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Historic Church Prepares To Begin Another Chapter With A New Senior Pastor

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Historic Church Prepares To Begin Another Chapter With A New Senior Pastor

By Shannon Hicks

Newtown Congregational Church has been going through a period of transition for a few years that members are hoping has come to an end. When the Reverend Steve Gordon announced in autumn 2004 that he would be leaving NCC as its senior minister, a position he had held since 1988, it set a series of events in motion that finally seem to be coming to a positive conclusion.

After Mr Gordon’s announcement, NCC members formed a search committee to find an interim minister. The Reverend Lee Moore was hired for a two-year term, while another search committee — this one charged with the massive responsibility of finding a new permanent senior minister for one of Newtown’s oldest churches — went to work.

Following an exhaustive search that lasted for more than two years, the Reverend Matthew S. Crebbin, 43, was chosen on July 8 to be the new senior pastor at Newtown Congregational Church. The NCC Search Committee met weekly, and worked through more than 70 profiles (in-depth resumes) from candidates across the country.

“We wanted to meet Matt because his profile met all of the top requirements we had determined our church needed in a senior minister,” said Vicky Truitt, who with Christopher Farrington served as the co-chair of the NCC Search Committee. Those requirements, said Mrs Truitt, included finding a pastor who has a strong faith, has effective preaching skills, possesses strong leadership qualities, can be an effective administrator, is able to relate well with people of all ages but particularly the youth and shows an interest in the education of youth, and would likely be involved in the community.

The committee was also hoping to find someone who would be willing to promote all forms of stewardship, could plan and lead interesting worship services, works on the continued development of his own theological skills, and knows how to deal with conflict with needed.

“Also, for us,” said Mrs Truitt, “it was important he also had a sense of humor. Matt was the only minister to possess all of these qualities.”

Reverend Matt was only candidate, said Mrs Truitt, that the committee supported unanimously.

“We were down to three candidates,” she said. “These candidates had some of the requirements we were searching for, but none of them possessed everything we were looking for. Thus, each of us had one candidate we were more in favor of than the others, but there really wasn’t one in particular who had struck us all as ‘the one.’

“Then we interviewed Matt,” she said. “We all agreed right away that we would like him to be our pastor. We wholeheartedly feel Matt was the best choice for our church.”

Matthew Crebbin will be formally installed as the church’s senior pastor during a ceremony at the church on Sunday, November 18, at 2 pm. All are invited to join NCC members and special guests as they join in welcoming the man who will lead Newtown Congregational Church through its next chapter.

A New Beginning

Reverend Crebbin began serving at NCC in September, and delivered his first sermon, called “Bread For The Journey,” on September 9. Breaking with the tradition of having an all-Church worship service with Communion on the first Sunday of each month, the church decided to delay September’s Communion service for one weekend, which allowed members to celebrate the previous holiday weekend as planned and still be able to attend the first worship service led by the new pastor. (Holiday weekends generally bring on travel plans for so many people that the attendance at church service is substantially down.) The sanctuary on September 9, as a result, was packed.

“It felt great,” he said of that first sermon in Newtown. “I had a really good experience with the Search Committee, and had met a number of people in the church already.

“It was exciting, and wonderful, and I think it was very well received,” he added. “There will be adjustments to the service style here, of course, which is just part of the learning process, but the energy is there and you could definitely feel it on that first Sunday. I think it will carry me forward.”

Rev Crebbin and his family — wife, Martha of Andover, Mass., and their children Emily, age 10; Zachary, 8; William, 5; and Leah, 2 — found a house and moved to Newtown this past summer.

“I think it’s helpful to move into a new town and be part of a church. Already you’re part of a community,” he said. “That was a wonderful thing,” he said, recalling the weekend of the big move. “Everyone has been thoughtful and kind with their time. Church members were right there. They helped us unload the moving vehicle, the brought meals, they really helped us get moved in easily.”

Rev Crebbin is a native Californian, having grown up in Richmond. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his master’s of divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass. Prior to moving to Newtown, Rev Crebbin had been serving with First Congregational Church in Hancock, N.H., since 1995.

“I had been there almost 12 years exactly, and had started to think about moving,” he said recently, seated in the office that is now his work space at 14 West Street. “I still have good relations with the church community in New Hampshire. It’s smaller up there; this certainly offers new opportunities for me and my family.”

The population of Hancock is approximately 1,700 residents, said Rev Crebbin, “and we were the only church in town. Here, with 60 square miles of Newtown alone… we’re still getting used to where everything is, and where folks are.

“I’m still using Google maps a lot, especially to find my way to meetings and events in other towns,” he admitted with a laugh.

Regardless of the size difference, Newtown gave Rev Crebbin a good feeling the first time he came for a meeting with the NCC Search Committee.

“I met Search Committee members at the Blue Colony [diner] and they took me on a tour of the town,” he said. “I like that you have a rural character, a very old New England feeling here. I also like that you can drive just a few minutes and be in Danbury, a larger city.”

Rev Crebbin felt at home when he saw some of Newtown’s stone walls, our Main Street and its historic homes, and even Edmond Town Hall.

The first focus for the church’s new minister is to get to know the members of his congregation. With this in mind, Rev Crebbin has been hosting informal “Conversation with Pastor Matt Crebbin” sessions at the church library since last month, where members and even those who may be interested in joining NCC are invited for casual conversation with him.

Participants have been encouraged to not only ask questions of the new NCC pastor, but to share their own hopes, dreams, and experiences. Sessions will continue, sometimes being offered as many as four times a day, through at least November 20.

“These sessions have been going very well,” he said. “It’s been giving me a chance to meet many people, but also allowed people to get to know each other a little bit.”

Next up for Rev Crebbin is to continue working with members on the church’s core ministry, Christian Education programs, and Sunday worship. He, like many longtime NCC members, would like to see Sunday worship attendance increase.

“I’d really like to have our church meet some new folks, and reconnect with others,” he said. Long-term, “I think the church has to realize that this is a time of transition for many churches. Not just us, and not just in America, but worldwide.”

With that in mind, Rev Crebbin has been studying the history of NCC, which was founded in 1714, while looking toward the future.

“What does it mean to be part of this church? Who are we? Where have we been and where are we going?” he said, echoing the challenges he has issued to NCC members. Referencing the church’s move from Main Street into a new construction in the late 1980s, and the expansion of its current building a few years ago so that the church offices, classrooms, sanctuary, and gathering rooms are all under the same roof, Rev Crebbin said “That was the church trying to say ‘How do we stay living and a church? What do we need to do to not fade away or be stagnant?’

“It excites me that the church is willing to take that step,” he said.

Join Reverend Matt Crebbin and his family on Sunday, November 18, when Newtown Congregational Church formally installs him as its new senior pastor. All are invited to join the celebration in the church sanctuary, at 14 West Street. The ceremony will begin at 2 pm. A reception will follow.

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