truth is difficult.
Because hard truths are often the ones that lead to transformation.
A Glimpse of What’s Coming
There is a small but significant detail in this moment—Saul is present.
He stands there watching, holding coats, approving what is happening.
But this same man will soon encounter Jesus. He will be transformed, and he will go on to face the same persecution he once supported.
In this moment, he is witnessing his future.
It is a reminder that God’s story is always bigger than what can be seen in the moment.
Jesus Prepares His Followers
This moment connects back to Jesus’ words to His disciples before His death.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:1–14
These words bring comfort, but they also prepare.
Jesus does not ask anything of His followers that He has not already endured Himself. He laid down His life—and He prepares His followers for the same reality.
But He also gives hope: there is more than this life. There is a place prepared.
And there is a promise.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
In response to uncertainty, Jesus gives clarity.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
He is the way—not just a path to follow, but a life to live. To follow Him means to embody His values, His posture, and His mission.
This truth is exclusive—but it is also an open invitation to all.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
Humanity carries both the image of God and the reality of sin. There is a need for a cure—and Jesus is that cure.
This truth is not meant to condemn. It is meant to invite.
An Invitation, Not a Weapon
Jesus never used truth to force or shame people into following Him.
He invited.
And that same posture is the model. Truth should be spoken boldly—but always with grace.
Because not everyone will receive it.
Stephen spoke truth in love—and it cost him his life.
The question is whether that kind of boldness still exists today.
God Has Space for You
At the heart of this message is a powerful reminder:
God has space.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? John 14:2
There is room in His house—for every person, every story, every unfinished life.
The gospel is both deeply personal and widely inclusive. A place is prepared individually, and yet there are many rooms.
Unexpected people become family.
There Is No Other Stream
The closing image brings everything into focus.
There is no other source of life.
No other path that satisfies. No other truth that saves.
Only Jesus.
The invitation remains:
Come and drink.
Not when everything is figured out. Not when life is cleaned up. Now.
Take Your Next Step
If this message spoke to you, don’t let it stop here.
There’s a lot happening at Open Arms right now—and it’s all moving us closer to what’s next.
Construction crews have been hard at work preparing the shaft for the new lift. This is a big step in making our building more accessible for everyone, and we’re excited to see the progress taking shape. The work is moving along well, and the lift installation is expected to be completed soon.
Please Help Us Keep Everyone Safe
While construction is underway, we need your help to keep everyone safe.
For the time being, please steer clear of all construction areas, including the sanctuary and overflow spaces. These areas are active work zones, and limiting foot traffic helps protect both our church family and the crews doing the work.
We’ll let you know as soon as those spaces are ready to be used again.
Church Work Day – This Saturday (April 25, 9 AM – 4 PM)
As we get closer to moving back into the sanctuary, we’re hosting a Church Work Day this Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM—and we’d love your help.
There are plenty of projects to tackle both inside the building and around the church grounds. Whether you can stay all day or just come for an hour or two, every bit of help makes a difference.
This is a great opportunity to:
Pitch in and be part of the process
Help prepare our spaces for what’s next
Connect with others as we work side by side
No special skills are required—just a willingness to jump in and help.
We’re grateful for the way our church family continues to show up, serve, and support one another through this season. The progress we’re seeing isn’t just about construction—it’s about creating space for people to encounter Jesus, find community, and grow.
If you have any questions about the project or the work day, feel free to reach out.
There are moments when the Church is invited to step outside its normal rhythm and seek God together in a deeper way.
This is one of those moments.
On Friday, April 24 at 7:00 PM, we’re inviting you to join us for an Awakening Service at Ignite Church — just a few minutes down the road from Bradford.
This isn’t just another event. It’s an intentional time to gather with other believers across our region to pray, worship, and ask God to move in a fresh way.
What Is an Awakening Service?
Across theFree Methodist Church USA, there’s a shared desire to see a Spirit-filled movement happening in our time—not just in isolated churches, but across entire regions.
Here in the Keystone Conference, churches have been crying out for that kind of renewal.
These Awakening Services are simple, but powerful:
Prayer for personal renewal
Prayer for our churches
Prayer for the communities God has called us to reach
No hype. No agenda beyond seeking God together.
Why This Matters for Us
At Open Arms Community Church, we talk a lot about being “real people helping people become more like Jesus as a family.”
But movements don’t happen in isolation.
They happen when the Church comes together in unity.
