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PARISH PROFILE
The Church of the Nativity
& St. Stephen
Newport, PA
WelcomeWe are a small congregation... yet our community outreach is great,
both individually and as a parish. In fact, we have been named a
JUBILEE MINISTRY CENTER!
We are in a rural area of incredible beauty
with farms, mountains, rivers and the joys of country life,
yet only 30 minutes from Harrisburg, 2 hours from Baltimore,
2.5 hours from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and 4 hours from Manhattan.
Our church serves members in 4 rural counties—
PERRY, JUNIATA, SNYDER AND MIFFLIN—
and is located in Perry County's most populous town, Newport,
1 mile from the highway for easy access to major population centers.
We have an old and lovely historic church
yet it is in beautiful condition and handicapped-accessible,
thanks to the blessings of endowments and the generosity of parishioners.
Our people live throughout the four-county area,
yet we come together on Sundays and see ourselves as a family.
We are down-to-earth people, active in our community,
supporting everything from an outstanding arts council
to literacy council to food banks and libraries.
We think our four-county area is God's country.
We enjoy the accessibility of employment opportunities
and the large variety of cultural activities throughout the area.
We are a close-knit and thriving parish
currently enjoying our interim priest,
anxious to welcome our NEW SPIRITUAL LEADER!
OUR DIOCESE
The parish is part of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania,
with offices in Harrisburg, the state capital. The diocese is
currently in the process of selecting a new bishop. This dio-
cese includes 70 parishes in the middle third of the state,
stretching from the New York to the Maryland state borders.
The diocesan mission statement, “We are partners in Christ
with the love of God on our lips and in our lives,” led to the
development of a mission, vision and strategy, “Called to
Grow.” This missionary thrust provides a three-dimensional
view to grow in service, grow in numbers of disciples and
grow in grace.
Website: www.diocesecpa.org
THE VESTRYThe Vestry consists of nine voting
members and the Senior Warden. The
members are nominated by a nominat-
ing committee of the Vestry and are
elected in groups of three by the con-
gregation at the annual meeting. They
serve staggered terms of three years
(except in the case of replacement
members, who serve the balance of the
term of the person they replace). A
member may serve no more than two
consecutive terms.
Officers of the Vestry for calendar year
2014 include Senior Warden, Todd
Saner; Junior Warden, Sue Beamer;
Secretary, Wendy Day; and Treasurer,
Mary Davis. None of the officers will
have reached the limit on consecutive
terms this year.
The standing committees of the Vestry
include Finance, Property, Program &
Mission, Parish Life, and Nominations.
In the usual course, the Vestry has ten
regular monthly meetings on the third
Wednesday and schedules ad hoc spe-
cial meetings as necessary. Regular
meetings commence at 6:30 p.m. at the
Parish House and are usually com-
pleted by 8:30 p.m.
Vision Statement of the Vestry
We, the vestry, understand stewardship to be the way we live our lives as children of God and as
members of God's household. It is a way of life, a way of being in the world. It is an attitude with
which we acknowledge that all we have and all we are is a gift from our loving God, who gener-
ously entrusts us with these good gifts.
We, therefore, commit to being joyful stewards of our parish family, our community and the
whole world by giving enthusiastically of our time, talent and treasure. We pledge to offer to God
our time for worship and service, our talents for God's glory and purpose and our treasure to en-
sure a vibrant and widespread ministry flowing from this community of faith.
As a vestry, we also commit prayerfully and faithfully to administering the financial resources of
the parish, including those funds given to us from the blessed generosity of those who have gone
before us. We pledge that the offerings of all who share their gifts will be used fruitfully and ap-
propriately.
We invite each member of the Church of the Nativity & St. Stephen to join in examining our re-
sponsibilities as year-round stewards of God's creation and in sharing the abundant harvest of
time, talent and treasure sown in us by God at our baptism.
STAFF AND
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Parish of the Church of the Nativity and
St. Stephen has an annual budget of $280,000.
On the income side $198,000 was from several trusts of
which the parish is a beneficiary. Unrestricted pledge
income from parishioners is $61,000. Plate offerings are
about $22,500.
On the expense side a payment of $35,600 was made
for the Diocesan Fair Share, $103,000 was paid in
clergy-related expenses, $11,000 for lay employees,
$30,711 for mission and outreach, $4,600 for property
maintenance, and $27,000 for insurance and utilities.
