Christ Episcopal Church, Norway, Maine 35 Paris Street Norway, ME

Transcription

1 Christ Episcopal Church, Norway, Maine 35 Paris Street Norway, ME Our Mission: Hear the Word... Eat the Bread... Change the World... Welcome to Christ Episcopal Church in Norway, Maine! We are an Episcopal community open to all and supportive of one another. We invite you to visit with us in order to explore and experience the warmth of our church and congregation.

2 We introduce you to our parish community and our mission work by exploring our Christ Church Profile, prepared during 2012 by the Discernment Committee. We have held small group focus meetings, a whole congregation memory meeting, an extensive on-line survey of our parishioners, and ongoing follow up discussions. What follows is a comprehensive narrative that describes Christ Church in terms of how we envision ourselves as a community and what we seek in a new Rector. We welcome you to join us in our mission to Hear the Word, Eat the Bread, Change the World. This Profile describes our Christian spirit of renewal by assessing our positive attributes, our needs, our resources and our resolve to seek new opportunities for growth and ministry. We invite you to join us, as one who is seeking a supportive environment for worship, reflection, and participation.

3 What we Seek in a Rector Christ Episcopal Church seeks a compassionate leader who is approachable and an excellent communicator. We seek a rector with energy, humor, enthusiasm and deep Christian faith to help us grow spiritually. Our rector will help encourage and motivate all of our parishioners to engage in lay ministries by helping them to discern their unique gifts and talents. Our priest will possess vision and will take the necessary steps to develop a parish community consisting of all ages. We seek someone with comprehensive knowledge of the Scriptures and the Episcopal tradition who will engage parishioners to think deeply about the weekly Bible readings and how they impact our daily lives. Quotes from our members about what they seek in a rector include: - comfortable with all generations yet recognizes the gifts of individuals - sensitive pastoral care - someone who can adapt to changing times yet be sensitive to tradition - encourages lay participation - open to all ideas yet sensitive to the range of attitudes and opinions within the parish - an appreciation of good music - someone who can deliver thoughtful sermons that challenge us to think and examine our own lives - compassion and drive - recognizes the importance and role of children in Christ Church - attuned to the needs of the world as well as the church - someone with a vision for the future, with innovative ideas to attract new members - intuitive and kind - deep faith supported by an open and inquiring mind I want the new priest to be nice, someone I can talk to

4 Challenges Building and Facilities We are a congregation welcoming in our sense of community yet aspiring to do more. Entering the front door, there is the feeling of warmth, intimacy and spirituality. The church blends an open style of architecture with a touch of unique American Gothic.

5 Within Christ Church, one is warmed by the richness of wooden benches carved in a sturdy but graceful pattern.

6 Varieties of carved wood blend and reflect a Gothic motif in the vaulted ceiling and the patterned glass.

7 A place for prayer, reflection and silent community. Parish Hall

8 Kitchen Guild Room

9 Worship The Choir, Palm Sunday Celebrating Pentecost

10 Christ Church Committees and Ministries The Vestry The Vestry is our parish governing body, which, under the leadership of the Rector, runs the business and fosters the spiritual life of the church. Minutes of the meetings are kept by the Clerk and are posted. Stewardship Committee Stewardship is central to everything Christ Church is and does as a congregation. It is one means by which we can "change the world". The Committee reminds parishioners to make an intentional choice to joyfully return a portion of God's gifts to us by use of our time, talent and treasure. Outreach Committee The mission of the Outreach Committee is to implement the phase of our church mission statement "change the world," by responding to local, state, national and global needs. The Committee oversees the distribution of the outreach annual budget, using the Millennium Development Goals as one key in their decision making process. Among ongoing programs are: support of the Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston, the Wednesday luncheon at the Universalist Church in Norway and the Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church in Norway. Other recipients of outreach funds are CHABHA (Children Affected By HIV/AIDs) in Rwanda and Burundi (Africa), Maison de Naissance in Haiti and Safe Passage in Guatemala. Funds are also used for scholarships to Place Camp

