Who We Are

135 Years of
Grace in the Midlands

A congregation rooted in the Lutheran tradition, shaped by Chapin, and genuinely open to everyone who walks through the door.

Our Story

Founded in 1891.
Still Growing.

Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church was founded in 1891 by the Rev. W. L. Darr with a single conviction: that the Gospel is for everyone. Over 135 years, that conviction has never wavered — only deepened.

Chapin was originally settled by German immigrants, with small Lutheran churches spread throughout the rural farming community. Since the creation of Lake Murray, Chapin has grown from farmland into a bustling small town — and Mt. Horeb has grown with it into a multigenerational congregation with deep roots and genuine welcome for newcomers.

We've walked with this community through growth and change, loss and celebration, decades of Sundays and every kind of season in between. We're not going anywhere — and there's always room for more.

Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church, Chapin SC
1891
Year Founded
More About Us

Explore Mt. Horeb

Who We Are

Our mission, our vision, and what it means that we're part of the ELCA.

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Our History

Founded in 1891 by the Rev. W. L. Darr — the story of this congregation.

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Worship Schedule

Service times, Faith Formation, and what a Sunday looks like.

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Family Ministries

Programs and community for children, youth, and their families.

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Our Leaders

The staff and church council who serve Mt. Horeb.

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Cemetery

Our historic grounds, the interactive burial map, and arrangements.

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Livestreams

Watch a service online, live or on demand.

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Newsletters & Bulletins

Download the latest issue of our newsletter, or any Sunday bulletin.

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Blog Posts

Musings from the Mount — reflections on faith and life in Chapin.

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Jobs

Current openings at Mt. Horeb.

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Our Mission
"Experiencing & Sharing God's Presence"

The Mission of Mt. Horeb shall be to manifest God's love to all people through the preaching and teaching of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It shall be a healing ministry, promoting unity in the congregation and the community-at-large. It shall nurture and sustain its members through loving service, encourage all to use their God-given talents and means, provide channels for growth, reach out to others in love, and offer intentional opportunities for fellowship.

What We Believe

Our Theological Foundation

Mt. Horeb is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Here's what that means in plain language.

Grace Above All

We believe salvation is God's gift — not something you earn by being good enough. That's the heart of Lutheran theology and the reason the door is always open here.

Scripture as Foundation

The Bible is central to everything we do — preaching, teaching, and forming our community life. We read it seriously, wrestle with it honestly, and let it shape us.

Sacraments as Grace

We celebrate Baptism and Holy Communion as real encounters with God's grace — not just rituals, but means through which God meets us and sustains us.

The Whole Person

Faith isn't just for Sundays. We believe God's presence is active in work, relationships, community, and service — and that the church exists to equip people for all of it.

Pastor Ron Philabaum
Meet Our Pastor

Pastor Ron Philabaum

Senior Pastor, Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church

Pastor Ron Philabaum came to Mt. Horeb with a heart for people and a deep commitment to the Church's mission. Formed in the Lutheran theological tradition and shaped by years of pastoral ministry, he brings both theological conviction and genuine warmth to everything he does — whether he's in the pulpit, walking alongside a family through a difficult season, or sitting down with someone who just needs to talk.

At Mt. Horeb, Pastor Ron has embraced Chapin not just as a place to serve, but as a community to belong to. He's been a visible presence in the life of this town through its milestones, its losses, and its growth. In his view, a church doesn't exist apart from its neighborhood — it exists for it.

If you're visiting for the first time, he'd love to meet you. Sunday mornings are a great place to start, but so is a cup of coffee. His door is open.

Send Pastor Ron a Message
Five Core Values

How We Live Out Our Faith

Five verbs that underscore everything we do as a family of faith.

01

Worship

Joyfully proclaim the Word of God.

02

Learn

Dutifully study, teach and live the Word of God.

03

Witness

Boldly share the Word of God.

04

Serve

Humbly and enthusiastically respond to the Word of God.

05

Support

Gladly give our time, talent and treasures motivated by the Word of God.

Our Denomination

We're Part of the ELCA

Mt. Horeb is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with a 500-year tradition rooted in the Reformation insights of Martin Luther.

Being ELCA means we're connected to a global network of churches, engaged in widespread social ministry, and committed to both theological depth and genuine openness to all people.

Learn more about the ELCA →