The Parish has four part-time lay
employees, a Secretary, a
Financial Secretary (who handles
payments), and two organists.
The Parish also makes use of a
number of outside contractors,
along with volunteers, for sexton
duties, grounds keeping, and
maintenance.
OUR CONGREGATIONService to the community, to the Church and to each other distinguishes the Church of
the Nativity and St. Stephen. A pair of small but beautiful buildings in lovely rural
Pennsylvania provide worship space to our congregation of some 60 families with 148
individuals. Perhaps it is the sense of good fortune in having this community and these
places of worship that has instilled in our congregation a desire to give back. Whatever
the reason, the members of this congregation are unusually committed to serving in
many ways, from participation in the parish to involvement in community organiza-
tions.
OUTREACH
Last year, for example, the parish spearheaded an effort to establish Linda House, a do-
mestic abuse shelter, in Perry County. In addition, several members provide bimonthly
meals through several organizations such as the Salvation Army to feed about 3,400 dis-
advantaged men, women and children annually. The parish and its members provide
funds, volunteer service and leadership for a large variety of community organizations
including food bank, arts council, literacy council and the local libraries. This high level
of service has won for our church the designation of “Jubilee Ministry Center.”
PARISH PARTICIPATION
A large portion of the congregation is actively
engaged in parish activities, which give mem-
bers a sense of ownership. Service is encouraged,
gratefully accepted and appreciated. At the same
time, the members reach out to visitors and new
members. Although our members have tended
to reflect the fairly homogeneous demographics
of the local communities where they live, we
want our church to be a warm and responsive
family to all who enter her doors.
ACCESSIBILITY
The parish of Nativity and St. Stephen com-
pleted a building project about 10 years ago that
made all parts of the Nativity and St. Stephen
physical facilities accessible to elderly and hand-
icapped individuals. The church building and
parish house are connected through a cloister
containing an elevator; the elevator also provides
access to the kitchen and undercroft facilities for
suppers, meetings and, importantly, weekly
coffee hour. The former rectory serves as parish
house, with meeting rooms, classrooms and
offices for the rector and part-time secretary.
SERVICES
A weekly service of the Holy Eucharist, Rite II,
is currently held at 9:30 most Sunday mornings,
with occasional celebrations of Morning Prayer.
An average of 51 people are present at weekly
services. We are blessed to have a large portion
of the parish community involved in our
services: five young people serve as acolytes
and crucifers (a child-appropriate crucifer was
recently donated); four altar guild teams care for
our sanctuary with two members providing altar
flower arrangements; eight parishioners serve as
lay ministers and chalice bearers; one member
serves as eucharistic visitor; 13 are lectors or
read Prayers of the People; and most members
serve as greeters/ushers throughout the year.
Two organists share provision of weekly
worship music.
Nativity Age Distribution
Distance Parishioners Live from Church
Years at Nativity
Male
Female
SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS
Major feasts of the Church year bring our members
together. At the end of Advent, a children's
Christmas party and Hanging of the Greens precede
a parish luncheon. Christmas Eve family service is
held at St. Stephen in Thompsontown at 4:00 pm,
followed by a late service at Church of the Nativity.
During Lent and Easter, the parish community comes
together for a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper
followed the next night by Ash Wednesday service,
in which the larger Newport Ministerium commu-
nity participates. In Holy Week, members celebrate
the Agape supper and foot-washing on Maundy
Thursday, the sombre but beautiful Good Friday
service and finally, the joy of the Easter Sunday
service. An annual parish picnic with outdoor
eucharist is held at a member's farm during summer.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Christian education programming for our young children
includes weekly “Godly Play” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Our
middle/high school age children generally join the congrega-
tion for regular Mass. Following worship, a time of fellowship
and sharing takes place in the parish Undercroft, followed most
weeks by the Parlor People adult Christian education, during
which we discuss theological and philosophical issues of
concern to our members, as well as issues concerning the
greater community and world.
PASTORAL CARE
Pastoral visitation on an on-going, non-emergency basis
continues to be an area of concern to the congregation, as
providing an opportunity for the rector to know the parish
members and participate more fully in their lives. As the
membership currently spans all age groups, issues of pastoral
care arise among all members and are an important part of the
rector's duties. In addition, the Senior and Junior wardens, as
well as individual members such as a retired doctor and several
nurses, assist in meeting the emotional and health care needs of
the parish community.
