ORCHARD COVENANT CHURCH

Thank you for your interest in Orchard Covenant Church. This profile is our attempt to describe a small but dynamic congregation that is seeking a Senior Pastor. We recently celebrated 170 years of faithful ministry in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield. Up until 23 years ago, the church was known as The First Congregational Church of Indian Orchard , but its numbers were dwindling. A family with ties to the Evangelical Covenant Church of Springfield began to explore the possibility of joining the Covenant which happened in 1996, and growth occurred as the first full-time pastor was called.

In spite of our longevity as a congregation, we have become a church that is more apt to say, “Let’s try it,” rather than, “We’ve always done it that way.” We tend to be a church short on programs, but long on heart and compassion. Those who call Orchard Covenant Church home describe our church as welcoming and caring, and newcomers say this is a safe place to explore their faith. Recent surveys of our congregation reveal what people are looking for in a new pastor: authenticity in preaching, compassion, and visionary leadership with a heart for outreach and social justice.

We trust that God has been preparing a pastor to lead our congregation into a deeper relationship with Christ and the ways of His Kingdom. You will discover much more about us as you peruse the following pages. We believe this is a two way process and ask that you prayerfully consider the information presented here as we, together, seek God’s leading throughout the search process.

Linda Howell, Chair Senior Pastor Search Committee Table of Contents

Our Church and Building Demographics and Membership Diversity Staff Governance and Polity Love Mercy Do Justice ACTS Community Involvement Make and Deepen Disciples Youth and Families Immerse Music and Worship Men’s Breakfast Sunday Lunch Serve Globally Muhudu Stewardship and Giving Our Challenges Our Community Area attractions Our Church

Orchard Covenant Church had its beginnings 170 years ago, meeting in a school across the street from the present building. Then it was called the First Congregational Church of Indian Orchard which is in the northeast section of Springfield and was known for its plum orchards. It is remarkable to note all the challenges that faced this congregation: · A major wind storm that blew the building down shortly after it was built in 1855. · In 1862, during the Civil War, with many of the community’s working men away, the Indian Orchard Co. bought the mortgage to save the church from closing. · A serious fire occurred in 1942 · The church came very close to closing with membership and attendance at an all-time low in 1995 But thanks be to God! His hand has been evident throughout the long history of this church. · Most significantly, in 1881, a spiritual revival created a new passion for ministry with 38 baptisms and 70 new members added. · In 1892, the congregation was able to buy back the church and add to the building. · The church’s ministry continued as the only Protestant church in the neighborhood for nearly 150 years. It became The Evangelical Church of Indian Orchard in 1896. · In the 30’s, the church welcomed Armenian refugees who came to work in the mills. Helping them learn English was very important at the time. · In 1996, with the urging of a family who had been members of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Springfield, the church joined the denomination as the Evangelical Covenant Church of Indian Orchard and called an interim pastor, followed by its first full-time pastor, Rev. Don Olson from 1998-2003. Rev. Nancy Ebner became pastor in 2004 and is retiring this year. Under her leadership, the church has grown in depth of discipleship and in unexpected ways, having an international flavor in its community outreach. The name has been shortened to Orchard Covenant Church. · Once again like in the 1930’s, the church welcomed refugees, this time from Burundi and Congo. They have become an integral part of the church even as they maintain their own identity. Our Building

The First Congregational Church of Indian Orchard, was created in 1848 by a small group of 15 people, who saw a need for an evangelical Protestant church in the area. The first church building was begun in 1855, but the nearly completed framing was destroyed by high winds, and rebuilt in 1856.

Through diversity, multiple pastors, and many repairs, the building’s current footprint was established in 1956, which includes the sanctuary and attached rooms, and the addition of a community hall and kitchen area. The sanctuary side of the building contains the church office and kitchenette, the “Blue Room” (a meeting room painted blue!), a bathroom, and the pastor’s office. On the second floor is storage, and two large education rooms, mainly used for youth.

The Community Hall side of the building contains a small library, the hall with stage, bathrooms and a large kitchen with new appliances. There is also a small “prayer room.”

