Joy Reigns Lutheran Church

Who We Are

A living, breathing expression of God's joy.

We are a church where all are welcome and we exist that all may know Jesus Christ and become his fully devoted followers. Whether you are new to the church or a long-time Christian seeking a new spiritual environment, at Joy Reigns you will find a community breathing with excitement where we experience the Bible and the Christian faith in life-giving ways.

We will share worship with you through video, contemporary songs and relevant, story-filled messages. We have no expectations that you come with a church background but only that you come seeking to learn about God and his love for you. We all arrive as sinners to be forgiven and so each of us comes seeking a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

We challenge people to deepen their discipleship. We are committed to a mission that focuses on making a difference in our community and in the world beyond. We pray that God will help us catch the wave of spiritual growth God is building among us.

Vibe
Casual, Creative, Down to Earth, Spirit-filled, Friendly, Gay affirming, Inclusive, Multigenerational, Lots of kids, Hand-clapping, Lively, Neighborhood-focused

Programs
Community Service, Faith and Work, Youth Group, Missions, Nursery, Adult Education, Preschool, Children's Ministry

Music
Contemporary, Praise and Worship

Denomination
Lutheran (ELCA)

Networks

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA

Size
Medium

Language
English

Founded
2004

Contact

Phone

(410) 266-5691

Website

http://www.jrc1.org

Our Services

Service Times

Sunday

09:15am - Praise and Worship
10:30am - Praise and Worship

What to Expect

What are services like?
We dress informally that you might come and be comfortable among us. We often stand and clap in praise to God but you are free to sit and just observe --- whatever works for you. We provide lyrics on video (we also have a few traditional hymns now and then) so that you will find it easy to follow along. We want you to experience our friendship and joy, and we pray that you will discover God's presence and spirit in our midst.

What is the community like?
People constantly tell us that they feel totally comfortable when they attend our church - "at home" are the words we hear most frequently. We understand that families come in all shapes and sizes. At Joy Reigns, we strive to be a community that seeks to strengthen family relationships no matter what shape or size they might be. We are a community where children and teens are welcomed into the life and ministry of the church; a place where they find positive adult role models who know their names and are happy to see them at worship and Sunday School or just hanging out. We are a place where singles and couples of all ages find support in times of need and camaraderie amid joy-filled days. We will be there for you as you face life's ups and downs. You will soon find that Joy Reigns Church is much more than a building - we ARE the church for each other and in the world around us.

What if I'm not a Christian?
The best way to describe Joy Reigns is: "all are welcome." So, we know it's not always easy to visit a new church for the first time. In fact, sometimes you might feel like a nonmember visiting a country club. You may wonder: Do I belong here? Am I really welcome? Will the people be unfriendly -- or too friendly? Am I welcome if I don't believe? At Joy Reigns Church we want to make your visit an enjoyable experience, easy, stress-free, relaxing. We designed Joy Reigns to be "user-friendly" for people, whatever their background, including those who have never been to church before. In fact, many of our people were not regular church attenders before starting at JRC. So you are in a majority when you visit, and we want you to get comfortable at your own pace.

Leadership

Sara Yotter

One of Pastor Sara's favorite stories about Joy Reigns involved making paper airplanes with the kids during worship: "During a children’s sermon, we made a paper airplane, that turned into a rocket that finally popped up into a cross to remind us that only God’s love can get us to heaven."