It’s that time of year again — Trunk or Treat is back! 🎃✨ This fall, Grace Lutheran Church and Open Arms Community Church are joining forces once again to bring joy, laughter, and the love of Jesus to families across Bradford, PA.
This year’s theme is “Christmas Movies!” — so get ready to see your favorite holiday classics come to life in the parking lot, complete with costumes, lights, and creative trunk displays that remind us that hope came down at Christmas.
🎁 Event Details
📍 Location: Grace Lutheran Church Community Life Center, Mechanic Street Bradford, PA 📅 Date: October 31 🕓 Trunk Setup: 4:30–5:30 PM 🙏 Opening Volunteer Prayer: 5:45 PM 🎉 Event: 6:00–8:00 PM 🧹 Cleanup: 8:00–8:30 PM
🌟 How You Can Get Involved
We need your help to make this community event shine bright! Whether you’re part of Open Arms, Grace Lutheran, or just someone who loves to serve, there’s a place for you.
We’re looking for volunteers to help with:
Inside games and kitchen
Parking lot monitors
Candy runners
Cleanup crew
Or — decorate your trunk with a fun Christmas movie theme and help make this a night families will never forget!
❤️ Why We Do It
Trunk or Treat is more than just candy and costumes — it’s a way to show our neighbors the joy, love, and generosity of Jesus. Together with Grace Lutheran, we’re building connections, serving our community, and spreading light in a season that can sometimes feel dark.
🎄 Join the Fun
Sign up today to volunteer or host a trunk — and be part of this special night of community and connection. Let’s work together to make this year’s Trunk or Treat the best one yet!
Open Arms Community Church is honored to partner again with Grace Lutheran Church to reach families in Bradford, PA, with hope, fun, and faith.
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025 Location: Kane Area High School (6965 PA-321, Kane, PA 16735)
What is The Story Tour?
The Story Tour is a live event experience built around one truth: “Your story’s not over.” It’s a powerful evening of music, testimony, and ministry, aimed especially at anyone facing a mountain in life—addiction, depression, broken relationships, or simply the challenge of believing there’s more for them.
Highlights of the evening include:
Music by Allan Scott Band, whose lead singer Allan Scott is a former drug-addict turned worship leader and speaker.
Testimony from Travis Habbershon, a suicide-survivor, pastor and author who now lives in Pennsylvania with 16 years clean and sober.
A selection of “God-stories” from around the U.S.—freedom from substance abuse, restoration of marriages, deliverance from depression—offered live and via video.
A welcoming, inter-denominational environment: people from all church backgrounds (or none) are invited to come and receive hope.
“You will leave full of hope and believing that God can restore any situation!”
Why you’ll want to bring others
This isn’t just another concert or speaker event. It’s built around real-life stories of brokenness and redemption. If you or someone you care about is walking through a difficult season—whether addiction, relational pain, mental health struggles or just “I feel stuck”—this evening is designed for you. The website puts it this way:
“Facing unbeatable odds? An addiction? A mountain in your life? ….. Are you the family member of someone dealing with substance abuse? Is your marriage going through a difficult season? … This night was designed for you!”
It also provides a strong opportunity for outreach: invite friends, neighbors, coworkers who might be reluctant to visit a church service but could be drawn to a “night of hope & healing.”
Event Details & Ticket Info
Doors open 5:30 pm (VIP), general admission 6:00 pm, event begins 6:30 pm.
Some testimony and topics may not be suitable for young children—please use your discretion.
Bring your friends, bring someone who needs hope—and come expecting that God can heal any hurt, move any mountain, and restore any situation.
How Open Arms Is Showing Up
At Open Arms Community Church, we believe that hope is something we show up for. The Story Tour isn’t just another event passing through town—it’s an opportunity for us to stand with people in our community who are walking through hard seasons and to remind them that their story isn’t over.
Several of our microchurches will be attending and serving that night—coming together to pray, connect, and support what God is doing through this ministry. We want to be present in the room, ready to encourage, to listen, and to love people right where they are.
Our hope is that everyone who walks through those doors feels the genuine welcome and compassion of Jesus. Whether someone’s coming from a place of addiction, heartbreak, doubt, or just searching for something real—we want them to know they’re not alone.
We’re showing up not just as a church, but as friends, neighbors, and fellow travelers who believe in redemption and new beginnings.
How you can help
Buy your tickets early—and consider inviting someone who might not buy one unless you asked them.