In the basement on this side are classrooms for children. In 2001, a renovation of the sanctuary was completed. The tin ceiling and walls remain, with a beautiful stenciled area at the altar, done by a professional art restorer and inspired by old pieces of wallpaper discovered under the tin. The memorial stained glass windows also remain. We have had upgrades to our sound system, and the carpeting was replaced and platform expanded in 2014. The original pews are just one of the delights of this historic building, and our pipe organ is also historic and is played most Sundays. Demographics and Membership

Membership While there was a decline in membership, our congregation seems to have stabilized at the 70 mark. Of the respondents to our church survey, 91% are regular attenders. The largest number of respondents have been associated with Orchard Covenant Church for over ten years. Our goal is to welcome more people into membership.

13-19 10% 20-29 2.5%

13 & Under 31.3%

40-49 13.8% Age

50-59 8.8%

60-69 70+ 7.5% 23.8 % Other 14.5% Demographics

African American Sixty percent of our 10.9% attenders hail from the Race greater Springfield area, with half that amount Caucasian 60% from the Indian Orchard African 14.5% neighborhood. The remainder are within a 10 mile radius of the church.

Our congregation is Agawam Westfield 3.2% 5.3% made up of 34% couples

Wilbraham 7.4% and individuals over the age of 70. The next Springfield 30.9% largest group is ages 40 Ludlow 10.6% to 49, most of these families with children. East Longmeadow Area 2.1% Chicopee Sixty percent are 6.4% Caucasian, while 25% are African and African- Indian Orchard American. 30.9% Diversity

Orchard Covenant’s congregation is an international one, represented by a large family from Kenya, who have befriended refugees. They brought them to our church, because they knew these people, who had suffered so much, would be welcomed. Several of these families have been loved and cared for and have moved on to other locations where there are better work opportunities. One family from Burundi, who has lived here for eight years, now have a Habitat House and were assisted in qualifying for that by church members. There is also a family from Trinidad/Tobago and another from Haiti. Orchard Covenant’s life is rich and reflects the kingdom of God. Staff

Our small but enthusiastic staff is comprised of June Foster, Music Director and Organist; Ben Tibbetts, Accompanist and Organist; Andrew Johnson, Custodian; and Toni Wapner, Office Manager.

June directs the Choir at Thursday evening rehearsals and on Sunday mornings, often plays the organ during worship services, and helps to plan the worship service with the Pastor on a weekly basis. She also directs children's music.

Ben accompanies the Choir at rehearsals and on Sunday mornings, composes original pieces when needed, directs the Choir in June’s absence, and works with June on special concerts and duets throughout the year. Andy maintains the physical cleanliness of our facility on a weekly basis, stocking supplies and keeping our building orderly and hygienic.

Toni serves as administrative assistant to the Senior Pastor, manages the church office, and is responsible for the production of the weekly bulletin and other printed materials. Governance and Polity

Orchard Covenant Church has a Council form of Governance. The Council consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chair, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Ministry Team leaders, and the Recording Secretary, all of whom are elected church officials, and the Pastor. The council convenes once a month to pray, review and discuss the church’s financial position, the movement of the Holy Spirit, and to discuss and implement plans for our Local Church. OCC is an active participant in the East Coast Conference, with several of our members having served on various boards. A number of congregants, including the pastor, have attended the Covenant Justice Conference. We keep current with the denomination and its ministries.

The following are the Ministry Teams at OCC : 1) Evangelism and Outreach 2) Worship and Music 3) Christian Formation 4) Care and Nurture 5) Properties Love Mercy Do Justice

Acts at OCC

On Tuesday afternoons during the school year, a lively group of students and tutor/mentors can be found in the Community Hall as part of ACTS (Action Centered Tutoring Services). ACTS has been providing “one-to-one free tutoring and mentoring in the Spirit of Christ to the elementary children of Springfield” for 32 years.

The organization was founded by Covenanters and others from churches around the city after praying together and asking God to lead them to a way to make a difference in the lives of children, many of whom have been at- risk. There are now nine sites at various churches around the city, including ECC Springfield. Some of the students at OCC are former refugees who spoke no English when they arrived almost three years ago and did not know the alphabet. Volunteer tutors have joined with efforts from the schools and are encouraged that now these children are speaking fluently, reading and participating in Club Time, which is the part of the afternoon that focuses on Bible stories and teachings.