STEWARDSHIP
The strong sense of mission felt by our members is reflected in
their individual decisions regarding support of the mission of
the church. This commitment is all the more remarkable in light
of the past generosity of those who left trusts to support the
parish. Because of this, we are able to use a large percentage of
the annual pledges toward outreach and community support.
Our level of giving is in line with the
levels seen within our diocese. We are
proud to contribute our Fair Share to the
mission of the Diocese and will continue
to support its work. We also provide
annual support to a variety of commu-
nity and world activities providing help
to students, divinity students, and many
local organizations through our Giving to
Others (GTO) distributions.
Our building fund has been generously
supported, assisting the expansion of our
facilities and two housing projects (Episcopal
Gardens and Episcopal Commons) built and
directed by the parish. The Episcopal Church
Women (ECW) ensure our parish's care and
involvement with the residents through
activities and meals.
We look forward to celebrating ever-
increasing and important non-monetary
contributions to the life and work of the
parish. Meanwhile, the generosity of our
members gives great hope for the ministry
and future health of our church.
TRADITIONAL
PARISH LIFE ACTIVITIESWeekly Coffee Hour
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Community Lenten Services
with the Newport Ministerium,
beginning with Ash Wednesday at
Church of the Nativity
Lenten Bible or Book Study and Discussion
Agape Supper—Maundy Thursday
Mother's Day Reception
Father's Day Reception
Parish Picnic and Eucharist
Halloween Party and Hayride
Annual Parish Meeting and Luncheon
Children's Christmas Party
Hanging of the Greens
Annual Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up
Parlor People discussion group
Godly Play
CONGREGATIONAL OUTREACHECW
The Episcopal Church Women of the Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen (ECW)
is open to all women of the congregation. The sale of stained glass suncatchers in the
design of the shield of the Episcopal Church is the organization's major fundraiser. The
shields, which are handcrafted within Perry County, have been sent as far away as
England and Germany. The proceeds from this endeavor—and the occasional bake
sale!--are donated to various mission works such as Perry County Children and Youth
and Cumberland-Perry Domestic Violence programs, as well as to individual and
family needs within the congregation. Recent local projects of the ECW include:
• making dolls for children in
war-torn areas
• sewing chemo caps for women
undergoing chemotherapy
treatments
• sewing pillowcases for children
with chronic illnesses for use
during hospital stays
• providing school supplies for
underprivileged children in our
local schools
• supporting the education of two
girls in Uganda through the
Bishop Masereka Foundation.
Diocesan Activities
Several women in the parish are active in the diocesan Sacred Stitches group, which
meets three times a year to make prayer squares for soldiers at home and overseas, as
well as prayer bears for children who have lost a military parent while deployed. Also
on the diocesan level, the ECW supports St. Barnabas Rainbow program and St. John's
Episcopal Church SPY (Summer Programs for Youth) program. Other diocesan involve-
ment includes Warden's Conference, Diocesan Convention and use by various groups
within the Diocese of the Nativity facilities as a Conference Center.
Caring for the Community
Soup Kitchens
Members of the congregation organize, provide and serve monthly meals at the
Carlisle Salvation Army and at Christian churches throughout the area. They also
provide clothing and household items to those who attend these monthly meals.
In the 12 years these meals have been provided, about 44,000 people have been
served.
Subsidized Housing
Episcopal Gardens (Honaman House), Thompsontown, and
Episcopal Commons, Newport, are RFD- and HUD-subsidized
housing projects for low income and handicapped persons. The
projects currently have a board of directors, which includes our
parish priest and members of the congregation, as well as the
Bishop of the
Diocese of Central
Pennsylvania and
other diocesan
members who are
appointed by the
Bishop. A manage-
ment company
specializing in
federally-subsidized
housing programs
manages the proj-
ects, which are
overseen on-site by
a shared housing
manager and
maintenance person.
The congregation maintains its relationship with residents by
providing monthly activities and lunch, and providing transporta-
tion so that they may attend special church functions, such as
Shrove Tuesday dinner and the Agape supper.
Local Outreach
CNN
The congregation has recently started Caring for Nativity's
Neighbors (CNN), which includes a Health and Heating Fund
providing home heating and medical care cost help for local
people who do not qualify for other help.
GTO
As a parish, our Giving to Others (GTO) donations amount to
about $12,500 and support various local organizations of concern
to parishioners, such as the Perry County Food Bank, Helping
Kids, the Kyle Weller Scholarship Fund which supports parish
youth with college expenses, and many charitable funds such as
St. Barnabas Rainbow Program, Farmland Preservation, and the
local libraries and fire departments.
