Christ Church New Brighton Staten Island, New York

Parish Profile

Fall 2016

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Introduction The mission of Christ Church New Brighton is to sustain a community of worship, love and service. We are a diverse community of many faithful and creative members who work well together. Everyone is welcome at the table and we value transparency. We have a long history of meaningful liturgical worship, fine music and community service. Our solid church school enrollment that is growing is encouraging. Our church property is large, beautiful and historically important. Christ Church has a membership of Africans, Afro-Caribbeans, Asians, Black Americans, Whites, and others. Most of the African members are from Liberia. Men, women, young adults and children of all ages and income levels are represented. Members of the LGBTQ community take full part in our church. While holding to traditional liturgy and programs, we explore new ways to meet this diversity. Christ Church has always served a larger community, not only through religious services, but also through programs meeting community needs outside the congregation. With the changing demographics of Staten Island’s North Shore, our membership and financial base have diminished, but today we are growing in membership and outreach. To meet the challenges of maintaining our current ministries, Christ Church needs to engage more of our parishioners in church work and develop new leaders. We need to attract the newcomers in our changing neighborhood. We need to increase the number of our contributors and improve our fund-raising skills. Brief Parish History

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Christ Church New Brighton was founded in 1849 and for many decades served an elite neighborhood constituency of New York City businessmen and their families. Its first building was constructed in 1850. The current Neo-Gothic stone church, designed by Philadelphia architect Isaac Pursell, was built in 1903. The Parish House, also designed by Pursell, was built in 1907. The Rectory, built in 1879, was moved and enlarged by Staten Island architect William Mersereau in 1909. Christ Church has long been noted for its large, beautiful site and complex of buildings. Its stained-glass windows, five by Tiffany, are remarkable treasures, as are the marble altar, limestone lectern and limestone pulpit. Lee Lawrie, a well-known 20th-century sculptor, did some of the carving.

The sudden death of the Rev. Charles H. Howell, our Rector, on July 5, 2015, was a defining moment in our community’s history. Each grieving person had a deep, special relationship to “Father Chuck.” Some were stunned in silence, but all quickly became of one spirit in caring for Chuck’s family, each other, and our ministries. Few fell away. The Wardens were splendid leaders and the New York diocesan staff and

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our interim Rector, the Rev. Victoria Duncan, guided us through our grief, keeping us steady in our ministry. In retrospect, Chuck’s death and our response to it were highly meaningful spiritual experiences. We have learned that one gifted believer can have a profound influence on others. Father Chuck’s example encourages us to follow in Christ’s footsteps. Our Neighborhood: New York City, Staten Island and New Brighton Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City. The least populated borough, our 600,000 residents mostly live in single or two-family homes. Staten Island is connected to the region by four bridges and the iconic Staten Island ferry. We are proud of our independent spirit but enjoy the vocational and cultural benefits of being close to Manhattan and the metropolitan region. New Brighton, laid out in 1835, is one of the earliest romantic suburban communities in the nation. From our hillsides on Staten Island’s North Shore we enjoy views of the New York Upper Bay and the Manhattan skyline. Many parishioners live in historic 19th- and early 20th-century houses. Current major development on our waterfront a little more than a mile from Christ Church includes the enormous New York Wheel, large shopping centers, hotels and apartment complexes. This offers opportunities for our congregation’s expansion in the near future. Christ Church is two blocks from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, an 80 acre museum complex and New York City park. Staten Island is the southernmost portion of New York State and the Episcopal Diocese of New York, which includes 200 congregations. Christ Church is a member of the Staten Island Inter-Parish Council, which includes eight congregations. Worship

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Christ Church’s liturgical style and practice are Broad Church. The Sunday Rite I Eucharist at 8:00 a.m., Rite II Choral Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. (with full S.A.T.B. choir, including two professional leaders), and Thursday morning Eucharist follow the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Music is both traditional and contemporary. We use the 1982 Hymnal and Lift Every Voice and Sing. Seasonal practices include Christmas Eve Candlelight Eucharist, Shrove Tuesday pancake supper and burning of palms to make ashes, Palm Sunday Procession, Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday foot washing, and readings in foreign languages on Pentecost. A New Year’s Eve Watch Night Service includes Liberian traditions.

Music

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We look forward to working with Scott Myers, our new Music Director. We hope to strengthen our choirs and music program. Mr. Myers is an accomplished organist. Our 1947 Möller pipe organ, needing restoration, presents a challenge. Five years ago we began the Christ Church Community Youth Choir, funded by a grant from the Staten Island Foundation. The choir is led by Jana Ballard, Director, and Kristin Parrish, Assistant Director. After-school rehearsals take place on Thursdays. The choir sings at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Eucharist once a month. The music program includes instruction for children by Alston Jack in steel drums. The drums were purchased and the teacher is paid by grants. Ukulele instruction for children is led by Karlus Trapp, Music Director, and Loria Raiola Trapp, Assistant Director. Pastoral Care Deacon Novella Lawrence keeps the Vestry informed about her home visits, hospital visits, telephone calls and cards sent to parishioners and non-parishioners alike. She leads a bereavement group at another local church. She and our parishioner and Eucharistic Visitor Lisa Rhoades, among others, distribute Holy Communion to shut-ins. Spiritual well-being of our community is nourished in weekly church services, through participation in the liturgy, and hearing Scripture and