This night is an opportunity to:
Stand alongside other churches in our region
Worship together as one body
Ask God to do something bigger than any one church could do on its own
Our Worship Teams Are Coming Together
One of the things we’re especially excited about is that our worship team will be joining with the team from Ignite Church for this night.
That means this isn’t just attending something—it’s participating in something together.
Different churches. One voice. One purpose.
Event Details
Awakening Service at Ignite Church 📍 Ignite Church 📍 31 Lafayette Ave., Lewis Run, PA 16738 🗓 Friday, April 24, 2026 🕖 7:00 PM
Come Expecting Something
We’re not going to manufacture a moment.
But we are going to show up expectant.
Expecting that when people gather in prayer… When worship is lifted together… When hearts are open…
God moves.
Let’s Go Together
We don’t want this to be something you hear about afterward.
We want you there with us.
Make space in your schedule. Invite someone to come with you. And come ready to seek God alongside your church family and others across our region.
This is part of what God is doing—not just in one church, but across Bradford, Lewis Run, and beyond.
In this first message of our new Acts series at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Pastor Zoe Hatcher invites us into the moments right after the resurrection of Jesus—when everything had changed, but the disciples didn’t yet know what to do next. As a church in Bradford PA committed to helping people follow Jesus, this message sets the foundation for understanding how the early church moved from fear to bold faith—and how that same power is still at work today.
🎥 Watch the Full Message
Jesus Is Risen… Now What?
The resurrection of Jesus changed everything.
The disciples had watched Him die. They knew He was gone. And yet, suddenly, He was standing among them again—alive. The reality of the resurrection wasn’t just surprising; it was overwhelming. Fear, confusion, and doubt filled the room.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.23If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20:19–23
Each time Jesus appeared, He spoke the same words: “Peace be with you.”
This was more than a greeting. It was reassurance. It was a reminder that the One standing before them was not a ghost, not an illusion—but the risen Savior. The wounds in His hands and side confirmed it. The fear in the room began to give way to something else.
Then came the calling.
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
The resurrection wasn’t just something to believe—it was something that demanded a response.
The Holy Spirit: Power for the Mission
The disciples were not sent out alone.
Jesus knew that what He was calling them to do was impossible in their own strength. So He gave them the Holy Spirit—the source of strength, direction, truth, and comfort.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:26–27
The same Spirit that was promised before the cross was now being given after the resurrection. The peace Jesus spoke over them was not temporary—it was sustained through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Without the Spirit, the mission would fail. With the Spirit, everything would change.
Doubt Is Not the End of the Story
Not everyone believed right away.
Thomas is often remembered for his doubt, but he was not alone. The resurrection was difficult to grasp. It went against everything they understood about death.
4Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:24–29
Yet Jesus did not reject Thomas. He met him.
He invited him to see. To touch. To believe.
And in that moment, doubt gave way to faith.
But the blessing that followed reaches even further:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Faith was never meant to depend on sight.
From Fear to Boldness
At first, the disciples hid behind locked doors.
But that didn’t last.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they stepped out into the open. The same people who had been afraid were now filled with boldness.
Peter stood before the crowd and preached.
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” ’
Acts 2:14, 22–35
He didn’t soften the message. He didn’t avoid the truth. He boldly declared that Jesus had been crucified—and that God had raised Him from the dead.
“It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
The resurrection was not just an event—it was a victory.
Come and See. Go and Tell.
Jesus invites His followers into two movements:
Come and see. Go and tell.
The disciples were witnesses. They didn’t speak about what they didn’t know—they testified to what they had experienced.
That same pattern remains.
Faith is not about having all the answers. It is about bearing witness to what God has done.
Faith Without Sight
The message of the resurrection spread even after Jesus was no longer physically present.
This created a tension: how could people believe without seeing?
The answer is found in testimony.
The disciples testified. The Scriptures testified. And the Holy Spirit continues to testify.
15One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15
For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 1 John 5:7–10
The resurrection is not proven by human standards—it is revealed through the witness of God Himself.
And that witness is still active today.
The Resurrection Was Always the Plan
Peter didn’t point people to himself.
He pointed them to Scripture.
8I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:8–11
Long before the resurrection, God had already spoken through David about the One who would not see decay.
The resurrection of Jesus was not an interruption in history—it was the fulfillment of God’s plan.
This reminds us that faith is not rooted in human voices, but in the faithfulness of God.
A Living Hope
The resurrection is not just something that happened—it is something that is still happening.
Through Jesus, there is a living hope.
