A church in transition

NORWAY — When the Reverend Anne Stanley announced her retirement last fall as rector of Christ Church in Norway, the 13-year long chapter of joint ministry at the church came to a close.

This immediately meant a challenge to the congregation. Rather than filling the position by a higher church authority it became the responsibility of the local parish to find and call a new rector.

For several weeks visiting clergy led the Sunday services and parishioners experienced a taste of different styles and ways the same liturgy can be celebrated.

Then in January, the Vestry hired a Transitional Priest in Charge to preside at Sunday services and be responsible for the spiritual and pastoral care of the congregation and also aid and guide in the search for a new rector.

The Vestry in the Episcopal Church is not a place or a room but the Board of Directors in charge of all lay and business matters. It is led by a Senior and Junior Warden — Carlyn Watts and Lynn Orsini respectively, and the eight members of the Vestry all elected at the annual meeting.

The Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Miller has moved smoothly into the interim position and is working well with the many groups in the church. So what is different at Christ Church? A Discernment Parish Profile has been elected and is charged with working up a Parish Profile, on the basis of which the search for a new rector can begin.

This is a lengthy process and some impatient souls have been heard to say, "Why doesn't the Bishop just send us someone?" Well, that is not the way it works. While all the planning for the future is going on, life and activities at the church are at full speed.

After worshippers are greeted by ushers with a welcoming smile, an acolyte leads the choir and eucharistic ministers into Sunday services, the Altar Guild set up the altar and cares for the vestments, altar linens, sacred vessels and flowers, the organist and choir provide the music, children are taught at Sunday School and coffee hours are for socializing and conversation.

During the week the place is busy with Centering Prayer on Monday, Women's Bible Study on Tuesdays, the Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays, Roundtable meets on Thursdays for discussion, other groups meet ad hoc to make sure the building is maintained and kept clean and welcoming, outreach is not forgotten and more. Fundraising is an ongoing concern to keep the parish sound financially.

In the pipeline right now is a plant and cookie sale in May, a golf tournament in June, and a yard sale in august. The Beehive, the monthly newspaper, keeps parishioners up to date.

But the real concern and challenge to everyone is for Christ Church to be a significant Christian witness to the town, the community at large and, yes, in the world.

A church in transition is exciting, challenging, a big responsibility and an adventure. Christ Church may not have a permanent rector right now, but it has a shepherd to guide and a flock excited to write the first few pages in the next chapter of the history of Christ Church in Norway, whose first chapter was written in 1895.