This year’s curriculum is Psalm 23 and the children are learning the passage with hand motions and lessons on each line of the Psalm. A circle of prayer ends the afternoon with hands raised in “Praise God” before the students leave with their parents. The site at OCC has been a continual positive presence for the last 20 years. Community Involvement

The Community Survival Center serves as “a bridge of hope to the hungry and homeless” in Indian Orchard, which is considered to be a part of Greater Springfield with about 20% of individuals below the poverty level. Eighty-three new families were added to their rolls last year which is an indication of growing food insecurity. Food is available to those who qualify for assistance and clothing and household goods can be purchased in their thrift store. OCC has had a significant involvement with the Center with two members who are on their Board of Directors and food drives and donations contributed each year. Pastor Nancy Ebner has also served on the Indian Orchard Citizen’s Council, building relationships with leaders in the Orchard and advocating for justice as a resident, as her home is located beside the church. One event that parishioners took part in was a prayer walk through the neighborhoods sponsored by Campaign Non- Violence. Another is an annual picnic in September on the church grounds with open invitations for neighbors to join in.

communitysurvivalcenter.org Make and Deepen Disciples

The Bible is central to our vision for making disciples who make disciples. Up to 25 children and adults participate in the Sunday School where classes are offered for all ages, including bilingual Bible classes. It is our joy to see our children confirmed and baptized. Small groups have been growing through the Immerse Bible Study; soon we will have read the whole Bible. Children of all ages participate in original Christmas and/or Easter programs. Our kids regularly attend Camp Squanto and six young people went to CHIC 2018. Youth group events include hiking, church clean-up, soccer watching marathons, and shed building. Shed Building In the summer of 2017, high school students were “hired” (as a CHIC fundraiser) to build a shed for the church. Students were trained in using power tools safely, reading design plans, and in performing finish work. After 40 hours of one of the hottest weeks on record, a shed was created through teamwork and determined youth.

Sunday School Any child that comes to OCC is welcomed into Sunday School where the teaching team is committed to supporting kids as they seek to explore how to be God’s heart and hands in the world. Creative groupings by reading level means that the children's needs, linguistic, behavioral, and academic, are met. Men's Breakfast

For approximately 15 years, a small, faithful group of men have been meeting for prayer, fellowship and good food once per month. This has proven to be a real encouragement to these men.

Worship and Music Worship at Orchard Covenant is marked by diversity and unity. We are often led in worship by brothers and sisters speaking another language (most often Swahili). We also experience diversity in our congregational music as we sing both hymns and praise songs. The choir sings many different musical styles as they lead us in worship. However, while we have diversity, we also have unity as each part of the service blends together to deliver a unified message for the week, and all of our worship points us toward Jesus, the recipient of our praise. Most weeks the service concludes with us blessing one another by singing May the Lord Bless You and Keep You (or occasionally another seasonally appropriate blessing) to each other. Serve Globally

Muhudu Village

Muhudu Village is a small, rural, densely populated village in Western Kenya with close to 500 households surrounded by other villages. It consists of mostly peasant farmers living from hand to mouth, planting maize for subsistence and cash plus some tea and millet. There is a lack of clean water and food, cash for school fees and ravaging diseases including malaria, TB, pneumonia, HIV and AIDS, creating a situation in which many destitute children are living with grandparents who are often widows. In 2005, Mama Esther Jumba and her family started a pilot project of feeding orphans porridge and a mixture of maize and beans three times a week. This attracted quite a crowd which kept on swelling. After a while they started sponsoring school fees for the children, and also buying uniforms and school supplies. OCC got involved in 2008, after Mama Esther shared her passion for her children with Pastor Nancy and others who joined in the efforts with generous financial contributions toward the family’s efforts. Students have been sponsored for secondary schools and even tertiary colleges and universities. In a true African welcoming way, Pastor Nancy and Wally and John and Emily Hayden have been hosted in the village and experienced first-hand both the joys and struggles of the people there. Young people, who have never been out of the village, have been sponsored for seminars in Mombasa, and women have been trained in Community Health Education and tailoring, all with the goal of empowerment. A Covenant church has also been planted with ties to the Kenyan Covenant Church with Pastor Eddy Jumba trained as its first pastor. Francis Nakitare, a family member, writes, “What a wonderful undertaking thousands of miles away from an Orchard congregation with LIGHT shining in Africa in Muhudu!” Stewardship and Giving

At Orchard Covenant we recognize and depend upon our Lord's provision for all our needs, but we are also called to be faithful stewards of the resources that He has provided. Through the generous and faithful giving of its members, the church has been able to maintain its facility and small staff while still supporting mission outreach programs within our community and beyond. The church carries no mortgage and has savings of over $44,000.

