Church Profile

SECTION A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Position to be filled: MINISTER OF WORD AND SACRAMENT

1. Name of church: Church on the Hill

2. Website: www.churchonthehill.org

3. Address: 167-07 35th Avenue Flushing, 11358

Telephone: (718) 358-3671
E-mail: office@churchonthehill.org

4. Classis: Queens

5. Classis supervisor: Rev. Albert Potgieter

Address: 39-50 Douglaston Parkway Douglaston, NY 11363
Telephone: (718) 229-2169
E-mail: avpotgieter@gmail.com

6. Chair of search committee: Emerson Chen and Nancy Gessner

Address: c/o Church on the Hill
167-07 35 Avenue Flushing, NY 11358
E-mail: pastoralsearch@churchonthehill.org

7. Membership

Comment on significant changes: N/A

Ages of all active members (baptized and confessing):

8. Racial/Ethnic composition of congregation:

9. Worship schedule:

Average attendance (includes adults and children):

Comment on significant changes:

During the pandemic, our worship services went virtual via our YouTube channel. We gained a steady following of online worshipers, including 435 subscribers joining us nationally and internationally.

Since reopening in 2021, we have continued streaming our Sunday services – averaging 10 people joining live each week and around 75 total views per service. The availability of online worship is immensely important to us as it reaches members who have moved, those who cannot worship with us in person, and others who may be looking for a church.

We have also experienced increased in-person attendance. Over the past 2 years, our weekly attendance has doubled in size: for Easter, 90 people worshipped with us in-person, with 239 views online. In January 2022, we welcomed 11 new members to our congregation.

10. Describe a typical worship service (order of worship, music, etc.) What is your congregation’s preferred style or styles of worship? Attach a bulletin, if available.

Please see the following examples: Christmas Eve, Easter Sunday, Regular, and Summer. And please feel free to check out our YouTube channel.

11. Financial information: see report

Percentage of total budge contributed by living donors: 44% or less

12. Congregational giving:

Number of those whose annual contribution is:

13. Financial assistance: Do you receive financial assistance beyond the congregation? No

If yes, amount received last year: N/A

List other fundraising programs that support the church:

• Church on the Hill Community Nursery School: we receive tuition from the private 2- year-old program, along with income for building use and upkeep from the NYC Department of Education as the landlord for the Universal Pre-K and 3-year-old programs.

• Bargain Boutique Thrift Shop: donated clothing, accessories, toys, and home items are collected, sorted, and sold to the community. Often items are redistributed to those in need. The Bargain Boutique is located in the basement of the church and open to the public once a week, year-round.

• Harvest Festival: an annual indoor/outdoor festival in November that welcomes congregational and community vendors to rent tables and sell their goods (including crafts, jewelry, antiques, etc.). Members of our congregation donate baked goods, frozen foods, and crafts to sell, along with running a café during the festival.

• Facility use donations: 11 local community and support groups meet in our building throughout the week, year-round.

14. Church/Sunday School:

Comment on significant changes:

In spring 2022, we resumed our in-person Children at Worship program, held during Sunday worship. The children begin worship in the sanctuary, then start their program after the first hymn. The program is run by a dedicated volunteer, who is a retired educator, long- standing member of the Church, and former VP of Consistory. Children at Worship currently uses the Storymakers curriculum. This past Spring, 4 new students signed up for Sunday class. At present, there are 6 to 10 students who participate each Sunday.

Affiliated with the Children at Worship program are special children’s events. During the pandemic, packets were created and delivered to children when they could not be in person to worship. This outreach has continued for the past 2 years with Advent packages provided to all children. The packets include books and activities to bring the Christmas message home to the families. This year (Christmas 2022), 10 children participated in White Christmas services, performing the Christmas pageant and collecting donated toys and gifts for local organizations. We also held our first Easter Egg Hunt since the pandemic, which was well attended and enjoyed. This June, we brought back a long- standing Church on the Hill tradition of celebrating the children of our church during Children’s Day, with 12 children leading the service.

We look forward to starting a class for the junior high students, as well as adding a class for 4- and 5-year-old children in the 2023-2024 school year. This will give us 3 classes on Sundays during worship.

15. Describe briefly all educational programs (including children, young adult, adult).

• Children at Worship: held weekly on Sundays, during worship.

• Adult Bible Study: held weekly on Tuesdays. Led by lay leaders, this group meets to share scripture and devotions. This past spring, they studied Seven Last Words by James Martin, SJ. This group has studied the RCA's Women's Transformation and Leadership's She is Called: Women of the Bible Study, Volumes 1 and 2, and will continue with Volume 3.

