On March 15, 2026, Matt Bye, pastor of Byerland Mennonite Church, joined the community at River Corner Church to share a message on hope as part of the Lenten sermon series “The Way of the Cross.”

This shared series is a collaboration among churches in the LMC Network of Churches' New Danville District, including Byerland Mennonite Church, New Danville Mennonite Church, and River Corner Church. Throughout Lent, pastors are visiting one another’s congregations to reflect on what it means to live the cruciform life—following Jesus in the shadow of the cross.

In this message, Pastor Matt explores the theme of hope through Isaiah 53:4–6 and Romans 5:6–11, reminding us that the cross reveals both the depth of human brokenness and the greater depth of God’s love. The hope found in Christ’s suffering and sacrifice shapes how believers live today.

The Lenten series continues with:
• Repentance – next week at River Corner Church
• Surrender – with Robert Brody of New Danville Mennonite Church

Together, these themes—hope, repentance, and surrender—form a shared journey through Lent as we consider what it means to follow Jesus on the way of the cross.

Subscribe for more sermons, reflections on scripture, and conversations about following Jesus in everyday life.

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On March 8, Pastor Jeff concluded our Hard Conversations series with a sermon titled “We Choose to Accept the Already and Not Yet (Affirmation 5).” In this message, he reflects on the tension that often exists in the Christian life—between what God has already begun through Jesus and what has not yet been fully completed—and how that plays in our unresolved conversations.

Drawing from Scripture and the lived experience of the church, Jeff explores how followers of Jesus are called to live faithfully within this tension. The kingdom of God has already broken into the world through Christ, yet we still experience brokenness, conflict, and unfinished work in our lives and communities. Rather than pretending everything is resolved or giving in to discouragement, the church is invited to embrace the reality of both.

The sermon highlights how accepting the “already and not yet” shapes the way we navigate hard conversations. It calls believers to practice patience, humility, and hope—recognizing that people, churches, and even our own hearts are still being formed by God. When we remember that redemption is both present and unfolding, we can approach disagreements with grace, hold conviction without hostility, and continue walking together toward the fullness of God’s kingdom.

The central affirmation of this final message is simple: faithful followers of Jesus learn to live in the tension of the already and not yet, trusting that God is still at work.

River Corner Church is a growing church community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, committed to worshiping God, following Jesus, and walking through life together. The church values simplicity, shared discernment, Scripture, prayer, and authentic community. Rather than chasing hype or platform, River Corner seeks to cultivate a faithful, Spirit-led community marked by humility, conversation, and encouragement.

Jeff McLain serves as Pastor of River Corner Church and Director of Pastoral Ministries at Water Street Mission. With over 15 years of pastoral leadership, Jeff is passionate about spiritual formation, theological depth, and helping people engage Scripture in practical and transformative ways. His preaching blends biblical clarity, pastoral warmth, and cultural awareness, calling the church to live faithfully in a divided world.

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On March 1, Pastor Jeff preached from Galatians 2:11–20 in his sermon, "Hard Conversations: We Find Our Identity in Christ (Affirmation 4)," examining Paul’s public confrontation with Peter and what it means to anchor our identity in Christ amid emotionally charged conflict. The message explored how fear, people-pleasing, and tribal loyalty can fracture unity when the gospel itself is at stake.

In this sermon, Jeff walks through Paul’s rebuke of Peter in Antioch and the deeper issue behind it: when belonging becomes more important than grace, the gospel is distorted. He highlights how Peter’s withdrawal from Gentile believers signaled division, how Paul stepped into a hard conversation for the sake of those caught in the crossfire, and how Galatians 2:20 reframes identity in terms of union with Christ. The central affirmation is this: we find our identity in Christ, not in our belief systems, tribes, or need for approval. The sermon challenges listeners to confront fear-driven compromise, resist people-pleasing, and root their worth so deeply in Jesus that they can contend for truth without losing love.