Pray for the event: for Allan, Travis, the band, the testimonies, the setup team, and our church’s team.
Serve on the night if possible: greeting, hospitality, guiding guests, offering follow-up connections.
Follow up with anyone you bring or meet: an event like this can be the beginning of a new chapter, but the real change happens in the days and weeks after.
A final word
If you’ve ever felt like you’re on the edge—maybe you’ve looked at your life and thought “this can’t get any worse,” or “who cares if I try anymore”—this is your invitation to believe that your story’s still being written. The Story Tour isn’t about church-ritual or performance per se, it’s about real lives, broken places, healing steps, and the God who makes all things new.
As the event tagline says: “Heal any hurt. Move any mountain. Restore any situation.”
We are excited to host this powerful night in Kane—and can’t wait to see how God moves through our church body and our community.
There’s something special about gathering around a table with friends — sharing good food, laughter, and gratitude. This November, Open Arms Community Church invites you to our Friendsgiving Community Dinner on Saturday, November 15, from 6:00–7:30 PM!
Whether you’re part of our church family or part of our wider community, you’re welcome to pull up a chair and enjoy a great meal together.
🍗 What’s for Dinner?
Our Community Fun Night team will be serving delicious BBQ chicken. Please bring a picnic-style dish to share — sides, salads, or desserts are all welcome. Potluck vibes, full hearts!
🎬 Cozy Atmosphere
We’ll have A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing softly in the background — a simple, nostalgic touch while we eat and connect.
🙌 Open to Everyone
This is a community-wide event. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. If you’re looking for a friendly place to share a meal and meet people, you belong here.
Join us for an evening of warmth, good food, and friendship as we celebrate the season of gratitude together.
Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA is launching a new microchurch called Hope in Life, led by Angel Atkinson. This weekly gathering is designed to nurture the whole person—spirit, mind, and body—through faith, conversation, and hands-on learning.
Hope in Life meets every Friday evening from 5–7 p.m. Each week includes a time in the Bible, space for group discussion, and an opportunity to practice a new skill. The focus changes weekly, from cooking and sewing to self-care, cleaning, or even understanding emotions. On the fourth Friday of each month, the group hosts a shared dinner, creating an atmosphere of friendship and community.
Angel’s heart for this ministry is to provide a place where practical tools and spiritual encouragement come together. By offering both, Hope in Life helps participants grow stronger in faith while also equipping them with everyday skills that build confidence and hope.
Why Hope in Life Matters
True wholeness touches every part of life. Struggles with daily routines can often weigh down the heart, just as spiritual burdens can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Hope in Life creates a safe place where people can find encouragement, learn together, and discover that God cares about their entire well-being—spirit, mind, and body.
Refer Someone Who You Know
Hope in Life is not just for those who already know what they need. Sometimes the best way to help is simply to extend an invitation. Friends, neighbors, or family members may benefit from a group like this even if they would never ask for it themselves. Referrals are a vital part of this ministry—pointing someone toward a supportive community can open the door to healing, growth, and renewed hope.
Hope in Life meets every Friday from 5–7 p.m. at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, and is led by Angel Atkinson. This microchurch is committed to walking alongside people as they grow stronger spiritually, emotionally, and practically.
You’re invited to a unique fall event at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA! On Saturday, October 11, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, join us for Paint & Praise: Fall Edition, hosted by Engage Prayer.
🎨 What is Paint & Praise?
Paint & Praise is more than just a painting activity—it’s a chance to blend creativity, community, and worship. Together we’ll create a fall-themed painting, enjoy good company, and lift our hearts in praise. You don’t need to be an artist—this event is designed for everyone, no matter your skill level.
🍪 Homemade Treats from Harvest of Faith Microchurch
To make the afternoon even sweeter, Harvest of Faith Microchurch is preparing homemade treats for everyone to enjoy. It’s the perfect way to round out a cozy, faith-filled fall gathering.
🙌 Why Join Us?
Enjoy a fun, fall-themed painting project.
Connect with others in a warm, welcoming environment.
Savor homemade snacks.
Experience how art and worship can refresh your spirit.
📅 Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 11
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Open Arms Community Church, Bradford, PA
We’d love for you to join us this Sunday, October 5th at 7PM for a worship service on campus at the Harriet B. Wick Chapel, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
This special event is being sponsored by the Sunday Dinner Microchurch, a group of young adults who meet every Sunday at 5PM at the Hatcher House (869 West Washington Street) for dinner, connection, and conversation. After gathering around the table, the group is heading over to UPB to host this night of worship — and you’re invited to be part of it!