Linda House
In the last 2 years, the parish, led by then-rector Daphne
Messersmith, was instrumental in locating a tri-county shelter for
domestic violence victims and their families in Perry County.
Funding was provided in part by the YWCA. Members of the
parish are trained to provide volunteer services at Linda House and
give on-going support of time, materials and funds to the project.
Individual Interests
In addition to this outreach of the parish as a whole, our
individual members are involved throughout the area in the
following organizations:
PTOs, School Volunteers
Meals on Wheels
Join Hands
Newport RevitalizationDuncannon Area Revitalization
Central PA/Perry Co. Food Bank
Community Band and Chorus/Choir
Salvation Army
Community Vol. Fire Co./EMS
Newport Civic Club
Perry County Comm. Foundation
County Libraries
NSVB Memorial Foundation
WITF—National Pub Radio/TV
Lions Clubs
Perry County Literacy Council
Perry County Historical Society
Perry County Conservation District
Juniata County Historical Society
Trout Unlimited
Seven Mountains Audubon
Farms Unlimited
Harrisburg Symphony Society
Newport Ministerium
Perry County Council of the Arts
OUR HISTORYA Brief History of The Church of the Nativity and Saint Stephen,
Newport and Thompsontown, PA
The first recorded Episcopal service in the area of south central
Pennsylvania (later to become Juniata and Perry Counties) was
conducted in Thompsontown in 1824, when the Rev. Charles
Snowden baptized several persons. By early 1826, this congregation
was holding regular home services under the Rectorship of the Rev.
John B. Clemson. In 1827, a stone church, Saint Stephen, was built.
It was the first church built in Thompsontown and remains to this
day the only Episcopal Church in Juniata County. The land was
donated by William Thompson, for whom the town was named,
and construction was paid for by General Evans, a prominent
citizen of Thompsontown. For a large part of the early years, the
church was used by Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians. It was
reclaimed by the Episcopal Church in 1890.
The Episcopal congregation in Newport
actually began in 1875 with services of wor-
ship in the home of Henry and Elizabeth
Bechtel. In 1877, an Itinerant Mission Station
was opened by the Rev. Thomas O. Tongue
in what was then known as the offices of the
Pennsylvania Railroad. In September 1885,
the Rev. James Stoddard took charge of the
congregation and in June 1886, a lot was
bought from John Fleisher for $800 at the
southern end of Second Street in the bor-
ough, adjacent to Little Buffalo Creek, as a
future church building site. Ground was
broken and a cornerstone was laid for The
Church of the Nativity on June 8, 1887. The cost of constructing the
church building, reported to have been $9,000, was borne by her
eventual benefactors, Mr. & Mrs. Bechtel. The church building was
completed in June of 1889 and was consecrated on November 14,
1889, by the Rt. Rev. Nelson S.–Rulison, Assistant Bishop of what
was then known as the Episcopal Diocese of Harrisburg, now the
Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.
In August of 1891, the Rev. William Dorwart took charge as Vicar of
the Church of the Nativity and also St. Stephen Episcopal Church,
Thompsontown, beginning a
36-year pastorate to both con-
gregations, a relationship that
continued until 1927. A rectory
was built alongside the church
in Newport in 1893. In 1902 The
Church of the Nativity was ad-
mitted into union as a Mission
Church with the convention of
the Episcopal Diocese.
Following Fr. Dorwart's pas-
torate in the ensuing years from
1927 to 1968, numerous clergy
served both congregations,
assisted when no pastors were
available by parish Licensed
Lay Readers, who served faith-
fully during the interim.
In 1968, after two years with no
resident clergy, in 1968 the Rev.
John T. Docker was called to be
Vicar of the Episcopal congre-
gations in Newport and
Thompsontown, while at the
same time serving the Diocese
of Central Pennsylvania as
Canon for Program and
Planning. During Fr. Docker's pastorate the two congregations
grew to 80 baptized members, 52 confirmed communicants, a
sizeable Sunday School, and an annual budget of $30,000. However,
in 1970, St. Stephen Church was closed due to declining member-
ship, the remaining families transferring their membership to
The Church of the Nativity. Prior to Fr. Docker's resignation, the
congregation experienced liturgical renewal and the initial
proposed revisions to The Book of Common Prayer.