16. Church groups/organizations: Briefly describe ministry purpose of each group

17. Comment on one event or experience over the last year that has significantly contributed to the spiritual life of the congregation.

While Church on the Hill has experienced the many stresses and challenges the pandemic imposed, we also lost our pastoral leadership, followed by our Office Administrator leaving for a new career path. The season of uncertainty and change was, and continues to be, challenging for our staff and members. However, through it, we’ve found collaboration, fellowship, resilience, and faith, along with clarity of areas in which we need guidance and growth.

We are blessed to have amazing volunteers. Not only have they stepped up and taken on more tasks to cover the many day-to-day needs of our church, but some have taken the initiative to begin new programs or rebuild ones that have been impacted by COVID-19. We are overjoyed that coffee hour after service has resumed. We realize this time is precious and important for fellowship and connection with one another. The Bargain Boutique has also reopened, refreshed with new paint, new air conditioning units, and improved air filtration. This was all due to a few dedicated volunteers and generous monetary donations from friends of the Boutique. A great deal of time, effort, and money continues to be put into our virtual services, and we are fortunate to have a church member whose leadership and technical skills continue to make it all possible.

During this time of transition, the Consistory has persisted in overseeing church operations, while individual committees continue to focus on the mission of their ministries. We have learned many things, including how to manage staff more effectively, find new ways to utilize the gifts our members have, and look to one another for knowledge, guidance, and support. In the past year, we hired a new part-time Office Administrator, who could further develop with consistent collaboration and support from a pastor.

Throughout the pandemic, and now on the other side of it, connection to our congregation has become a high priority. When we were not worshiping in-person, members of the Consistory and the Congregational Care Committee kept in touch with our members through phone calls and emails. At Christmas and Easter, volunteers created care packages and made contactless home deliveries to each of our local members. We continue to stay in contact with members who have moved or who cannot worship with us in person.

In a few years, we will celebrate our congregation's centennial. Our vision is to continue to grow in new ways with a future that is bright and strong.

18. Buildings: Please describe church-owned or rented buildings and purpose.

The main brick Tudor-style building houses the sanctuary and Gessner Hall, our main fellowship space. The entrance has an outdoor ramp and indoor elevator that accesses both the sanctuary and Gessner Hall from the narthex. The sanctuary is also used for community concerts. Recently renovated, Gessner Hall has a kitchen and 3 restrooms (2 of them ADA accessible). It is used for coffee hours, events, and meetings.

The education building is attached to the main building. The first floor is occupied by the Church on the Hill Community Nursery School, which includes NYC Universal Pre-K and Universal 3-year-old nursery programs, plus a private 2-year-old program. (The Nursery School Board of Directors includes members of the church, and we receive income from tuition and the NYC Department of Education for use and upkeep.) The church office is also on the first floor of the building. The pastor’s office is located on the second floor, along with the music room, choir robe room, 3 class/meeting rooms, and an ADA accessible bathroom. The second floor has direct access to the sanctuary and chancel. The class/meeting rooms are used for church meetings and by outside groups. The music room is used for choir rehearsal and meetings. There is a separate 1-bedroom sexton's apartment.

The parsonage is located across the street from the sanctuary entrance on a corner. It is an attractive brick residence. The first floor has the recently remodeled kitchen, dining room (with table and chairs and sideboard), living room with fireplace and built-in shelving, a den/TV room (which may alternatively be used as an office). It has 4 bedrooms on the second floor.

19. Do you plan any capital expenditure during the next five years? Yes

With an aging building comes expected upkeep and maintenance. Notable projects include repair of the facade on the education building, as well as an upgrade or replacement of the HVAC system (the Buildings and Ground Committee is exploring different options).

20. Is there a mortgage indebtedness? No

21. Pastor’s study: In Church

22. List all paid staff in addition to the pastor:

23. Consistory Membership: What method is used in selecting members?

First, members of the congregation nominate potential candidates. Then, a Nomination Committee is formed, which consists of the minister, the outgoing Consistory member(s), and members of the congregation (chosen by the Consistory). The committee reviews all nominees and selects a slate, which is then brought before the Consistory for approval. After approval, the congregation votes on the slate at the Annual Meeting (usually in May).