🙌 What to Expect
Live worship music
A welcoming community of students and friends
An opportunity to pause, reflect, and encounter God on campus
📍 Where: Harriet B. Wick Chapel, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 🕖 When: Sunday, October 5, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Bring a friend, or come on your own—you’ll find community waiting for you. Whether you join us for dinner beforehand or meet us at Wick Chapel for worship, we can’t wait to see you this Sunday night!
Addiction is a heavy burden. It leaves people feeling isolated, ashamed, and unsure where to turn. For Robert Erickson, that struggle was very real. He battled alcohol and opiates, tried to push through life on his own, and even reached the point of checking himself into a psych ward. Nothing seemed to work.
But then, God called him home.
Robert describes that moment as a “slap on the head” from God—when he realized Jesus had been waiting for him all along. Out of that turning point, Homecoming Recovery was born.
Why “Homecoming”?
The name carries deep meaning. Robert says, “I was doing things my way. On my own terms. But when I was broken and had nothing left, God said, ‘Are you ready to come home to me? I’ve been waiting.’”
For him, recovery wasn’t just about getting clean—it was about coming home to Jesus, the One who restores and makes all things new.
What Is Homecoming Recovery?
Homecoming Recovery is a faith-based microchurch at Open Arms Community Church for anyone walking through addiction or recovery. Whether you’re just starting the journey, have been sober for years, or are still struggling, you’ll find encouragement, hope, and practical support here.
Unlike traditional NA or AA meetings, this group is rooted in God’s Word. Each week, the group walks through the 12 steps of recovery using the Life Recovery Bible, opening the floor for honest discussion, sharing, and prayer.
The focus isn’t on rules or requirements—it’s simple: come as you are.
Who Is It For?
Anyone struggling with addiction
Those in recovery who want ongoing support
Family members and friends who want to better understand the journey
People wrestling with faith but open to discovering what Jesus can do
Robert puts it plainly: “Jesus will meet you where you are and when you are ready. He isn’t the one who left—we are. But when you turn back, He’s right there to welcome you home.”
When & Where
📅 Fridays at 6:00 PM 📍 Microchurch Room at Open Arms Community Church (71 Congress Street, Bradford, PA)
Why Come?
Because you don’t have to fight this battle alone. Because healing happens in community. Because Jesus offers freedom, hope, and a new beginning.
At Homecoming Recovery, you’ll be welcomed, wanted, and reminded that there is a way forward—and the way is Jesus.
Pumpkinfest is one of the highlights of fall here in Bradford, PA—a time for families and friends to gather downtown, enjoy the festivities, and celebrate the season together. This year, the fun doesn’t have to end when Pumpkinfest wraps up.
Open Arms Community Church invites you to keep the celebration going with our Fall Movie Night on Saturday, September 27, from 6:30–8:30 PM.
A Cozy Fall Evening for the Whole Family
Our Community Fun Night will feature a seasonal classic movie. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the timeless story, laughter, and lessons that come with this fall favorite.
And what’s a movie night without treats? We’ll have:
Freshly popped popcorn
Sweet candy snacks
A warm, family-friendly atmosphere
Free and Open to Everyone
This event is completely free and open to the community. Whether you’re part of Open Arms or just looking for something fun to do after Pumpkinfest in Bradford, PA, you’re welcome to join us. Bring your family, bring your friends, and enjoy an evening that’s both fun and meaningful.
Want to Lend a Hand?
We’re also looking for volunteers to help make the night special. Opportunities include:
Helping set up before the event
Handing out candy
Making and serving popcorn
Cleaning up after the movie
If you’d like to volunteer, just connect with Angel or Dan at Open Arms.
Join Us After Pumpkinfest!
Don’t head straight home after Pumpkinfest—come on over to Open Arms Community Church at 71 Congress Street in Bradford, PA, for Family Fun Night. It’s the perfect way to wind down the day with a cozy movie, tasty snacks, and great company.
Every year, churches around the nation set aside a special day called Back to Church Sunday. It’s more than just an event — it’s an invitation. It’s a chance for those who have been away from church, those who have never been, or those who simply need a fresh start to come and discover what faith and community are all about.
