Church Of The Brethren

It was protest against the liturgical formalism of the official church which in part gave rise to the Church of the Brethren in the eighteenth century. However, the Brethren always sought to be an authentic worshiping community, and in the twentieth century that historic commitment has resulted in widespread appropriation of the Christian year. The extent and style of such observance, however, varies greatly from congregation to congregation. On any given Sunday at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania-the county seat and the home of Juniata College-one would find the pulpit, lectern, and Communion table covered with appropriately colored paraments. The bulletin would reflect the Common Lectionary reading for the day. The pastor and choir would be robed with stoles to match the paraments. The order of worship would most likely reflect a theme from the Christian year readings for the day. At the small rural Church of the Brethren less than twenty miles down the ro…