Please list present Consistory members (put a check in the box where appropriate):

24. What leadership roles do women currently fill in your church?

Women are a vital part of our church life and ministry. They form a significant part of our leadership, serving as Deacons and Elders, sitting on every church committee, and serving as chair on many of them. We have also provided seminary internships with a focus on giving priority to women students. Our hope is to give them the opportunity to preach, teach, and work within our church’s ministries. We all continue to “Build God’s Church Together."

Currently, women hold the following roles:

• Office Administrator

• Assistant Treasurer

• Co-vice President, Consistory

• 7 of 9 Consistory members are women

• 6 of 7 Consistory committees are chaired by women

25. In our congregation...

26. In our congregation...

27. Special training/experience desired (describe briefly):

• Pastoral Care: specifically experienced with outreach and concern for the elderly, as well as loss and grief.

• Administrative Experience: has the ability to manage and lead diverse teams.

• Financial Management: experience with or the willingness to learn.

• Youth Ministry: including the willingness to assist in mission trips.

28. Languages: Should your pastor be fluent in any language other than English?

Not a requirement, but certainly a plus. Our services are fully in English, with some members of our congregation speaking additional languages.

29. The salary we are prepared to offer out new pastor is $ **see below

The average annual increase to our pastor over the past three years was $

30. Is a parsonage provided?

Yes, it is located directly across the street from the church.

31. Is a Minister’s housing allowance in lieu of a parsonage a negotiable option?

No

32. The benefits/business expenses we will provide our pastor are:

33. Community served:

34. Cooperative ministry: In what ways have you cooperated with other churches in your community during the past year?

• Contributions to the following food pantries: College Point Reformed Church, Greenpoint Reformed Church, and Queens Federation of Churches.

• Church on the Hill hosted a Stated Session of Queens Classis in March 2023.

• Pre-pandemic, we participated in Thanksgiving interfaith services with local Catholic churches, a Jewish temple, and a Lutheran church.

• In the past we’ve hosted Vacation Bible School in collaboration with local churches.

• Blue Christmas: special services held during the Christmas season for those hurting during the holidays to offer healing and hope.

35. Community involvement: In what community programs or projects have you participated during the past year? (as an organization, not as individuals)

• Community Concert Series: held in our sanctuary and organized by our Music Director. The concerts are free, open to the public, and followed by a reception in our fellowship hall. They feature local musicians performing a wide variety of musical genres.

• Queens Community Children's Choir (QCCC): a weekly program that is open to community children ages 3 to 12 and organized by our Music Director. QCCC performs at special church services and community events.

• Food for Kids: a year-round food collection that helps a local organization address food insecurity for families in Queens.

• White Christmas: a special Sunday service where we collect gifts to distribute among local organizations that support local women, children, and families in need.

• Bargain Boutique: proceeds from the thrift shop are used to help with various community needs; items and clothing are also distributed to help individuals and families in our local community.

Former programs of interest (these were programs hosted before the pandemic, and we would be interested in reviving them based on resources and participation):

• Young People’s Fellowship (YPF): the youth of the church participated in local and out-of-state mission projects and trips, volunteering and partnering with various organizations (such as community food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, Gods Love We Deliver, YSOP, etc.).

• Community Yoga: a weekly program that met on our front lawn in the summer and indoors in cooler weather. It was attended by congregants, as well as members of the community. The program was funded by a grant through a local government representative.

• Women’s Shelter: a year-round program, on Friday nights, where up to 10 women were welcomed into Gessner Hall with a warm meal and bed. Volunteers from our church, along with members of the community and local groups (including Girl Scout troops) made dinner and slept over. This program was partly funded by the city.

36. What denominations or religions are present within three miles (in rural areas, consider the county) where your church is located?

Flushing is located in Queens County, which is the most diverse county in the United States. All the major and minor Protestant denominations, plus some non-denominational churches, are present in the area, including the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Roman Catholic, and Greek and Russian Orthodox churches. There are Jewish synagogues (Reformed, Conservative, and Orthodox), Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh temples, along with a mosque/Islamic center. The rich religious and cultural diversity of the area lends much to life in Flushing.

37. Outreach: What is your strategy to reach un-churched people in your community?

Church on the Hill currently hosts multiple 12-step programs, AARP and community meetings, art classes, and a Community Nursery School, all of which bring members of the community, both churched and un-churched into our building. Our Bargain Boutique thrift store offers clothing and other items at a reasonable cost and often donates items to those in need in the community.

Other than providing a welcoming presence, there is no specific strategy to engage the users of our building in worship or church membership. We are an active Christ-centered congregation, though we do not consider ourselves to be evangelical.

