Titusville United Methodist Church 7 Church Road Titusville, NJ 08560 Titusville Methodists to welcome seminarian co-pastors in early July TITUSVILLE, NJ, JUNE 2017 Early next month, parishioners of the Titusville United Methodist Church plan to welcome new co-pastors Stephanie Dion and Mathew (Matt) Enzler, both graduate students at Princeton (NJ) Theological Seminary (PTS), who, together, will provide fulltime pastoral leadership of the small, but active, church. All members of the public are invited to help welcome the new co-pastors during their first TUMC worship service on Sunday, July 2, at 10 a.m., followed immediately by an all-church luncheon in honor of the new pastoral team. The two student co-pastors will succeed The Rev. John Wesley Morrison, retiring after more than 33 years as an ordained elder of the Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church (GNJUMC) at five different United Methodist churches across New Jersey, including these past seven years in Titusville. Rev. Morrison delivered his final sermon as TUMC pastor on Sunday, June 11, followed immediately by an all-church farewell BBQ. Over the course of his ministry, Rev. Morrison s particular areas of interest, among others, have been interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding among various faith communities, and the study of ancient languages (Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Coptic and Aramaic/Syriac), whose complex shades of meaning have deepened the richness and texture of his Sunday sermons and scriptural explanations. As he retires from full-time ministry, Rev. Morrison plans to pursue research, writing and wide-ranging reading, as well as continuing his active involvement in interfaith dialogue, especially with members of the Muslim community. Effective July 1, co-pastors Dion and Enzler plan to begin their TUMC appointment as part of the GNJUMC s Mosaic Ministries program, introduced several years ago to provide pairings of competitively selected students at area seminaries with the opportunity to gain immersive
experience in jointly leading a local United Methodist congregation, while completing their academic studies and receiving extensive training and mentorship throughout their pastoral assignment. At TUMC, Dion has expressed particular interest in delving into adult education and pastoral-care visits to housebound or hospitalized parishioners; and Enzler, in youth ministry. Dion, of Dunedin, FL, just completed her third year of a four-year dual-degree program at PTS in which she will receive a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education and Formation, with a special focus in spiritual formation and mission. Ultimately seeking ordination within the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dion says she is excited to use her gifts for ministry at TUMC as she completes her graduate studies. Stephanie has served two churches previously in which she led worship, preached, taught adult education and confirmation, and conducted pastoral-care visits. In addition, she has served as a hospital chaplain and hopes to do more chaplaincy work in the future. Enzler has lived in many areas of the country, including Washington, DC, and Washington State. While continuously involved in some form of ministry, he earlier served as an attorney, speaking openly about the victims with whom he has worked and the impact they have had upon his life. He left his law career and started volunteering at a local soup kitchen through Audubon Park United Methodist Church in Spokane, WA, before entering seminary. He currently is in his second of an anticipated three years total at PTS, working toward a Master of Divinity degree. He has led home-group Bible studies and service projects and coached softball teams in a church league. Serving as the seminarians coordinating elder for the coming two years will be The Rev. Wayne Jack Plumstead, of Waretown, NJ, former longtime pastor of Park United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, NJ, and retired district superintendent of the GNJUMC s Palisades District, overseeing nearly 60 local United Methodist churches in northeastern New Jersey. Among other duties, Rev. Plumstead will supervise the efforts of the new co-pastors and, as a licensed United Methodist minister, perform the sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism on behalf of the Titusville congregation. TUMC congregants meet every Sunday at 10 a.m. for their weekly worship service. An active, energetic children s Sunday School meets at the same time. Themed small-group Biblediscussion series occur regularly at 9 a.m. throughout the year. Holy Communion is celebrated each month. Celebration Sunday after-worship coffee hour is served every fourth Sunday. The church s Serendipity Circle women s group, and book group, meet regularly. Other child/youth-related activities offered over time: An annual fall IGNITE youth
conference at the Jersey Shore; confirmation classes; and an extended-day Vacation Bible School. Ministries outside the church include work with several local food banks and food kitchens. The church has been active in ongoing outreach activities as nearby as Lambertville, NJ, and New Hope, PA (both seven miles north up the Delaware River) and the state capital Trenton, NJ (nine miles south down the river), and as far away as Kenya, East Africa. In the community, TUMC is known as a praying church. The church s worship style is casual and family-friendly. All welcome. Great fellowship. Come as you are. Founded in 1806, Titusville United Methodist Church is located at 7 Church Road at the corner of River Road (Route 29) and Church Road in Titusville. Just look for the blue ox on the sweeping front lawn. For more information, please contact Barbara Lotz, church secretary, Titusville United Methodist Church (at 609/737-2622 or ttvumc@gmail.com), or visit www.titusvilleumc.org.
PHOTO CAPTION (1 of 2): Eager to launch upon their new pastoral joint venture: Newly named as seminarian co-pastors of the historic Titusville United Methodist Church are Mathew (Matt) Enzler and Stephanie Dion (above), of Princeton Theological Seminary, effective July 1. They succeed The Rev. John Wesley Morrison, currently retiring after more than 33 years as an ordained United Methodist elder and these past seven years as TUMC pastor. Dion and Enzler plan to lead their first TUMC worship service together Sunday, July 2, immediately followed by a welcome luncheon in their honor. All welcome. Please come. For more information, please contact Barbara Lotz, church secretary, Titusville United Methodist Church (at 609/737-2622 or ttvumc@gmail.com), or visit www.titusvilleumc.org.
PHOTO CAPTION (2 of 2): A bittersweet farewell: Robed in red to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday in early June, The Rev. John Wesley Morrison (above) leads one of his final remaining worship services at Titusville United Methodist Church. Rev. Morrison has served as TUMC pastor for the past seven years. He plans to retire July 1 after more than 33 years of full-time ministry as an ordained elder within the Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church. Succeeding Rev. Morrison will be seminarian co-pastors Stephanie Dion and Mathew (Matt) Enzler, who plan to lead their first TUMC worship service together July 2. For more information, please contact Barbara Lotz, church secretary, Titusville United Methodist Church (at 609/737-2622 or ttvumc@gmail.com), or visit www.titusvilleumc.org.