Following a major flood associated with Hurricane Agnes in 1972
and the repair of the church, the congregation renewed services and
welcomed a new Vicar, the Rev. Canon William T. Warne II in June
of 1974. Under Fr. Warne's leadership, and blessed with significant
endowments, great strides occurred in the life of the congregation:
the complete restoration and re-dedication of St. Stephen Church; a
renewed sense of outreach and mission outside the parish to those
in need, resulting in the establishment of Perry Human Services, of
which Fr. Warne served as Founding President; the development of
seven senior citizen centers throughout Perry County; the construc-
tion of Episcopal Gardens in Thompsontown to provide 50 feder-
ally-subsidized apartments for low-income elderly and disabled
persons which opened in October 1985; the full restoration of The
Church of the Nativity in 1987 in celebration of the 100th anniver-
sary of the laying of the cornerstone; in 1994, the construction of an
additional 30 apartments for elderly and disabled persons on South
Fourth Street, Newport, to be known as Episcopal Commons; and
finally, in 2003, a major building project joining the church and
the adjacent former rectory into one complex, fully accessible to
the handicapped.
Coupled with this renewed sense of mission, The Church of the
Nativity and St. Stephen Church officially joined their ministries in
June 1984, as a single, unified, incorporated parish (The Church of
the Nativity and St. Stephen) with the regular use of The Church of
the Nativity and occasional use of St. Stephen. A new chapter in the
life of the parish began with the retirement of Fr. Warne in 2004,
after which two unique and dynamic interim priests injected the
congregation with new energy and led to the embracing of mem-
bers of diversity and new ways of worship. The arrival of the Rev.
Daphne Messersmith following a year of discernment in 2005
increased commitment to mission and created a new interest in the
area of domestic violence prevention in Perry County, culminating
in the opening of Linda House shelter in Perry County in 2011.
Today, our parish enjoys an active membership of 120 baptized
members and oversees a budget of approximately $270,000. The
two original parishes are united and active, with both our lovely
and historical church structures serving their communities.
CHRISTIAN/SPIRITUAL
FORMATIONChristian formation at Nativity occurs in a variety of
formal and informal settings. While our Christian
education programs for children and adults are most
visible, formation continues whenever two or three are
gathered in intentional relationship with one another and
with God.
Christian Education
• Children
Programming for all of our children is an
area of both great challenge and innovation.
We have few families with children 3-18,
with little 'critical mass' at any given age. We
began offering the Godly Play program in
2009 for children 3-6, meeting twice a month.
We have recently stretched to a weekly
program with ages 3-12. Our group is small
but mighty, and meets during the worship
service. Godly Play is a departure from the
typical Sunday School experience many of us have known.
It is better described as spiritual guidance for children, as it
invites each child to discover personal meaning in sacred
texts and become fluent in the language of the church. Our
facilitator for this program is completing her coursework
through General Theological Seminary for a Certificate in
the Spiritual Guidance of Children.
• Youth
Currently our youth program is inactive. We recognize the
acute need for reaching out to our youth and have not yet
found a successful way to knit them together into a mean-
ingful peer community. Drawing more families to Nativity
is one of our main priorities.
• Adults
After Sunday's coffee hour, 10-15 adults meet in the parlor
of the parish house, hence their name, the “Parlor People.”
The wide-ranging topics are generated and led by the
Parlor People themselves: Issues of Death and Dying,
Christian Ethics, Nature of Evil, When Charity Becomes Toxic,
The Emerging Church, Images of Christ in Art. Clergy come when
they can and sometimes lead the discussions. It is an enthusiastic
and committed group that truly enjoys coming together to be
challenged and to grow spiritually. Occasionally, as at Lent or
other seasons, we invite the whole parish to read a book together
for discussion.
Other Opportunities for Spiritual Formation
Nativity is a close-knit group whose members love to get together
for social or community service events. These experiences easily
spill over into opportunities to question and discuss the issues of
the day, needs of the congregation, plans for the future, and even
the sermon! The coffee hour after church is the largest, most regular
such event, but smaller groups gather as well.
Recently, a men's group has begun, meeting weekly for socializing
and discussion. This, in turn, inspired the formation of a women's
breakfast group. These groups provide opportunities for learning
of and addressing serious issues affecting members of the congre-
gation and organizing support to meet their needs. There are occa-
sional prayer or healing
services, sometimes led
by lay people,
specifically to address
the physical and spiritual
needs of the congrega-
tion. In addition,
members are encouraged
to seek spiritual direction
or to participate in local
ecumenical programs.
