Welcome to The Park Church,
Congregational,United Church of Christ

There is tremendous variation in how Christian communities celebrate the week that begins with the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and ends with Easter Sunday. Here is how we observe Holy Week at The Park Church: Sunday, March 29 th at 10:00 a.m. – Palm Sunday. We tell the story of the joyous entry into Jerusalem and wave palms in the air as we sing a traditional hymn. Thursday, April 2 nd at 6:00 p.m. – Maundy* Thursday / Agape* Meal. We gather in Beecher Hall at table with

What: " The End I Want" Free Educational Seminar When: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • 12 PM - 2 PM Where: The Radisson Hotel, 125 Denison Pkwy E., Corning Food : Light lunch provided Sponsored by: Alzheimer's Association - Rochester and Finger Lakes Region Chapter, CareFirst NY, Corning Area Chamber of Commerce, and Chemung Canal Trust Company. Registration Registration required : 607-936-4686 Ext. 2 There is no charge for this event. Description Don't wait until difficult dec

What : Service of the Word - Lent-Easter Organ Recital When : Sunday, March 8, 2026 - 10 AM to 11 AM Where : The Park Church Sanctuary - 208 W. Gray St., Elmira, NY What : Community Lent-Easter Organ Recital When : Thursday, March 12, 2026 - 12:10 PM to 1:10 PM Where : The Park Church Sanctuary - 208 W. Gray St., Elmira, NY The program is the same for both dates. Music in the Theme of Love Recalling the many ways we can experience God’s love

Palm Sunday Service : March 29, 2026 at 10 AM Sermon Title : “ Monkey Wrench ” Preached By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church 📖 Scripture : Matthew 21:1-11 Worship on Zoom If you are unable to attend service in person, we offer the worship on Zoom. The audio and video quality of our online service has significantly improved. Follow the steps on this page to join .

Service of Word : Friday, April 3, 2025 at 6:00 pm Preached By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church 📖 Scriptures : TBA Worship on Zoom If you are unable to attend service in person, we offer the worship on Zoom. The audio and video quality of our online service has significantly improved. Follow the steps on this page to join .

Preparing the annual report for 2025 brought back fond memories of new activities we launched last year and new friendships that landed on our doorstep. Having to say goodbye to Peggy Streeter, who was such an important part of our community, is so hard. In recent years, Peggy was part of the kitchen corps who came in the day before Sunday dinners to prepare the feast, and then served us as shown here with the traditional Park Church tomato beef soup. I found this photo in my

I try not to be too much of a curmudgeon, keeping my cynicism mostly to myself. I despise April Fool's Day, being gullible and easily duped. And Groundhog Day... seriously? A German Bear becomes a German Badger then imported by German immigrants to Pennsylvania as a Groundhog? It didn't even make sense in the original cultural context, much less after being morphed into a once-a-year spectacle. (The actual date is tied to the ancient Christian feast of Candlemas, the 40" day

What: African American Faith Breakfast When: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • 9 AM - 11 AM Where: Economic Opportunity Program, 650 Baldwin Street, Elmira Offered by: Alzheimer's Association - Rochester and Finger Lakes Region Chapter Registration Call 800-272-3900 to register There is no charge for this event. Description We invite you to join us as our distinguished guest at this special breakfast event focused on exploring potential collaborations between your faith commun

Monday School Monday, February 2, 2025 at 7 PM Taught By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church Where : The Park Church Sanctuary Topic : “TBA" Monday School Monday, February 16, 2025 at 7 PM Taught By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church Where : The Park Church Sanctuary Topic : “TBA" About Our new Adult Spiritual Formation Program, Monday School. We will expand on concepts you hear from the pulpit, including session

Service of the Word : Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 10 AM Sermon Title : " After the Revolution " Preached By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church 📖 Scriptures : Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11 Worship on Zoom If you are unable to attend service in person, we offer the worship on Zoom. The audio and video quality of our online service has significantly improved. Follow the steps on this page to join .

