CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

History:

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Christ Lutheran Church started as a Sunday School in 1914. As a result of the growth of the Sunday School, a congregation was founded in 1915. In 1962, the congregation noticed that a sanctuary was sorely needed, and the church started to construct a new sanctuary that incorporated the old church. The cornerstone was laid in 1963 and the new building was dedicated in 1964.

The main outstanding feature of the new sanctuary was a large modern chancel window of colored glass dominated by a large circle. The rays of light spread from the bottom of the window up and across the face of the earth. The rays of light suggest that the light upon the altar is indeed the light of the world.

Also, in 1964, the "Luden Organ" was installed in the new sanctuary. Reading Central Catholic High School donated the organ to the church. The original owner of the organ and the high school was William Luden, the founder of Luden’s, a brand of cough drops. The high school was formerly one of his mansions in Reading.

Congregation/Space:

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Today, the church has a congregation of 55-60 people with approximately 200 total visitors using the building per week. The structure is primarily made of brick with some ceramic tile but does not contain much ornamentation. The visitors primarily occupy the main level where the sanctuary, a meeting space, a restroom, and a few offices are located. In the basement, there is a large social gathering space, small rooms for students, a kid’s ministry, and a small kitchen. However, the basement is rarely used because it is not wheelchair accessible.

This congregation has some Spanish speaking members and includes some Spanish translation and song for their services. The current Pastor, Katy Lyon, focuses on continuing to build a diverse membership for the church.

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Programs:

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This church does not offer many programs. They do involve the congregation’s youth in the maintenance and upkeep of the church and surrounding neighborhood. In addition, the church offers Sunday School and summer Vacation Bible School for children and youth. They also have a food pantry on site with Helping Harvest. They host an outside program called 12-Step, which is a recovery program for addiction and behavioral problems.