11 and Camp Bishopswood. Book awards are provided to students attending college. Support is also given to the Stephens Memorial Hospital Thrift Shop. Income for these ministries is provided by fundraisers and through church investment funds. Other examples of our outreach are providing a home for the Oxford Hills Food Pantry and Alcoholics Anonymous. Christian Formation The Christian Formation Committee has included ministries for school-aged children through weekly Sunday School. Adult programs have included groups such as seasonal programs, book discussions, the Women's Bible Study and Roundtable discussions. The Committee also sponsors a Centering Prayer group. Hospitality Committee This Committee volunteers to take responsibility for arranging for food to be prepared and presented for various church functions and for parish families in times of need. Telephone calls are made to members of the parish to supply refreshments during the weekly coffee hour in the Guild Room after church. Altar Guild As a sacred ministry, members of the Altar Guild work in teams to prepare the church for worship. They also encourage parishioners to bring flowers from their gardens for the altar. The Finance Committee The Finance Committee and the Treasurer propose a budget, approve

12 expenditures, handle cash and other receipts and disbursements, reconcile the monthly bank statements and arrange and oversee the annual audit. Choir The Choir, under the direction of the organist, participates in the weekly 10 a.m. Sunday service from September through May. They lead the congregation in the singing of hymns, in the chanting of the Psalm and through the singing of anthems. The Choir performs special music at other services as requested. They rehearse one evening a week and again on Sunday morning. Our organist enhances our services every Sunday throughout the year. Congregational Care Committee This Committee, in conjunction with the Rector, keeps the parish informed about the pastoral care concerns of parishioners. Each "neighborhood" (geographical area of parishioners) has a "Good Shepherd" who is charged with keeping in touch with the parishioners in his/her "neighborhood." They communicate pastoral concerns to the Rector and the Sunday morning congregation. Card Ministry The Card Minister sends cards to parishioners who are ill, hospitalized or homebound, and shares prayer requests during the Sunday service. He/She also s pastoral prayer concerns to parish members.

13 Memorial Committee Many of our most precious furnishings have been given to our church as memorials to loved ones. The Memorial Committee discerns how memorial gifts are used. Prayer Chain The Prayer Chain members pass along, usually by phone, requests for prayer from church members. New members are encouraged to join this group to pray for specific requests. Ushers Ushers welcome people to the church services and distribute the weekly service bulletin. They collect and present the offerings. United Thank Offering (U.T.O.) The United Thank Offering is an Episcopal ministry designed to nurture the habit of daily giving thanks to God. These offerings in blue boxes are collected twice a year and support mission around the world. Eucharistic Ministers, Lay Readers, Lectors and Acolytes These are parishioners of all ages who assist the priest during church services in a variety of ways. Beehive The Beehive is the monthly church newsletter. The editor collects and organizes articles written by parishioners. Most members receive the Beehive

14 online, although hard copies are also available. Building and Grounds Committee Volunteers perform ongoing church maintenance. A coordinator keeps records of the work needed for the church and organizes and supervises periodic work parties to perform care of the church. This person can also hire work needed to be done under the direction of the Vestry. The Covenant Committee The Covenant Committee collaborates with members of St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church to plan and execute programs promoting our covenant with them such as the Thanksgiving Day dinner and ice cream social. Covenant Renewal with St. Catherine's Church Blessing of the Animals

15 History of Christ Church Christ Episcopal Church was born in 1895 through the efforts of local people in the Norway area with a desire to gather together and share their Episcopal faith. Through collaboration with Maine's Bishop Henry Adams Neely and Dean C. Morton Sills, Christ Church had its first vicar in 1896, the Reverend Marcus H. Carroll. For the first few years, services were held in various homes and buildings until the church itself was constructed and opened in The original church was designed by noted architect Bertram Grovenor Goodhue who also designed St. Thomas Church in New York City and the West Point Chapel. The church was strong, with 55 to 60 people in regular attendance. After years of sporadic activity in the church, steady attendance and expansion began in 1946 with the Reverend John Bowers conducting services. By 1953 there was a burgeoning membership, including a Sunday school class of 35 children prompting construction of the undercroft by parish members. There was a Couples Club that met monthly, an annual lobster supper and an annual church fair and auction. In 1959, the church purchased a Rectory, located directly across the street from the church. In 1974, under the guidance of Reverend Samuel Henderson, Christ Church received its status as a parish and Father Sam was installed as Rector. The church was very active, with 211 communicants. It was time to expand the church to include a parish hall attached to the main building. There was a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising the required money in