River Corner Church is a growing church community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, committed to worshiping God, following Jesus, and walking through life together. The church values simplicity, shared discernment, Scripture, prayer, and authentic community. Rather than chasing hype or platform, River Corner seeks to cultivate a faithful, Spirit-led community marked by humility, conversation, and encouragement.

Jeff McLain serves as Pastor of River Corner Church and Director of Pastoral Ministries at Water Street Mission. With over 15 years of pastoral leadership, Jeff is passionate about spiritual formation, theological depth, and helping people engage Scripture in practical and transformative ways. His preaching blends biblical clarity, pastoral warmth, and cultural awareness, calling the church to live faithfully in a divided world.

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On February 22, Pastor Jeff looked at Acts 15 in his sermon, Hard Conversations: The Spirit Can Create Unity (Affirmation 3), exploring the first major church conflict in Jerusalem and how the Holy Spirit brought clarity and unity amid deep division. The message focused on what it means to trust the Spirit when conversations are tense, and the stakes feel high.

In this sermon, Jeff walks through the Jerusalem Council and the debate over whether Gentile believers had to adopt Jewish law to be saved. He shows how the early church faced sharp disagreement, cultural tension, and theological conflict—but chose slow, shared discernment rather than reaction and division. Through Peter’s testimony, James’ scriptural grounding, and the unified decision of the elders, we see a model for handling hard conversations today. The central affirmation is clear: the Spirit can create unity where it once seemed impossible. The sermon challenges listeners to resist turning personal conviction into universal law, to remain humble enough to be corrected, and to depend on the Holy Spirit rather than on outrage, pride, or the need to win.

River Corner Church is a growing church community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, committed to worshiping God, following Jesus, and walking through life together. The church values simplicity, shared discernment, Scripture, prayer, and authentic community. Rather than chasing hype or platform, River Corner seeks to cultivate a faithful, Spirit-led community marked by humility, conversation, and encouragement.

Jeff McLain serves as Pastor of River Corner Church and Director of Pastoral Ministries at Water Street Mission. With over 15 years of pastoral leadership, Jeff is passionate about spiritual formation, theological depth, and helping people engage Scripture in practical and transformative ways. His preaching blends biblical clarity, pastoral warmth, and cultural awareness, calling the church to live faithfully in a divided world.

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Pastor Jeff McLain continued our series, Hard Conversations, on February 16, 2026, by looking at Galatians 5. Week 3 examines how Paul shows that division can lead us to devour one another. It is important that we learn that being loving is as important as being right.

Hard Conversations Series
This six-week series, Hard Conversations, is about staying present with one another when life, faith, and relationships get complicated. Instead of withdrawing or reacting in moments of disagreement and difficulty, we’re exploring how God calls and equips us to remain united in love — even when we disagree.

About River Corner Church
River Corner Church is a Spirit-led, simple church community of Jesus followers, nestled in the countryside of Conestoga, PA. We are a people rooted in the way of Jesus, shaped by the Anabaptist tradition, and drawn together by a desire to live with purpose, humility, and quiet faithfulness. Though we gather in a peaceful setting, our community comes from all across Lancaster County.

We don’t have big lights or polished gatherings—just a desire to worship, grow, and follow Jesus in everyday life together. We meet each Sunday at 10:00 AM in a simple meetinghouse on a quiet hillside in Conestoga. You’re always welcome here.

We are part of the LMC Network— an expanding fellowship of Anabaptist congregations proclaiming Christ to all peoples.

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Pastor Jeff McLain continued our series, Hard Conversations, on February 9, 2026. Week 2 looks at the way Paul, who once thought he knew it all, teaches us that even with our best tools, we don't know it all. Learning to admit that we only see in part helps us remain unified and effective as a church community.

Hard Conversations Series
This six-week series, Hard Conversations, is about staying present with one another when life, faith, and relationships get complicated. Instead of withdrawing or reacting in moments of disagreement and difficulty, we’re exploring how God calls and equips us to remain united in love — even when we disagree.