Two members of the con-
gregation have felt called
to seek ordination and
the congregation has
frequently hosted dea-
cons doing their field-
work semester.
OUR COMMUNITYPERRY, JUNIATA, SNYDER AND MIFFLIN COUNTIES
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen draws parishioners
from a picturesque four-county area in rural Central Pennsylvania:
Perry, Juniata, Snyder and Mifflin counties. It is a land of rolling
farm fields and green mountains, with scattered villages and small
towns. The area is roughly 1,700 square miles, bounded on the east
by the Susquehanna River and bisected by the Juniata River. To the
south is Blue Mountain, a boundary between our ridge and valley
topography and the large, sprawling Cumberland Valley. To the
north and west, the farmland and mountains continue into the
distance. Newport is centrally located between four small cities:
Lewistown (pop. 9,000) in Mifflin County, Selinsgrove (pop. 6,000)
in Snyder County, and Harrisburg and Carlisle “over the moun-
tain” in Dauphin and Cumberland Counties. While Harrisburg city
itself is home to only 50,000 people, the greater Harrisburg/Carlisle
metropolitan area boasts around 500,000.
SETTLEMENT
The area was settled in the 18th and 19th centuries, largely by the Germans
and Scots-Irish. The Amish and Mennonites also found it an attractive
home. Agriculture, logging and tanning were major occupations in the
early years. At first, the area was served by canals following the Juniata
and Susquehanna rivers. Today, Amtrak and Norfolk Southern run trains
along the old canal routes. Farming influences remain, although many
commuters and retired folks have found homes here. Given the remoteness
of the area, many seeking to escape the cities also chose our forested hills
for their solitude. The area became a haven for artists, and the Amish
and Mennonites contribute to that atmosphere with their crafts and
cottage industries.
LOCAL CHARACTER
Preservation of farmland and local history have been important to many in
the area. Most of the towns have retained their historical character, often
with old market areas, bandstands or monuments in the middle of town.
Brick and frame houses closely line the streets. The area is still dotted with
covered bridges for those with the patience to seek them out. Antique
shops and farmers markets abound. Family farms produce everything from
dairy to poultry to grain crops to produce. One often encounters farm
equipment traveling from field to field along the wind-
ing country roads or through the towns. There are
several wineries in the area, which host musical and
charitable events.
RECREATION
Outdoor recreation includes hunting, fishing, hiking,
backpacking, birding, cross-country skiing, biking,
swimming, horseback riding and boating. Both rivers
are popular with canoers and kayakers. The
Appalachian Trail runs along the top of Blue Mountain
and crosses the Susquehanna River at the Clark's Ferry
Bridge in eastern Perry County. Little Buffalo State
Park is only a mile from Newport; there are numerous
other parks and hiking trails nearby. Both Port Royal
and Selinsgrove offer speedways. The 200-year old Millersburg Ferry offers
a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River and an opportunity for birding
as it crosses the river between Liverpool and Millersburg; it carries both
vehicles and foot passengers. For dedicated birders, the Snyder County
Birding Trail and Seven Mountains Audubon provide great opportunities.
CULTURAL OFFERINGS
There is a vibrant arts community in Newport, grounded in the
Perry County Council for the Arts. PCCA operates two galleries
and offers classes in the arts, writing and photography for both
adults and children. Little Buffalo State Park hosts weekend music
and arts events all summer. Harrisburg and Selinsgrove both offer a
rich variety of art, music and theater. In Harrisburg, there is the
Whitaker Center for the Performing Arts, Open Stage and the Rose
Lehrman Arts Center. Museums include the State Museum, the
Susquehanna Art Museum, the Art Association of Harrisburg and
the Civil War Museum. Numerous small galleries are open every
third Friday for those who like to stroll and visit. The Harrisburg
Symphony Orchestra provides a wide selection of classical and
more popular music. For Civil War buffs, Gettysburg is within easy
reach for day trips. Selinsgrove, the site of Susquehanna University,
is a picturesque small college town, offering ample cultural events,
small cafes and many unusual boutiques, as well as a Saturday
farmer's market during the summer and fall. Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C. are within easy
reach by car, train or bus.
EDUCATION
As to be expected, the area includes a large number of school
districts. Many children are home-schooled, and they, too, are
allowed to participate in the school district sporting events. Some
youth are sent to the private Harrisburg Academy (through high
school), located in Camp Hill. There are also many small Christian
schools throughout the area. For higher education, there are many
local options: Harrisburg Area Community College, Bucknell
University, Juniata College, Gettysburg College, Dickinson College,
Shippensburg University, Susquehanna University and Harrisburg
University.