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3–9
Even without seeing Him, there is joy. Even without physical proof, there is confidence. Even in trials, there is hope.
This is the kind of faith that sustains.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Belief without sight is not a weakness—it is a greater faith.
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
The early Christians believed without seeing. And in that belief, they experienced deep, unshakable joy.
The same invitation is extended today.
Glad Hearts and Bold Faith
The first Christians didn’t have everything figured out.
But they had something powerful:
Glad hearts. Bold faith.
They trusted what God had done. They relied on the Holy Spirit. They stepped out in courage.
And because of that, the world was changed.
The same Spirit is still moving. The same resurrection power is still at work. The same call remains:
Have you ever found yourself in complete darkness?
Not the kind when you close your eyes or turn off the lights… but real darkness. The kind that feels like utter despair. A solid black hole where you don’t know how you’re going to climb out—or if you even can. A weight so heavy it paralyzes you… something so overwhelming you feel like you can’t even breathe.
This, my church family, is grief.
When Grief Takes Over
When I lost my father, I felt this.
God had restored our relationship, and over the last few years, we had become extremely close. Then he was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. His fight became my fight.
I quit my job so I could be with him. Day in and day out, for months, we went to the hospital for chemotherapy—three days a week. We spent hours together while he was hooked up to an IV, lying in that hospital bed. I was there to keep him company.
We ate lunch together. We watched episode after episode of Law & Order. We read the Bible. We talked.
And if I’m being honest… we avoided the reality. We were both terrified.
Then came five weeks of daily radiation. More long hours in Olean while he went through treatment. I wasn’t allowed in the room with him, but I did what I could. I pulled a chair up right outside the door so I would be the last thing he saw before they closed it—and the first thing he saw when it opened.
For five hours at a time, I sat there.
No bathroom breaks. No getting food. No distractions.
I did what he had to do… I stayed.
When Everything Changes in an Instant
A few years later, everything changed.
He was at home, changing a light bulb. He didn’t want to bother me while I was at work. The chair slipped out from under him, and he fell—headfirst onto the concrete floor.
He waited a few days, but the headache only got worse. Eventually, I took him to the ER. They admitted him with a concussion.
I knew something wasn’t right.
Three days later, he was unresponsive—like he was in a coma. Four days later, he was gone.
A hematoma on his brain had caused a stroke.
They had graciously placed us in a hospice room… but he never recovered.
He held me when I took my first breath.
And I held him as he took his last.
The Sound of Grief
I couldn’t think.
All I could do was scream.
I thought it was silent… but later I found out it wasn’t. My cries echoed through the hospital floor. No one tried to quiet me. Some of the nurses just stood there and cried with me. It was all they could do.
It felt like my life had been ripped out of me.
I fell into that black hole.
Life as I knew it would never be the same… and neither would I.
The Darkness of Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday feels like that.
It’s the quietest day of Holy Week.
Jesus is in the tomb. The disciples are scattered. Hope feels buried. Heaven seems silent.
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph… Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb.” — Matthew 27:57-60
Everything feels final.
Everything feels lost.
And yet… this is not the end.
God in the Middle of the Darkness
This kind of grief gives us a glimpse—just a glimpse—of what it feels like to be separated from God. When shame, guilt, and pain pull us away from Him, we can feel like we’re trapped in that same darkness.
We let our emotions lead us into a place so deep and so dark that we start to believe we can’t come back. That we’ve gone too far. That maybe even God can’t love us anymore.
But that is not true.
When we reach that place of despair—and we all do—we have to reach out and take hold of His hand.
He is faithful.
He will pull us out of that pit. He will clean us up. He never left us—not for a second. He is right there in the middle of it, feeling what we feel, holding us as we cry.
“For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.” — Lamentations 3:31–32
Even in the silence… God is still working.
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5
Come Home
So my friends… this Lenten season is about our living God.
A God so loving and so forgiving that even in what feels like your darkest sin, He is still reaching for you. He is still calling you. He is still ready to wrap His arms around you and say, “Come on in.”
Are you broken?
Are you overwhelmed with grief?
Are you facing something that makes you feel like you can’t go on?
Come.
Come to the Father.
He is waiting for you.
The God who died, was buried, and rose again… did that for you.
He loves you.
And He is calling you home—today, right now.
If you need prayer, don’t carry it alone. Reach out. We are here for you, and we love you.
There’s something different about a space when you’ve had a hand in building it.