In addition to financially supporting the denomination and East Coast Conference, Orchard Covenant has provided funds to local ministries including The Community Survival Center, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Action Centered Tutoring (ACTS), the Springfield Rescue Mission, Young Life and others. Our members also volunteer time with many of these ministries, truly being the heart and hands of our church in the community. Beyond our local area, Orchard Covenant has maintained an active interest and financial support for Pilgrim Pines, New England Seafarers Mission and a special program in Muhudu, a rural village in Northwest Kenya. This program is described in more detail in the Missions part of this profile report. Below is a financial overview of Orchard Covenant for the past six years Our Challenges

Our membership and attendance have been dropping off slightly over these last few years and consequently, our finances have also decreased with fewer consistent giving units.

Many of our most committed members are advancing in age, with less energy to devote to tasks to be accomplished and to vision for more ministry opportunities.

There is a need for more commitment to youth leadership.

We are a neighborhood church in an economically challenged city with families and singles who struggle to make commitments.

Our diversity is a great strength as has been described elsewhere in the profile but also a challenge in attracting people who are used to a more homogenous congregation. Our Community

Indian Orchard developed in the mid 1800's as an isolated mill town along the banks of the Chicopee River. It is now incorporated as part of Springfield, but it has maintained its own main street lined with mill buildings that have now become artist's studios and a catalyst for the community's rebirth. Beyond Main Street's mill section, the community is largely residential with mostly single-family homes built during the 1900's. The Orchard's population is 8,900 while Springfield has an estimated population of 155,000. Metropolitan Springfield had a population of 692,924 in 2010.

Mission Insight's demographic data reports that Indian Orchard's two-mile radius area has a stable population with mixed educational attainment, racial/ethnic diversity, and is closely split on blue to white collar occupations. However, it also has families with "somewhat less" children and median family income than the state average. The lifestyle segmentation types are primarily "Aspirational Fusion" – those who dare to dream, and "Autumn Years"- settled and sensible. Orchard Covenant is sited at the center of its postal zip-code, which is classified as an urban setting, yet it is five miles from the downtown heart of Springfield, MA. Thirty percent of its current members reside in this 01151 zip-code. Forty-two percent of its current members reside within a two-mile radius that includes portions of the surrounding towns of Ludlow and Chicopee, and the neighborhood of Springfield.

Springfield is the largest city in western New England and the economic and media capital of the . Its location is both 90 miles distant from Boston and Albany and 24 miles north of Hartford. It is at the crossroads of two major interstate highways and rail systems linking it to New York and Montreal as well as Boston and points West. The Hartford-Springfield region is known as the "Knowledge Corridor" because it hosts over 160,000 university students and over 32 universities and liberal arts colleges – the second-highest concentration of higher-learning institutions in the United States. Area Attractions

Springfield is located in the Pioneer Valley which centers around the Connecticut River and is a lovely backdrop for the surrounding mountains of the Berkshire Range. In less than two hours, you can be skiing in Vermont and New Hampshire, enjoying beaches on the Connecticut shore or visiting Boston. And in less than an hour, you can be listening to a concert on the beautiful grounds of Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, or experiencing living history in an 18th century Deerfield Village or 19th century Sturbridge Village.

Right in the heart of Springfield are the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Springfield Museums. The quadrangle includes five museums for one admission, the newest being The Dr. Seuss Museum, honoring the author who grew up in the city. For family fun, Six Flags New England is just across the river in Agawam.

Probably the most significant attraction for Covenanters is Pilgrim Pines, just an hour and a half away on the shores of beautiful Lake Swanzey. It’s so accessible for day trips and picnics and longer stays in the lodge and cabins.