About River Corner Church
River Corner Church is a Spirit-led, simple church community of Jesus followers, nestled in the countryside of Conestoga, PA. We are a people rooted in the way of Jesus, shaped by the Anabaptist tradition, and drawn together by a desire to live with purpose, humility, and quiet faithfulness. Though we gather in a peaceful setting, our community comes from all across Lancaster County.

We don’t have big lights or polished gatherings—just a desire to worship, grow, and follow Jesus in everyday life together. We meet each Sunday at 10:00 AM in a simple meetinghouse on a quiet hillside in Conestoga. You’re always welcome here.

We are part of the LMC Network— an expanding fellowship of Anabaptist congregations proclaiming Christ to all peoples.

Send a text

Support the show

Pastor Jeff McLain started our new series, Hard Conversations, on February 1, 2026. Week 1 looks at the important prayer Jesus prays for a divided world and church. What Jesus prays about is important for the effectiveness of the church.

Hard Conversations Series
This six-week series, Hard Conversations, is about staying present with one another when life, faith, and relationships get complicated. Instead of withdrawing or reacting in moments of disagreement and difficulty, we’re exploring how God calls and equips us to remain united in love — even when we disagree.

About River Corner Church
River Corner Church is a Spirit-led, simple church community of Jesus followers, nestled in the countryside of Conestoga, PA. We are a people rooted in the way of Jesus, shaped by the Anabaptist tradition, and drawn together by a desire to live with purpose, humility, and quiet faithfulness. Though we gather in a peaceful setting, our community comes from all across Lancaster County.

We don’t have big lights or polished gatherings—just a desire to worship, grow, and follow Jesus in everyday life together. We meet each Sunday at 10:00 AM in a simple meetinghouse on a quiet hillside in Conestoga. You’re always welcome here.

We are part of the LMC Network— an expanding fellowship of Anabaptist congregations proclaiming Christ to all peoples.

Send a text

Support the show

This sermon explores Luke 8:40–50, the story of Jesus, Jairus, and the woman who reached out in faith while waiting for healing. In this passage, we see how Jesus responds to interruption, models encouragement, and invites trust in moments of delay and uncertainty. This message reflects on faith, waiting on God, and how the Lord’s Prayer-shaped life calls us to encourage one another toward Jesus (Hebrews 10:24). If you are struggling to trust God while waiting for answers, this teaching offers biblical insight, hope, and practical encouragement for everyday life.

What we practice together.
Our small church community is uniquely caring, simple, laid-back, and intergenerational. As a church, we want to be a welcoming, safe, and healing community for those who are seeking, hurting, or need a place to belong. Our practices are contemplative (reflective) charismatic (Spirit-driven), conversational, and informative. The times we share together are intentional, intimate, and a mix between modern and traditional. We want to be a place in which love and honor are lived out, where humility is central, and where hospitality is woven into the threads of our community. There is room at the table.

When we gather together.
River Corner Church gathers weekly on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM to worship and experience God, study the scriptures, journey through life together, and partner with the Holy Spirit. We meet in a simple worship meeting house at 524 River Corner Road in Conestoga, Pennsylvania. You are welcome as you are, just be yourself. There are other times that we hold small groups, events, and more.

Our Pastoral Leader.
As the pastor of River Corner Church, Jeff McLain leads our church community and helps others to think differently about Jesus, life, and everything in-between. Jeff also serves as the Director of Pastoral Ministries at Water Street Mission, where he works with those facing homelessness and poverty. Jeff, Katie, and their three wander-filled daughters look to lead quiet lives. Committed to lifelong learning, Jeff is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Kairos University and completing a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Executive Leadership at City Vision University. These academic pursuits complement the two masters he completed earlier at Fuller Seminary. Jeff has a passion for baseball, boardwalks, beaches, bays, and books, but above all, his greatest joy lies in spending time with his family and guiding our church community on our journey of faith together.

Learn more about us at www.rivercornerchurch.com.

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