16 five years. Within one year, however, enough funds had been raised. Ground was broken in May of 1978 and parishioners completed the project, donating hundreds of hours over the course of a year to finish the work. In 1979, we were blessed with a gift of endowment, establishing the Major General Frank E. Lowe Endowment Fund. Since then, the fund has been augmented through other gifts and is overseen by the Finance Committee and Vestry. The same year, Christ Church consecrated a covenant with our neighbor, St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church, located directly across the street. The covenant emphasized joint projects, exchanges of sermons, and a covenant committee. Jacqueline Merrill, a parishioner and Christian education coordinator, went through the process of becoming a deacon at the church under the direction of Bishop Wolf and was ordained in The end of the year was a difficult time for Christ Church as Father Sam resigned as Rector in November. In the 1980's the church population remained stable, even though the decade saw three different priests call Christ Church home. The last priest of the decade was Father Robert Barnes. He led in the expansion of Christ Church's outreach programs, including the use of the building for various community groups. There was an emphasis on Christian education programs, with weekday and evening groups such as Bible study groups, book discussions, and other ways for adults to share their faith experiences with one another. Many parishioners attended The Cursillo weekends for adults, Happening weekends for high school students, and

17 New Beginnings weekends for middle schoolers. We planned on having Father Barnes lead the church into the 21 st century. However, we were saddened when he became ill and was forced to retire. Our next rector was the Reverend Anne Stanley. With Anne's enthusiasm and leadership, the covenant with St. Catherine's was revitalized. This relationship has included many shared events ranging from blood drives to a shared U2Charist to ice cream socials. Anne also encouraged more involvement with community churches. Christ Church collaborated with other local churches in a Lenten series, a community youth group, Thanksgiving services, food baskets and the Blessing of the Animals. During Anne's tenure the adult Christian education program expanded, local and global outreach was emphasized, and more social events such as the Bobby Crocker bake-off were held. In 2004, a Wicks pipe organ was donated and installed. That same year, the Rectory was sold due to its limited space. The funds were set aside to provide a housing allowance. Anne retired in 2011, leading us to our current Discernment process.

18 Statistics and Financials

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20 Our Region of Maine Christ Church is located at the heart of the Foothills of Western Maine. This area is dotted with numerous small towns and villages with names such as Oxford, Paris, Harrison, Naples, Bethel, Poland, Sumner, and Norway. All of these towns are represented at Christ Church, in Norway, Maine. The majority of our congregation is made up of residents from a twenty-mile radius of the Church. Many of our parishioners are Summer People who vacation at the numerous lakes and ponds around the area, and some are Ski People who frequent Sunday River, Shawnee Peak, and Mt. Abram Ski Resorts. Christ Church is easily accessible by Route 26. Downtown Norway is less than ½ mile from the Church. Stephens Memorial Hospital, which is a teaching hospital associated with Tufts University, ( is located around the corner from us. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and Guy E. Rowe Elementary School are very close neighbors. Highly rated Hebron Academy ( and Gould Academy ( also provide excellent secondary education options. (Within an hour's drive, one can reach an international jetport and shopping malls in Portland, L.L. Bean in Freeport, or the

21 White Mountains and outlet shopping of New Hampshire.)(add arts and music offerings nearby) There are excellent websites for Norway and the surrounding Maine towns ( are good sources). There is diversified employment in Western Maine, with a long-standing involvement in wood harvesting and the pulp and paper industry. New Balance Shoe has a factory and retail outlet in the area and there are several modular home manufacturers. We also have independent businesses as well as thriving service and tourism industries. Our Western Maine life is deeply connected to the outdoors. Beautiful mountains full of fishing streams, rafting rivers, and walking and hiking trails mark our area. Lakes sparkle with clean, fresh water abundant in fish and are welcoming to water sports such as kayaking and canoeing. Camping is a traditional part of summer life, and many generations of families return to the area every summer. Gardens of vegetables and flowers flourish in the summer, one sees brilliant foliage in the fall, and winter brings the aroma of balsam wreaths and freshly cut Christmas trees. We are truly a four-season location and Western Mainers relish them all, because after all our state is well-known for Maine, the Way Life Should Be.

22 Discernment Committee members Priscilla McFarland, Rosemary Laban, Lynn Brown, Barbi Tinder, Doug Wall, Ted Kehn, Russ Tornrose, Paul Bickford For more information go to: and contact Vicki Wiederkehr, Canon for Formation and Transition Ministry (207) Extension 123 The Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane, Bishop of Maine Christ Church is one of 64 parishes in the Diocese of Maine. We have parishioners actively involved at the Diocesan level and the greater Episcopal Church. Christ Church at work and play... Come join us.

23 Faces of Christ Church Bobby Crocker Bake-off Hymn-a-thon Golf Tournament Scholarship Fundraiser Ice Cream Social Fundraiser