Wayside Presbyterian Church hopes its 40th anniversary celebration will float the community's boat.

The festivities will take place over two days, with a "Yacht Rock" concert on Saturday, April 25, and a special worship service and get-together on Sunday, April 26. Everyone is invited to attend the events.

Wayside's house band, Grace Notes, will perform at 7 p.m. on April 25 at the church, 600 Stone Battery Road, Landisville. Grace Notes leads music for Wayside's Sunday contemporary worship as well as playing at free community events throughout the year.

The praise band will perform songs by Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Orleans, and others. "They're doing a secular set of smooth, jazzy, classic songs that I grew up on," said Steve Fritz, who has been Wayside's pastor since 2000. "In the yacht rock variety. Softer rock and roll, pleasing, beautiful. Not harsh and not sappy. Just really loving."

A combined Sunday service will be held on April 26. "We will have some charter members here," said Fritz. "We'll have special music from Frank Richards, who was playing when we broke ground for this facility, played at the 10th anniversary, and has played for many occasions, and will reprise some of that early music with some updated lyrics, celebrating 40 years."

A social gathering will follow the service. "It'll be a stand-up reception for those who are here to get to reacquaint," Fritz said. "We have some folks who have returned after a time away from church, and we've had some new people, often with a young family or older in life. People discover the need for their faith roots to be watered and fed. Our ministry is a neighborhood ministry that grew up, quite literally, with the neighborhoods around us."

The reception will feature finger foods, drinks, coffee, and non-alcoholic punch. "It is a celebration, which is part of who we are, and we do that every week," said Fritz. "It's part of our DNA."

Congregant Deb Kereczman said the initial meeting to form a new church was held in 1983 by the late Gail Benjamin, a former moderator for the Donegal Presbytery (PC USA), and the late Rev. Dr. William J. Brown, former executive Presbyter for the Donegal Presbytery, organized the first meeting for a new church in the Hempfields in 1983.

Kereczman noted that Wayside was organized by the Presbytery in 1985, first meeting at the Silver Spring fire hall and then the former Easter Seals building in Rohrerstown, before buying the land in October 1986 and breaking ground for its present home on the 8.6-acre property in 1988. The new building was dedicated in 1989.

Wayside outgrew its building in 2005, expanding to provide a multi-use sunlit atrium, a Family Ministry wing, a large kitchen, and spacious nursery.

"There's been about 100 people committing to membership, our charter members," said Fritz. "The basic idea was, with a growing Lancaster County, and the Hempfields, and wonderful church ministries already here, a reformed ministry was the vision. Presbyterians in the Reformed tradition, coming out of the 16th-century European Reformation, planted a church here from five different churches. So, we're celebrating that longevity when so many churches start and close up early and some longer churches finish up early. Wayside has continued and is thriving as a medium-size church with a staff and pastorate that ministers to a congregation of about 150."

Wayside took its name from its organizing pastor, the Reverend Ronald B. Fritts, from Scripture in Luke 24:35, "on the way." "The mission of the church is 'Walking with Jesus, sharing Christ along the way,' with a 5-year vision to impact religious decline, become a beacon of connection with families in the neighborhood, and reach the needs of the seniors' population," said Kereczman.

Wayside prides itself on being an integral part of the community. Kereczman stated that the church works with the Hempfield Area Food Pantry providing volunteer staffing, food donations, and proceeds from the annual Waystock Community Music and Fun Fest held on the second Saturday in June.

Wayside also assists Columbia Dream Center, the nearest homeless shelter hosted by its sister church, Columbia Presbyterian, supporting them with needs throughout the year as well as quarterly meals. Wayside hosts free block parties for two major outreach events, including Waystock.

Wayside offers two Sunday morning worship services, with a traditional service from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by fellowship and a contemporary service with Grace Notes from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Wayside will host one Sunday service at 10:00 a.m., with a blend of praise and traditional music.