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sermons based on Scripture. Prayers for individuals in need are especially helpful. Godly Play curriculum for children, Journey to Adulthood (J2A) for youth, adult Bible study, weekly prayer meetings and Lenten study series apply beliefs to real-life situations. Taxi service is available gratis to those in need. Emotional well-being is nourished through many well-attended fellowship activities: coffee hour, committee meetings, and lunch and dinner events. Complimentary tickets are available for fund-raising events.

Our accomplished cooks prepare food for all occasions. Full lunches are often served at the Sunday coffee hour. Meals can be delivered to house-bound or other needy parishioners. Each Sunday, gifts of non-perishable food are brought to the altar along with monetary offerings. These gifts fill the Parish Hall food pantry, where parishioners and

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others in need can receive them. The food is shared with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and other local pantries. Outreach Ministries Our homeless shelter for 15 men is coordinated by Project Hospitality. Our feeding ministries also engage us in the larger community. Christ Church assembles and delivers food baskets at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. In 2015 over 750 food baskets were prepared and distributed, each providing a meal for a family of four, some of whom are members of our congregation. This program is funded by grants from New York City Council member Debi Rose, Episcopal Charities, a local Masonic Lodge, and parishioners and friends of Christ Church. Deacon Geri Swanson, a leader of many outreach programs, initiated “Ashes at the Ferry.” On Ash Wednesday morning, Deacon Swanson and others administer ashes to commuters in the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Each year over 300 persons of diverse backgrounds receive ashes, with publicity and other comment throughout the community. A monthly Sunday service held at Harbor Terrace Adult Home includes music and Holy Communion when requested. Finances Our budgeted operating expense for 2016 is $264,375. There are 253 communicants in good standing with 90 pledges ranging from $50 to $8,000. Interest from our endowment pays a portion of our operating expenses.

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Our large property of almost two acres with three landmarked buildings is important to us, but caring for this significant architectural and historical inheritance is a major challenge. In recent years the church tower’s failing infrastructure presented an emergency situation not to be ignored. “Enhance the Legacy,” a capital campaign to restore the tower, was begun in 2012 and completed in 2015. A professional fund-raiser, Ruotolo Associates, was hired and a congregational goal of $200,000 established. The Episcopal Diocese of New York contributed $140,000. Three local foundations contributed a total of $105,000. A bequest contributed $25,000. The work was completed at a cost of $707,000. The overrun was met from our endowment. Governance The Vestry of Christ Church includes two Wardens, John Gerney and Willie Black III, and members Catherine Barnett, Nick Dowen, Kathleen Galvez, Mark Gherzo, Steve Gross, Paige Gunther, Kevin Larimer, Rita McGough, Andrea Morse-Raff, David Nygard, Paul

Smith, and Richard Zayzay. Rita McGough currently serves as our Clerk. The parish’s treasurer, Dorothy Thompson, attends the meetings as do our clergy, the Rev. Victoria Duncan, the Rev. Deacon Novella Lawrence, and the Rev. Deacon Geri Swanson.

Staff

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We have many people who serve at and through Christ Church, giving of their time, talent and treasure. Some are partially compensated by various grants we receive. Our paid staff include Mr. Eric Alexieff (Choir Section Leader), the Reverend Victoria Duncan (Interim Pastor), Mr. Lester Jean (Sexton), Mr. Scott Myers (Music Director & Organist), Ms. Kristin Reiersen-Parrish (Choir Section Leader), and Ms. Cathy Romano (Parish Secretary). Search Committee The Rector Search Committee was elected by the Vestry and includes Elizabeth Gattullo, Chloe Lee, Alleida Mitchell, David Nygard (also a Vestry member), Valerie Quinlan, Nancy Reirson-Scromo, Paul Smith (also a Vestry member) and Sam Williams. Barnett Shepherd offers his many gifts as he serves as Chair of this Committee. The congregation prays weekly for our search process and for the Search Committee in the following prayer: Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Rector Profile

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Christ Church New Brighton seeks a spiritual leader who can communicate faith through pastoral care and community outreach. We seek a leader who is able to challenge us, and whose vision will deepen our faith and strengthen our current and future ministries. Four primary ministerial skills are seen as highest priorities: pastoral care, youth ministries, community outreach and visionary skills. How to Apply Please send your OTM Portfolio and resume with a cover letter to Barnett Shepherd, Chair, Christ Church Rector Search Committee at: christchurchrectorsearch@verizon.net The deadline for applications is December 1, 2016. We look forward to hearing from you. Contact Information Contact name: Barnett Shepherd Contact email: christchurchrectorsearch@verizon.net Christ Church New Brighton address: 76 Franklin Avenue, Staten Island, N.Y. 10301

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