HEALTH SERVICES
Geisinger Medical Center services are available in the northern part
of our area, while those living in the southern and eastern areas use
PinnacleHealth (Harrisburg), Holy Spirit (Camp Hill), or Hershey
Medical Center (Hershey). Lewistown Community Hospital is also
nearby to the west. Primary care facilities, imaging centers, rehabili-
tation facilities, nursing homes and retirement centers are scattered
throughout the area.
OUR VISIONA recent survey of parishioners' views on the strengths of the
parish show a remarkable coincidence, focusing on several areas:
first, the strong feeling of community and inclusion shared by
members; second, the large amount of community outreach, both
local and beyond, demonstrated by our members and by the parish
as a whole; third, the opportunities taken by members to partici-
pate in all aspects of church governance, worship and activities;
and fourth, the high quality of spiritual formation through
sermons, after-church adult learning and Sunday School, including
Godly Play, for the children of the parish. Although other strengths
were noted by a few, the vast majority focused on one or more of
these strengths.
At the time of the last discernment process eight years ago,
members were concerned that the new pastor lead a growth of
adult spirituality and Christian education, provide strong adminis-
trative functioning, encourage youth in the life of the church, and
grow the parish through warm inclusion of visitors and community
outreach. During the tenure of the last priest, these concerns were
positively addressed, and the parish saw an increase in church
membership, attendance by members and youth, and activities in
the community. The membership appears to have been happy with
the preaching strength of the pastor, as well as her leadership in
church administration and community projects.
Currently, the Discernment Committee notes that, while members
are very satisfied with current congregational participation and
community outreach, they continue to be concerned about
(1) advancing spiritual formation; (2) attracting young people to the
church; and (3) pastoring. We seek a priest who is able to reach and
inspire all ages to grow in knowledge of scripture, and in worship,
prayer and practice of faith. Because of the small membership, and
by extension, small number of youth within the parish, it will
require creativity and a willingness to consider nontraditional
means to attract more youth; in spite of changes that will doubtless
be incurred, we feel the future of the church depends on making
this a priority. Another area of concern is regular visitation by the
pastor, to gain an understanding of the lives of the parishioners and
to provide support during times of need. As the congregation
continues to age, issues of healthcare and loss, and the sustaining
strength of Christian faith, become ever more important.
Our congregation is seeking a priest who has a friendly, compas-
sionate nature, a keen intellect, and an active spiritual life. We have
been blessed with a tradition of thought-provoking, spiritually-
challenging and relevant sermons. We consider finding a priest
who relishes the spiritual and intellectual exercise of preparing and
delivering sermons and educating laity to be of great importance.
In recent years, also, we have developed an engaging and challeng-
ing adult education program, which has been guided, but not
necessarily led, by the priest.
We see ourselves as partners with the priest, sharing responsibili-
ties for youth work, teaching, community outreach and service,
hospitality, the music ministry and, of course, the warm welcome
and inclusion of visitors and new members. We expect that the
priest will be a strong leader, but one who very much supports and
encourages lay participation and assistance with worship.
It has been most interesting and heartening to the Discernment
Committee to see how closely members of the congregation agree
on who and where we are and where we want to go. We are
entirely ready to move on in our Christian faith, our weekly
worship, and our community service. Our vision for the future
includes a willing desire to welcome the priest who will join us,
and lead us, in this endeavor.
A Prayer for the Discernment Committee
Almighty everlasting Father, Knower of all things and Ruler of all, we ask your blessings on the
members of the Discernment Committee of our parish.
Guide them through the process before us.
Grant them both strength and joy in meeting the challenges of the period ahead.
Grant them the wisdom and clarity of vision to represent our congregation as
You would have them.
Grant them the patience and understanding to work closely as a team.
Open our hearts that we may come to know Your choice to be our Rector.
Father, we also ask Your blessings upon the Vestry and congregation of our parish during this
discernment period, that we may all remain strong in our love for You and for one another, and
faithful in our worship.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
AMEN.
Jill Brownfield Bill Day Jane Hoover Sue Beamer
Kay Cramer Anne Roland Bill Rohm
The Church of the Nativity
& St. Stephen
159 South Second Street
Newport, PA 17074