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26 Feb

February 26, 2026 |

Rev. Robert Luke Mentzer, 84, passed away February 25, 2026, in Orbisonia, Pa. He was a United Brethren minister for 36 years in Shippensburg, Pa.

Celebration of life service: 11 am Saturday, February 28, 2026. Viewing 9:30 – 11:00.

Location: West Side Brethren in Christ Church, 2665 Lincoln Way West, Chambersburg, PA 17202.

Rev. Mentzer cites his home church as St. James United Brethren in Chambersburg, Pa. In 1963, he earned an Education degree from Shippensburg State College in Shippensburg, Pa. He entered the United Brethren ministry in 1971, and for the next 36 years, pastored the Mainsville UB church in Shippensburg. In 1976 he completed the pastoral corespondance course from the Huntington University Graduate School of Christian Ministries, and he was ordained in 1978.

After leaving Mainsville church in 2007, Mentzer served 15 years as pastor of a United Church of Christ congregation in Lemasters, Pa. He served both churches bi-vocationally, teaching social studies, geography, and American history in public schools for 40 years. Along the way he also coached wrestling and refereed baseball games.

Robert and Judy (Marshall) Mentzer were married for 62 years and had two children.

It is suggested that in lieu of flowers, love gifts be sent to his home church:

St. James United Brethren Church

2398 Warm Spring Road
Chambersburg, PA 17202

25 Feb

February 25, 2026 |

One of the most common reasons people visit ub.org is simple: they’re looking for a church.

With the upcoming launch of the new ub.org, finding a United Brethren church will be easier—and faster—than ever.

How to Find a Church

On the new site, there will be an option at the top of every page that says, “Find a Church.” When you click that link, the churches closest to your current location will automatically appear, complete with address, any website or social media information that church has provided us, and a clickable map to help you find directions.

You will also be able to search by church name, city, or zip code to find other congregations.

Results are clear, searchable, and easy to explore.

Whether you’re helping someone find a church near them, traveling and looking for a UB congregation, or simply learning more about churches across the denomination, the new directory is designed to help you find the information you need faster and more easily than ever.

20 Feb

February 20, 2026 |

Last week we shared some information about the new ub.org website that will soon be launched with a new visual layout and easier navigation so you can find what you are looking for faster. One of the biggest changes you will see that will help make that happen is the way resources will be organized.

Currently, all articles live here on ubcentral.org. Our videos are housed on Vimeo.com. And all of our podcasts can be found on the most popular podcast directories (Apple, Spotify, etc.). So, while all of it is currently accessible, you really have to know what you are looking for and where you need to look for it.

When the new site launches, all videos, podcasts, and articles will be available and searchable under the resources tab at ub.org.

What This Change Means

There are a few things to note as this change takes place, the biggest of which may be that ubcentral.org will no longer be operational. All the content will still be accessible and new content will be written, but it will be available under the resources tab on the new site.

Other Benefits of this Change:

  • One main website to remember
  • Easier access to trusted content
  • A consistent place to find new and archived resources
  • Job postings linked directly from the homepage

If you’ve visited ubcentral regularly, the biggest change will simply be where you go—not what you’ll find there.

In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight more updates and show you other areas of the site designed to make your experience even smoother.



13 Feb

February 13, 2026 |

Pleasant Valley United Brethren Church in Lake Odessa, Michigan, is searching for its next senior pastor. The ideal candidate is a person of faith who is an effective preacher and communicator, dedicated to the Word of God and committed to evangelism. This leader must be mature, emotionally secure, and compassionate—someone who can effectively minister to people in crisis while maintaining a strong presence through pastoral calls to hospitals and shut-ins.

Originally established as a Sunday School class in the early 1880s, Pleasant Valley is an historic church with a friendly congregation primarily composed of active retirees who love the Lord and their community. They are a debt-free church with a facility capable of accommodating significant growth. The congregation is known for its hospitality, talented musicians, and community-focused ministries.

The senior pastor role at Pleasant Valley is a part-time position. The church provides a parsonage (including utilities) and a salary/benefits package that serves as a starting point based on denominational guidelines. They desire to grow spiritually and numerically, and look forward to a pastor who will work alongside them to reach their community.

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity further, please send a copy of your resume, a cover letter, and a recent photo to [email protected].

 

11 Feb

February 11, 2026 |

For many years, our current website has served us well. It has grown alongside our ministries, housed valuable resources, and helped connect people across the United Brethren Church. We’re grateful for how it has supported our work and served our churches.

But as our ministries have expanded and new tools have been added, the site has grown more complex. Information has multiplied. Resources have spread across multiple locations. And for many users, finding what they need has required more clicks—and sometimes more guesswork—than it should.

Now it’s time for a change.

We will soon launch a new ub.org designed to present information in a more visual, intuitive way—making it easier to find what you’re looking for and easier to access the resources you rely on.

What Will Be Different?

More visual navigation
Information will be organized and displayed in clearer, more engaging ways so you can quickly identify where to go next.

Easier to find what you need
A simplified structure reduces confusion and eliminates the need to check multiple websites.

More accessible resources
Videos, articles, documents, and tools will be gathered in clear locations, organized around how people will search for them.

Nothing you rely on is being removed. Instead, everything is being brought together into a more streamlined and user-friendly experience.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight specific updates and walk you through exactly where key information will live. Our goal is that in two months when the new site launches, it won’t just feel new—it will feel easier, clearer, and more helpful from the very first visit.

Stay tuned. There’s more to come.