St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lithgow
A Friendly Country Parish on a Dirt Road
Mission
Our small parish is characterized by a commitment to intellectually challenging preaching, regular Bible study, excellent music, a vital youth education program, and compassionate outreach to the surrounding community. All parishioners, would-be parishioners and drop-ins are welcome at this simple country church on a dirt road.
Parish
St. Peter's is one of the first Episcopal congregations to be formed in the Hudson Valley following the Revolutionary War. We are a community of around 130 families, equally split between people who live here year-round and those who live here and in New York. The challenges of creating a community of faith where there is a significant number of part-time leadership, diverse Christian formation needs, and a growing senior community committed to the “aging in place” concept, provides an interesting crucible of innovation where church and the public square meet. Economic deprivation nestles up to the lush acres under conservation or used for hunting and shooting.
Ministries
The church participates in several community enterprises where there is ecumenical outreach to the marginalized and the isolated and vulnerable rural senior community. Millbrook at Home is a recent initiative of the four main churches in Millbrook and together with an active Outreach Program, St Peter’s is both formally and informally (often through members volunteering on significant community agency boards) involved in identifying and addressing these unique and often invisible issues. Lack of opportunity for youth, lack of employment and food, opioid addiction and the needs and aspiration of the farmworkers' community are some of the issues occupying the concerns of the local faith community.
Our small parish is characterized by a commitment to intellectually challenging preaching, regular Bible study, excellent music, a vital youth education program, and compassionate outreach to the surrounding community. All parishioners, would-be parishioners and drop-ins are welcome at this simple country church on a dirt road.
Parish
St. Peter's is one of the first Episcopal congregations to be formed in the Hudson Valley following the Revolutionary War. We are a community of around 130 families, equally split between people who live here year-round and those who live here and in New York. The challenges of creating a community of faith where there is a significant number of part-time leadership, diverse Christian formation needs, and a growing senior community committed to the “aging in place” concept, provides an interesting crucible of innovation where church and the public square meet. Economic deprivation nestles up to the lush acres under conservation or used for hunting and shooting.
Ministries
The church participates in several community enterprises where there is ecumenical outreach to the marginalized and the isolated and vulnerable rural senior community. Millbrook at Home is a recent initiative of the four main churches in Millbrook and together with an active Outreach Program, St Peter’s is both formally and informally (often through members volunteering on significant community agency boards) involved in identifying and addressing these unique and often invisible issues. Lack of opportunity for youth, lack of employment and food, opioid addiction and the needs and aspiration of the farmworkers' community are some of the issues occupying the concerns of the local faith community.
The Praxis Position: Youth + Community Coordinator
The youth ministry and community coordinator will dive into the challenging dynamics of working at the cultural intersection of urban and rural. The coordinator will gather people of different backgrounds and interests to create community, create economic development in a struggling region, and contribute to building a strong and connected faith community. Exciting!
Position Description
Applicant Characteristics
Position Requirements
Position Description
- Collaborate with the Youth Education Committee and the Church School Director to implement a comprehensive youth education program.
- Assist the Vicar with Sunday services.
- Take the lead with youth ages 11+, especially through the confirmation classes, acolyte programs, and community outreach.
- Create opportunities for online learning and a virtual spiritual community could help bridge the gap between the young New York families and those families who live locally.
- Implement new Christian education opportunities for adults in 2019; such as organizing local workshops and visits to events in New York City.
- Maintain an active presence in the community.
- May choose to work remotely one day a week.
Applicant Characteristics
- A seeker who enjoys the differences in our faith experiences.
- Self-motivated.
- Engaging and excited about youth ministry, especially with the older children and adolescents.
- Able to pursue multiple projects simultaneously.
- Inquisitive.
- Desires conversation and being with people.
- Creative.
Position Requirements
- As the parish is located seven miles outside of town, a valid driver's license is required.
- Willing to work 3 weekends per month.
- Our preference is for an Episcopalian or someone from any Christian denomination.
- Understand liturgy, Bible study and teaching.
- Able to understand and apply concepts of liturgy, Bible study, and teaching to everyday life.
- Confidently and kindly help young people to make good decisions about their faith.