Worship at Darnestown Presbyterian Church offers praise to God through the Word, Sacraments, music and prayer, touching our minds and hearts and binding us into a community of faith. We gather to share the Good News of Jesus as Lord and Savior, to heal and to help, to struggle with difficult questions, and to seek God’s path in a broken world.

Our worship welcomes absolutely everyone:  believers and seekers, young and old, those of different faith stances, racial-ethnic background and sexual orientation.  It is traditional in style, but lively and spirited in substance.  Laughter and joy often bless our services, and the Scriptures are read and interpreted so that people of all ages may come to know God.  We seek to equip ourselves as disciples of Jesus, as His hands and feet and voice in this world.  And we hear of God’s call to follow Him, to respond with faith and commitment, to lift up concerns of those around us and of the world at large, and to offer our gifts and material wealth willingly, thankfully and constantly.

Two services (8:45 & 11:00 a.m.) are held from September through mid-June, with one service at 9:30 a.m. in summer.  All visitors are warmly welcomed, with first-time visitors offered a home-baked loaf of bread.  Some of our services celebrate special events in the life of this church – the return of a mission work team or the end of vacation Bible school.  Special services focus on events in the larger Church -- Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday.  We prepare ourselves throughout the season of Advent for the arrival of our Lord, and we follow Jesus’ path through Lent and Holy Week toward the glorious news of Easter.

Dr. David R. McNeilly and Rev. Tamara Leonard Lara guide our worship, gathering us in God’s presence, reminding us of God’s grace and promises, sharing words of reconciliation, administering the Sacraments given to us by Jesus, and preaching the Gospel.  Their goal is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, so that we may understand and follow in the footsteps of Christ in this current age.

We celebrate the Sacrament of on the first Sunday of every month and on Maundy Thursday, and we provide the Sacrament of Baptism to those whose trust is in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, as well as the weekly proclamation of the word.  All who enter our sanctuary immediately behold the pulpit of proclamation, the table of invitation to the the Lord's Supper and the font of baptism, welcoming all to what is central to our worship.  Children are welcome at every worship service, and we provide both Children's Sermons and Junior Church programmning to provide them with age appropriate content for their faith.  We commit ourselves to nurture those who are baptized, and to seek a community of faith wherever we may be.

Music is provided by our Chancel, Teen, Children and Handbell Choirs as well as soloists.  Music for our service music ranges from classical to contemporary, but is always blessed with good spirit.  The Director of Music/Organist, Michael Hooper, provides a lively ministry of music and shares his gifts for composition and performance.  Choir members share their faith by volunteering their time and gifts, and all are welcome to participate.  Michael’s gifts of music are shared in celebrations of marriage of church members, their close families, and at times others who share in a life of faith, and these gifts likewise uplift and support us at times of mourning and of celebrating the lives of those passing out of this life to the next.

During most of the year, our worship services surround our Christian education program so that all are encouraged in spiritual formation and led to a deeper faith.  Between worship services and after summer worship, congregation members and visitors gather in the Fellowship Hall of the Andrew Small Building or outdoors in fair weather to share news and friendships, food and drink.

You are invited to join us! Come with us on a journey of faith!