This Saturday, March 28 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA is hosting a church work day to prepare our upstairs sanctuary—and we’d love for you to be part of it.
This isn’t just about getting things done. It’s about preparing a place where people will meet Jesus, find healing, and experience real community.
We’re Getting the Space Ready for What’s Next
Right now, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes as we get ready to move upstairs.
We’re not just moving furniture—we’re building out spaces that will serve people every single week.
Some of the work happening includes:
Setting up lighting, cameras, and livestream equipment in the sanctuary
Preparing the stage and worship space
Installing coffee systems and setting up the coffee area
Mounting TVs and getting tech ready for services
Cleaning carpets, pews, windows, and surfaces throughout the building
Fixing doors, thresholds, and other practical needs
Setting up children’s ministry spaces and equipment
General cleaning, organizing, and prepping rooms across the building
Some projects are already in progress. Others will get started this Saturday. All of them move us closer to being ready.
You Don’t Have to Be “Handy” to Help
There’s a place for you, no matter your skill level.
Some jobs require tools and experience. Others just require a willingness to show up and serve.
We’ll have everything from:
Simple cleaning and organizing
Moving furniture
Helping set up rooms
Assisting with projects alongside others
If you can sweep, carry, wipe, or hold something steady—you’re qualified.
This Is More Than a Work Day
This is one of those moments where the church looks like the church.
Not just a service you attend—but a people who build, serve, and show up for each other.
There’s something meaningful about working side by side. Conversations happen. Friendships grow. And there’s a shared sense of purpose that you just don’t get any other way.
And one day soon, people will walk into that upstairs sanctuary…
They won’t see the work that went into it—but they’ll feel it.
Come for an Hour or Stay All Day
We know Saturdays are full.
Come for an hour if that’s what you can do. Stay all day if you’re able.
Every bit helps. Every person matters.
Join Us This Saturday
📍 Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA 📅 Saturday, March 28 ⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wear work clothes. Bring a willing attitude. Maybe invite a friend.
📅 Saturday, April 4 ⏰ 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM 📍 Open Arms Community Church
Spend time in prayer as we prepare for Easter—praying for our lives, our families, our church, and our community.
Throughout the day there will be moments of acoustic worship, and the evening will conclude with a Tenebrae service—a powerful, reflective service that uses light and darkness to remember Christ’s sacrifice.
Holy Week is a time to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Easter.
At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford PA, we are setting aside an entire day for prayer as we wait in the space between the cross and the resurrection.
On Saturday, April 4, we invite you to join us for a 12-hour Prayer Vigil, concluding with a powerful and reflective Tenebrae service.
What Is the Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil?
Holy Saturday represents the quiet, in-between moment of Holy Week.
Jesus has been crucified. The tomb is sealed. And the world waits.
The Prayer Vigil is an opportunity to step into that moment—to pause, pray, and reflect on what Christ has done.
Throughout the day, the church will be open for people to come and go as they are able.
You can come for:
• A few minutes of quiet prayer • An hour of focused reflection • Or stay longer as part of the day
We will be intentionally praying for:
• Our personal lives • Our families • Our church • Our community
There will also be times of acoustic worship throughout the day, creating space to reflect, worship, and seek God together.
This is not a rigid, structured service for most of the day, but a space set aside for prayer, worship, and connection with God.
Prayer Vigil Details
📅 Saturday, April 4 ⏰ 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM 📍 Open Arms Community Church
Come for part of the day or the entire time.
What Is a Tenebrae Service?
The day will conclude with a Tenebrae service from 7:00–8:00 PM.
The word Tenebrae means “darkness.”
This is a traditional service that uses light and darkness to help us reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus.
During the service:
• Scripture passages recount the events of Good Friday • Candles are gradually extinguished • The room becomes darker as the story unfolds • The atmosphere invites quiet reflection on Christ’s sacrifice
By the end of the service, the darkness reminds us of the weight of the cross—and prepares us for the hope of Easter morning.
Why This Matters
Holy Saturday is often overlooked, but it is a powerful part of the story.
It is the space between grief and hope. Between loss and resurrection. Between what was and what is about to be.
Taking time to reflect on this moment helps us more fully experience the joy of Easter.
Join Us
If you are looking for a meaningful way to prepare for Easter, we invite you to join us.
At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford PA, we believe moments of prayer and reflection help us reconnect with God and understand the depth of His love.
Whether you come for a few minutes, an hour, or the full Tenebrae service, you are welcome.
