Pastoral Leadership
The Rev. Curtis Metzger serves St. Stephen's as Rector on a part-time basis in addition to holding a full-time secular job. For the last three years he has worked for New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management as the Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Coordinator. He manages a federal grant assisting all 26 of the state's acute care hospitals to become better prepared for bioterrorism or other large-scale
public health emergencies.
Fr. Curtis was ordained in our companion diocese of Québec 20 years ago and has lived and worked in Québec, British Columbia, Hawaii, and Maine before
returning to N.H. to be closer to family.
A Social Worker first
by profession, he has mostly worked in Executive Director positions for small community health-related nonprofits including hospice organizations, Ronald McDonald House
Charities, and the Red Cross. Before being called as St. Stephen's priest, he exercised his ministry mostly as honorary assistant and interim/supply to various parishes.
Music Ministry
As Leader of Music Ministry, Katie Belanger conducts our singers, leads the congregation in singing. She is a singer who also plays oboe, clarinet, and flute.
Our Organist/Pianist Keith Belanger performs vocal solos in addition to musical accompaniment.
Both muscians were educated at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.
Vestry, Wardens, Officers
The St. Stephen's Vestry consists of a Senior Warden (Chris Porter), a Junior Warden (Dave Cummings), the Treasurer (Barbara Barr), Clerk (Virginia Pearson), and three at-large members (Martha Booth, Katie Jones, and Sabra Welch). This group acts as a "board of directors" for the parish in all matters, with financial and budgetary oversight. Our Vestry usually meets on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meeting minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the Undercroft.
Ministry Teams
After a lengthy parish Envisioning process, St. Stephen's organized its ministries using a team approach. These groups schedule regular meetings, usually held immediately after the Sunday service. All parishioners are invited to attend and to participate as they feel called.
Worship
This Team plans our Sunday and other services, in collaboration with the priest and the music ministers. The Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs), who serve at the altar and take communion to homebound parishioners are part of this Team, as are members of our Altar Guild. Fr. Curtis Metzger is the Team Leader.
In addition to Sunday worship, weekday services take place during the year: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. St, Stephen's also participates in the annual World Day of Prayer, held each March in an area congregation. Our annual Outdoor Eucharist is usually held in Setember, and in October we've offered a Blessing of the Animals.
Education
Our Sunday School program, led by Katie Belanger and Sabra Welch, teaches the children divided by age. They participate in activities and projects to share with the congregation. They also explore the elements of our worship--communion, vestments, and prayers--to better understand what they observe and experience during the service. The Prayer Partner ministry has also been introduced. Adult Education, led by Bernie Cameron, consists of different types of programs. Recent activities have included a Lenten Book or Bible study, Via Media, a study of the Book of Common Prayer, reading Bishop Robinson's book, and guest speakers from the diocesan staff or nonprofit groups.
Outreach
Through our monthly Food Gathering, our outreach team supplies the food pantry in Pittsfield. We also donate to the pantries in Barnstead, Strafford and Northwood. We provide volunteers and financial support to local service organizations and nonprofits. The team is led by George Booth and includes Newsletter (Dave Cummings, editor), New Member Ministry (Lucinda Kerivan), Postcard Ministry, Prayer Shawl Ministry (Marylee Johnson) and Publicity/Website (Margaret Porter).
Parish Life Guild
We are so grateful to Martha Booth for leading the Guild, which for many years has sponsored our parish fundraisers and organized parish social activities (the Christmas party and annual picnic.) Most of the money raised at our booths during the Town-wide Yard Sale (June), Old Home Day (July), and the St. Nicholas Fair (December), Rotary Balloon Rally and gavel-passing dinners, are used for Outreach or special projects.
Building
Under the leadership of Sabra Welch, this team is responsible for the care, cleaning, and maintenance of our church building, and communication with groups using it. This important and necessary ministry is supported by parish volunteers. Several times a year a Clean-up Day is held, indoors and out. We re-roofed the building in the autumn of 2007 and in 2008 re-paved the sidewalk from the street to the Undercroft. Recent achievements include the painting of the church exterior and the replacement of the oil tank. In 2003, a renovation of our Undercroft was taken on as a "church family project." The ceiling was raised, blocked windows were uncovered, radiant heat was installed under the floor, a handicapped-access restroom was added, and the entire space was re-painted. Replacement roof crosses were carved and assembled and painted by parishioners. The larger one was blessed by Bishop Robinson at Fr. Curtis's Celebration of New Ministry for installation in 2009.
