The community is welcome not only to take part in Sunday worship at New Beginnings Church of the Cross in Christiana, but also to enjoy a buffet-style meal that follows the 10 a.m. service.

The food is served downstairs in the church's fellowship hall. "People can go through and help themselves," said congregation member Russ Huggins, noting that homemade desserts are offered along with coffee and other beverages. "It's a way to reach out to people. It gives them a chance to (worship), hear the sermon and get a good meal."

He noted that 50 to 75 people eat together each week, but newcomers are welcome. "When he sees someone new, the pastor (Kurt Schenk) will eat with them," Huggins said. "It's a very warm and friendly place. (We) make you feel at home."

Huggins explained that the church opened in Christiana four years ago after leaving a United Methodist Church congregation in Maryland. "(The church) met for a year in Nottingham, Maryland, and then this property came up for sale and they moved to Christiana," he said.

Sunday worship features a sermon, readings from Scripture and praise music. Attendees can sing along as the lyrics are projected onto a screen. "We also have a time of 'joys and concerns' - if you have a praise report or a request for prayer, you can participate in that," Huggins noted.

Sunday school for people of all ages is held prior to the service at 9 a.m.

"People sit around fellowship hall for about an hour eating and getting to know about each other's lives," Huggins added. "Since the church used to be located in Maryland, we have people come from that area. It's a fun thing. We are like one big family."

New Beginnings Church of the Cross is located at 1 Penn Ave., Christiana. The gray stone church is located between Newport Avenue and Pine Street, two blocks from the traffic light at Route 41 and Pine Creek Drive.

For more information, call 484-678-2483 or visit http://www.facebook.com/NewBeginningsCross. Sunday sermons can be viewed on the church's YouTube channel. A link to the channel can be found on the Facebook page.