Service of the Word & Sacrament : Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 10 AM Sermon Title : " Pit of Despair " Preached By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church 📖 Scriptures : 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and Matthew 5:1-12 Worship on Zoom If you are unable to attend service in person, we offer the worship on Zoom. The audio and video quality of our online service has significantly improved. Follow the steps on this page to join .

February 8, 2026 The PHE Annual Meeting originally scheduled for January 25 was canceled and rescheduled for February 8, 2026. What : People for a Healthy Environment Annual Meeting When : Sunday, February 8, 2026 from 2 pm to 4 pm Where : Beecher Hall, The Park Church, 208 W. Gray Street, Elmira, NY 14901 Website : People for a Healthy Environment Film: "The Light Won't Dim" about renewable energy Speaker: Carol English, Cornell Cooperative Extension, about energy efficie

Service of the Word : Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 10 AM Sermon Title : " Faith and Science Sunday " Preached By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church Worship on Zoom If you are unable to attend service in person, we offer the worship on Zoom. The audio and video quality of our online service has significantly improved. Follow the steps on this page to join .

There is a conservative movement set on purging school libraries of books they don’t like. These book are largely about race or racism, people of color, or LGBTQ characters. This is a nationwide movement, and several New York school districts are facing calls to ban books. TAKE THE PLEDGE: sign the petition to help make sure New York school districts know that unwarranted calls to ban books have no place in our state. Go the NYCLU (New York Civil Liberties Union) page to s

What : Meaningful Movie " The Prime Minister " When : March 11 , 2026 at 7 pm Where : The Park Church - Beecher Hall (enter via parking lot door near Gray St.) 🆓 The movie event is free and open to all. 🍿 ☕ 🫖 🍪 Pop Corn, Coffee, Cookies The Prime Minister Prime Minister is a 2025 documentary film about Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023. The film is directed by Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe. It premiered in January 2025 at the Sundan

The Inaugural Performance of Empire State VESTival Voices Concert What : VESTival Voices - Life's Journey Concert When : Saturday, February 21 - 6 PM Where : Concert held at The Park Church Sanctuary, 208 W. Gray St., Elmira Tickets : Register online to buy tickets Suggested ticket price is $10 per person. In order to provide barrier-free access, ticket sales are "Pay what you are able" All ticket sales are used to support the mission and vision of VEST: Empowering every voic

Service of the Word : Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 10 AM Sermon Title : " Our Barbarous Ancestors " Preached By : The Rev. J. Gary Brinn, Pastor and Teacher of The Park Church 📖 Scriptures : Isaiah 58:1-12 and Matthew 5:13-20 Worship on Zoom If you are unable to attend service in person, we offer the worship on Zoom. The audio and video quality of our online service has significantly improved. Follow the steps on this page to join .

What : Meaningful Movie " Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart " When : February 11 , 2026 at 7 pm Where : The Park Church - Beecher Hall (enter via parking lot door near Gray St.) 🆓 The movie event is free and open to all. 🍿 ☕ 🫖 🍪 Pop Corn, Coffee, Cookies Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart "So brilliantly effective — reviving interest in an unjustly under-appreciated American icon! An ambitious and stimulating look at one of the 20th century’s

The Elmira Film Festival 2026 Original Work Featuring Filmmakers, Directors, Producers, Artists and Cast from Elmira, New York. Co-Hosted by The Park Church and Community Arts of Elmira. What : "A Place Called Elmira" (1990) When : Friday, February 6, 2026 at 7 PM Where : The Park Church - Beecher Hall (enter via parking lot door near Gray St.) Admission : Free for people of all ages About : "A Place Called Elmira" (1990) by Director and Producer Margaret Raphael, who creat

What : Drag Show Fundraiser When : Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 7 PM Where : The Park Church - Beecher Hall (enter via parking lot door near Gray St.) All proceeds go directly to the Foodbank of the Southern Tier . Cost : $20 Beer and wine available from Los Ponchos Hosted by Trisha LaMorre and Friends To purchase tickets: Buy at the door OR Venmo @Trisha-Lamorre