This year, Back to Church Sunday happens on September 21, 2025, and here at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, we’re saving a seat just for you at 9AM & 11AM.
Why “Life is Better Together”
Our theme this year is simple: Life is Better Together. We live in a world where it’s easy to feel isolated, overlooked, or even unworthy. Maybe you’ve thought:
“They don’t really want me there.”
“It’s too late for me to go back.”
“I’m afraid I’ll be judged.”
The truth is, you’re not alone in those feelings. Many of us have walked through seasons of doubt, shame, or distance from God. But church isn’t a place for perfect people — it’s a family. And in God’s family, there’s room for your story.
When we worship together, pray together, and walk through life side by side, we discover something powerful: we were never meant to do life alone.
A Fresh Start Awaits You
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to come back to church, this is it. Back to Church Sunday is your opportunity to take that step. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to “clean yourself up” first. You don’t even have to believe everything to belong.
At Open Arms Community Church, you’ll find a warm welcome, a come-as-you-are environment, and people who will walk with you through life’s challenges. Most importantly, you’ll encounter the hope and love of Jesus.
Join Us in Bradford, PA
📅 Sunday, September 21, 2025 🕘 9AM & 11AM Services 📍 Open Arms Community Church, 71 Congress Street, Bradford, PA
Whether it’s your first time or your first time in a long time, we’d love to see you. Bring a friend, bring your family — or just bring yourself. However you come, know this: you belong here.
At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, we believe faith grows best in community. That’s why our microchurches meet throughout the week in homes and creative spaces across the region. These smaller gatherings are where real relationships are formed, prayers are shared, and discipleship happens in everyday life.
Here’s what’s happening with our microchurches this September:
Engage Prayer
Every Monday | 6 PM | Open Arms – 71 Congress St Start your week in God’s presence. Join us each Monday night as we go deeper in prayer together.
Promises of God
Wednesdays at 6:30PM at 17 Vista Circle, Bradford A consistent midweek gathering for prayer, Scripture, and connection.
New Believers Group
Every Thursday | 6:30 PM | 65 North Center St, Bradford This group is designed for those new to faith, offering encouragement and teaching on God’s promises.
EmpowHer
Every Thursday | 6–8 PM | Downstairs at Open Arms – 71 Congress St A weekly women’s microchurch where ladies encourage one another and grow in Christ-centered sisterhood.
Homecoming Recovery – NEW!
Starting September 12 | Fridays | 6 PM | Downstairs at Open Arms – 71 Congress St A safe place for those seeking freedom from addiction. This recovery microchurch offers support, prayer, and hope.
Harvest of Faith
Saturdays 2–4 PM | Kitchen at Open Arms – 71 Congress St Join us for a hands-on experience of fellowship, faith, and baking.
Youth Group
Sept 7 & 28 | 5 PM | 869 W. Washington
Sept 14 | (TBA)
Students gather to build friendships, have fun, and grow in their walk with Jesus.
Sunday Dinner (Young Adults)
Sept 7, 14, 28 | 6–8 PM | Open Arms – 71 Congress St
Sept 21 | 6 PM | Hiking Trip at Marilla
A microchurch designed for young adults to share a meal, dive into God’s Word, and live life together.
Tribe of Lions (Men’s Microchurch)
Sept 1 | Labor Day – No Meeting
Sept 8 | 6:30 PM – Forge Night: Basic Home Repair
Sept 15 | 6:30 PM – Regular Meeting
Sept 22 | 6:30 PM – Forge Night: Trauma Response
Sept 29 | 6:30 PM – Chili Cook-Off
Men sharpening men through practical skills, spiritual growth, and authentic brotherhood.
Least of These Riders
Sept 2 | 6:30 PM – Meet at Charlie’s Cycle Shop, Minard Run
Sept 9 & 23 | 6:30 PM – Meet at Robinson’s House, Lewis Run
Sept 16 | 6:30 PM – Men & Women meet separately (TBA)
Sept 20 | 9 AM–3 PM – BTC 5th Annual Cruisin’ to Recovery @ Kane Family Drive-In
Sept 30 | (TBA)
A motorcycle microchurch for riders who want to combine faith, freedom, and fellowship.
New Microchurch Starting!
Later in September, we’ll have a new microchurch starting as well! Stay Tuned for more info!
Find Your Microchurch
Microchurches are where big church becomes personal. Whether you’re new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, there’s a place for you to connect, grow, and serve.