As a congregation and Consistory, we are aware of the diversity of our neighborhood, and we are endeavoring to make our neighbors aware of our mission and vision. It is our hope that our new pastor will, on some level, be part of this outreach, to engage people from our community and welcome our neighbors to church.

38. The income level of the people in our congregation tends to be (please check one):

39. Describe the community and school system (provide website links were appropriate):

Church on the Hill is centrally located in a quiet residential enclave, East of the busy whirl of downtown Flushing, Queens. The neighborhood of North Flushing is known for its large houses with front lawns, Tudor-style, garden apartments and buildings, all shaded by maple, oak, and beech trees. The neighborhood is registered as a State Historic District. Bowne House, built in 1661, still stands today near Downtown Flushing and is currently a museum. Of historical significance is the 1657 Flushing Remonstrance, which argued the cause of religious freedom and is regarded as the forerunner of the First Amendment. Queens is the most religiously, culturally, and linguistically diverse borough in the United States. Its thriving multicultural population provides a dynamic social and cultural environment. A community gathering place is the 11-acre Bowne Park, which has a small lake, a playground, and walking paths.

North Flushing is 11 miles from midtown Manhattan and can be reached by the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) in 20 minutes. The railroad station is within walking distance of the church. There is also a bus route a block from the church, which offers access to the Downtown Flushing shopping district, where there is connection to a NYC subway into Manhattan and to the other boroughs. The beaches and charms of Long Island, upstate NY, and New England are easily accessed by highways, buses, and trains.

Children can attend school at Public School 32 from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 5, or St. Andrew Avellino School, which has Kindergarten through grade 8. Both schools are within walking distance of Church on the Hill. Intermediate School 25 welcomes children grades 6 to 8 and is also within walking distance. The public schools are zoned within District 25, which ranks highly in the city in reading and math testing scores. Three public high schools are nearby, as well as many other excellent high schools to choose from in the city, all offering New York State curriculum, in addition to a wide selection of electives, depending on the individual school. For higher education, Queens College (a member of the City University of NY) is a short drive or bus ride away, as are Queensborough Community College and St. John's University, to name a few. In Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island, there are many excellent colleges and universities, all within reasonable commuting distance.

There are numerous cultural offerings both locally as well as in the other boroughs of New York City and on Long Island, including historical museums, art museums, concerts, and plays. Just west of Downtown Flushing is Flushing-Meadows Corona Park which was the site of 2 World’s Fairs and is now the home of a zoo, a museum, a theatre, and the U.S.T.A. National Tennis Center, host of the U.S. Open. Nearby is CitiField, home of the NY Mets MLB baseball team. The Queens Public Library has a branch located within walking distance. As a New York State resident, you can also join the New York Public Library and take advantage of its many services.

40. Record of last three pastors:

41. Please complete your profile with the following contacts:

SECTION B. REFLECTIONS

Please answer the following questions, adding your own experiences where appropriate.

1. What is the stated mission, vision or purpose of your congregation?

The mission statement of Church on the Hill is: "We are called as the Body of Christ to be a Beacon to our community and the world."

Matthew 5:14: Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.” As the Body of Christ, we strive to do the things that Christ did while on earth: preach the Gospel of God’s grace, bring comfort to the sick and to those in life’s later years, meet the spiritual and physical needs of people, and welcome young and old into fellowship with God.

We strive to be a place that draws people to the light of Christ, by opening our doors to the community, worshiping God with music and prayer, going out into the world, feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, and nurturing children through education and care.

2. What goals have been developed from your mission and vision over the next 5 years? Include long-range or strategic plan.

The Search Committee, Consistory, and the congregation are looking forward to the guidance of and collaboration with our new minister to grow, thrive, and evolve in our ministries.

3. Describe the strengths of your church, the best of what you are as a community, and what you can offer a new pastor.

• Integrity of worship

• Caring, respectful, and compassionate congregation

• Devoted group of volunteers

• Community minded with strong community outreach

• Financially sound and debt-free

• Diverse and inclusive congregation

• Strong music program

• A well-respected nursery school that serves the community

• A strong foundation upon which a new pastor can build

4. Explain the strategies or ideas that most excite your church in becoming or remaining missional.

The idea and drive to remain missional is best seen in our commitment to serve our church and local communities through our outreach programs.

• Through RCA Global Missions, we are currently financially supporting 3 missionaries.

