Congregation saves money, grows closer

By Linda m. Linonis

Some steps are taken to conserve energy.

“Warm Winter Worship” has a twofold meaning at Girard United Methodist Church.

It’s about a warm and inviting atmosphere for worship and about good stewardship. Though temperatures and snowfall fluctuate, the church at 22 N. Market St. holds steady in its resolve to conserve energy.

The Rev. Betsy Schenk, who became the pastor in July, said just as families face financial challenges during these difficult economic times, so do churches. “To keep up with everything, we made some decisions,” she said.

The pastor noted that Jim Antell, choir director, and members of the administrative board and worship committee suggested having worship in the fellowship hall instead of the sanctuary. “We wanted to use good stewardship in the resources that God has given us,” she said. “We were proactive instead of reactive.”

The church had a $3,000 natural-gas bill in December and $2,800 in January. The pastor said in addition to a slightly lower bill for heating, the move has yielded an unexpected, though pleasing, result.

“People are more spontaneous in worship,” she said, and speculated that the casual setting in the fellowship hall, as opposed to the more formal sanctuary, encouraged that response.

In the fellowship hall, people sit at tables. They can have coffee, tea, cappucino or hot chocolate. A special symbol, WWW (Warm Winter Worship) in a heart placed over the Methodist logo, is featured on a banner displayed prominently at worship. The United Methodist Church has used a cross and flame insignia since 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren joined the Methodist Church. The two tongues of the flame represent the union of these denominations.

Ms. Schenk said the weather conditions of late — a lot of snow and ice — haven’t been conducive to attendance. But, she said, the church has had about 170 people at worship on snowy Sunday mornings. She also noted that the city church has no parking lot and those attending services must park in the alley, on the street or in nearby city lots.

“The membership has missed the organ music,” Ms. Schenk said. The church must keep the temperature in the sanctuary no lower than 55 degrees to maintain the integrity of the organ. But that temperature could be a bit chilly for worshippers. The temperature in the fellowship hall is at 68 degrees.

The choir, with its members dressed in red robes, sits in the front near the podium, where Ms. Schenk delivers the sermon. Behind her is an altar with candles and flowers.

“The church is not the building, but the people and its mission,” Ms. Schenk said. “The people have made this worship space special. The response has been a blessing.”

Girard UMC isn’t alone in taking steps to conserve energy.

At St. Patrick Church in Youngstown, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., a sign goes up each Dec. 1 and stays up until the end of March and notes: “Due to winter weather and heating concerns, the front doors will be closed.” Parishioners use the side doors to enter the church instead of the massive front doors, which allow a lot of heat to escape when opened.

“Our people are used to the sign,” said the Rev. Edward Noga, pastor, who noted the main front doors are opened April 1.

Father Noga said the heating bill for the church from mid-November to mid-January was about $15,000. He said the church has taken some measures to conserve energy. He said the sanctuary is kept at 62 degrees; any lower would damage the organ. “It tops out at 67 degrees,” Father Noga said, noting that members dress accordingly.

He said that the church has had a novena on Monday mornings for 70-some years and from 30 to 45 people attend. “We’ve moved that from the sanctuary to the chapel,” he said, adding that daily Mass also is said there. “People do understand,” he said of the adjustments.

Father Noga said the finance committee did a presentation in January in the fellowship hall, where Mass also took place. He said moving Mass from the sanctuary to the hall during the winter months is an energy-related idea that would be considered.

The Rev. Robin Woodberry, administrative assistant at New Bethel Baptist Church, 1507 Hillman St., Youngstown, said trustees are looking at ways to conserve. “One idea is to have evening activities in one building, not spread out in two,” she said. The church has the original structure and an addition and two furnaces are in use.

When not in use, the church has the temperature set in the lower 60-degree mark, she said.

linonis@vindy.com