Announcing….a new (temporary) home base for Carlisle Presbytery!
The pitching and packing are done. We’ve pared down to the essentials and we’re ready to create new office spaces in this building on Front Street in Harrisburg. We’ll occupy two of the many offices the building holds. One office will be dedicated primarily to the work of the Treasurer, which includes processing mail and handling the financial transactions of the presbytery. A second office will be used by the Interim Executive Presbyter and Temporary Stated Clerk. The building also offers common space for small group meetings, kitchen space, and restrooms. There is free parking in a lot behind the building, plus plenty of free street parking adjacent to the building. On the riverfront, between the Harvey Taylor and I-81 bridges, its location offers easy access to both the East and West shores of our presbytery.
Moving date is Monday, November 9. Here is our new contact information:
The Presbytery of Carlisle
2601 N. Front St., Suite 107
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-737-6821 (office phone)
Please make sure those in your church who correspond with the presbytery make note of it. This is a good time to remind you that we now accept financial contributions from individuals and churches through the Give Now button on our website.
This move represents a shift already underway, in the functions of the presbytery:
All of our committees currently meet in digital space. Thanks to Zoom, our work continues, with strong attendance. Committee members appreciate that travel time is no longer necessary. When committees begin to meet in person again, we anticipate they’ll schedule meeting space in the churches of the presbytery.
Our staff is working well, mostly from home. The reduction in office space takes into account their needs, as they continue to serve the congregations and leaders of the presbytery, and results in significant cost savings to the presbytery. Here’s what you can expect:
Christie Ward, Communications Specialist, works primarily from her home office. We employ her part-time, (8:00-5:00, Monday and Wednesday/as needed, Tuesday and Thursday). You can reach Christie at: office@carlislepby.org or 717-805-7577
Debby Madden, Treasurer, works primarily from the presbytery office. We employ her part-time. On Mondays she will be in the office processing mail and bills and handling emails and reports. You can reach Debby at: treasurer@carlislepby.org or 717-440-1263
Meg Shoeman, Temporary Stated Clerk, works both from home and from the presbytery office. We employ her part-time. In addition to taking minutes for the meetings of several committees, her primary workdays are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You can reach Meg at: sclerk@carlislepby.org or 717-315-5107
Cheryl Galan, Interim Executive Presbyter, works from home, from the presbytery office, and from the road, to the extent that in-person meetings are possible. We employ her full-time. Cheryl takes Friday as a day of Sabbath. Otherwise, you can reach her at: cheryl.galan@carlislepby.org or 315-398-9077
What about Lend-A-Hand? With the pandemic, we are not able to travel or gather groups for disaster assistance mission trips. For the time being, Lend-A-Hand will share office space, as needed, with the Treasurer. The vans will be parked in the lots of a couple of churches. Jim Davis, Coordinator, can be reached at: lendahnd@gmail.com
What about the future needs of the presbytery? As the dust settles on the other side of the pandemic, we’ll re-assess our office needs. In the meantime, we’re storing office supplies and furnishings we don’t need now, but may need someday. Thank you to Faith-Immanuel for making a room available for storage.
And, we owe a large debt of gratitude to the volunteers whose gift of time has prepared the way for this move. A crew of Christian Educators spent countless hours in the Resource Center, sifting through resources that have out-lived their usefulness and finding new homes for those that continue to speak into the needs of today’s church. Thank you Mary Speedy, Katy Brungraber, Debbie Hough, and Debby Madden
An Office Working Group did the research that helped us clarify our short-term office needs and locate suitable space. Thank you: John Carroll, Robin Morgan, Mary Speedy, Debby Madden, and Jim Davis.
Lend-A-Hand volunteers have helped move furnishings and equipment for our Give-Away days. Thank you Jim Davis, Andy Hardy, Jack Blosser, George Elliott, Dave Folk and Bill Charron.
It takes a village to move a presbytery! We’re thankful that our village includes your generous hearts, hands, and voices.
Blessings,
Cheryl Galan, Interim Executive Presbyter