• Each Lenten season, our congregation participates in a Lenten mission project, which involves service, learning, and prayer around a global or community-based issue. In the past, we’ve focused on local homelessness, sex trafficking, and housing for women and children in need.

• We take pride in our consistent partnerships with sister churches and local organizations, including low-income schools, support groups, and food pantries within New York City. We have a close relationship with the food pantry at the Greenpoint Reformed Church in Brooklyn, providing gifts to assist in their kitchen renovations, so they can best serve their community. We also continuously collect food and fundraise for the College Point Reformed Church Food Pantry and the Queens Federation of Churches Food Pantry. White Christmas also allows our congregation to spread Christ's love and spirit through gifts to individuals and families in need.

• Extensive renovations have updated our fellowship hall (Gessner Hall), so it can continue to provide a meeting space for community groups (including local organizations, self-help groups, scout troops, and small religious groups).

• Through the Queens Community Children’s Choir (QCCC), we invite children to express themselves through music.

• In the past, the Women's Shelter has united volunteers from our congregation with members of our community to provide currently unhoused women with a safe space to eat and rest. Since the pandemic, we have paused this program but would be interested in continuing serving this community in the future.

5. Name three of your church’s most passionate hopes and why they are significant.

1. Challenge our congregation to be even more welcoming and deliberately inclusive. We hope our congregation is welcoming of “the stranger” and will see Jesus in those we have not yet met. This includes communities that feel “othered,” such as refugees, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with mental illness.

2. Continue to meet members in their various stages of life. We want to best care for our congregation, whether as a stand-by babysitter, a listening ear after a hard week, providing a ride to church to those who longer drive, or grocery shopping for those who are homebound.

3. Be a vibrant and fun community. We want to continue to build a home of fellowship and friendship. We would love to revive and create new congregational events, like potluck dinners, book clubs, and going to Mets games as a church.

6. How do you hope someone who visits your church would describe what s/he considers to be most important?

• The friendliness and welcoming attitude of our congregation.

• An inspirational message through a weekly sermon.

• Quality and reverence of service, including music.

• Opportunities to serve in our many ministries.

7. Name at least one challenge facing your new pastor.

• Our minister must convey an inspiring message and ministry that reaches and feels relevant across generations.

• We are a diverse congregation in life experiences, points of view, and needs. A minister would need to be open-minded and respectful to individuals who may feel on the periphery.

• Caring for volunteer burnout. During the pandemic and throughout the pastoral transition, the church has been run by a few core volunteers and a small staff. A minister will need to support those who have been working non-stop and diligently. In addition, we would like to have a minister who can encourage and inspire others to lead and contribute to church activities/events.

• As a church, we have not yet explored or discussed the support needed for the LGBTQIA+ communities. A minister would need to be able to lead our congregation in opening dialogue and thoughtful conversations, to which the outcome is uncertain.

8. Describe your vision and hopes for your church and your pastor over the next 5 years.

Although we certainly do not expect our pastor to be superhuman and do all these things him/herself, we do hope for a certain level of involvement, commitment, and support in the following ways:

• Developing more programs to attract and help younger people stay engaged and involved.

• Providing care for the changing needs of our aging congregation.

• Bolstering our music ministry and growing our choirs for worship.

• Partnering with other churches and religious organizations in mutual understanding of community needs.

• Exploring and promoting Joint Women's Ministry with other churches.

• To continue being a community resource through participating in outreach and extending the usage of our building to more self-help programs and other groups.

9. Explain whatever else you would like your potential pastor to know about your church.

We believe we are called in Christ to be a beacon of light and hope to our congregants and neighbors. As a church, we are a faith-based and community-minded congregation with strong ministries and outreach programs – including our talented choirs and community music concerts, and a well-respected Nursery School and Pre-Kindergarten program within the building. As a congregation, we are loving and caring servants of God. Therefore, we are looking for a collaborative and enthusiastic person who can:

• Share an interest and investment in our church’s future and the role it plays in serving our congregation and communities.

• Bring ideas for inspiring physical and spiritual growth.

• Preach and teach the Word in a way that is relatable to all age groups.

• Be approachable and accessible, fostering valuable connections, and visiting congregants, when needed.

United in faith, love, and hope, Church on the Hill is an open and inclusive community where everyone is welcome. Many of our members consider our church their second family and have a deep love and concern for its future. So, we look forward to calling a pastor who shares our values, faith, and compassion, while bringing their own visions and goals to shine God’s light into our community and world.