Bradford, PA – Open Arms Community Church will open its newly renovated upstairs worship center to the public on Saturday, Aug. 22, with a Grand Opening Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, held at 71 Congress St., offers local families and neighbors a chance to tour the expanded sanctuary, updated children’s ministry areas, classrooms, and gathering spaces.
Celebrating Accessibility and Community
Lead Pastor Zoe Hatcher explained that the church has been worshipping downstairs for more than a year because the upstairs sanctuary was not accessible to everyone. “We have a working chair lift to help people get into the sanctuary for worship, and with the completion of our wheelchair lift wrapping up soon, we will finally be able to welcome people of all abilities to worship together in our sanctuary,” Hatcher said.
The Grand Opening includes a ribbon‑cutting ceremony with the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce at noon, followed by light refreshments throughout the day. Volunteers who contributed labor—painting, technology setup, furniture installation, and more—will be recognized for their role in the months‑long renovation.
Dedication Service Scheduled for Sunday
On Sunday, Aug. 23, the church will hold a formal Dedication Service at 10 a.m., led by Free Methodist Church Keystone Conference Superintendent Chris Hill. The service will formally bless the renovated space and mark the completion of the project, which increased seating capacity and added new areas for children, families, and ministry.
The renovation also includes a new accessibility lift that is nearing completion, providing a permanent solution for individuals with mobility challenges to reach the upper level. Pastor Hatcher emphasized the church’s commitment to being a “Church for All,” noting two years of fundraising and volunteer effort to remove barriers for people with disabilities.
Open to All Residents
The Grand Opening Open House is free and open to anyone in the community. Organizers hope the event will encourage Bradford residents to see the improvements made through “God and His people” and to celebrate the renewed space together.
Open Arms Community Church officially began using the renovated sanctuary for worship on Aug. 16, launching a new single‑Sunday worship service at 10 a.m. The church invites anyone interested in learning more to visit its website at oachurch.com.
Original reporting: WESB (Bradford) — read the source article.
