Our wonderful staff is led by our senior pastor, two associate pastors, our music minister and two associate ministers of music, committed elders and eight other full and part-time staff members.
You can't surpass the great faith statements we've inherited from our foreparents in the faith, like the Apostles Creed. When it comes to faith we all walk on roadways we did not construct and shelter under oaks we did not plant. But our faith, even though shaped by others who've prayed and led and written and witnessed on the past, is still our faith. Here is a creed I composed for Easter three years ago:
We believe in God, the Almighty,
Who creates, restores, and renews all things
Who works in the hidden stillness of every dawn
Opening the darkest tomb and birthing hope and peace.We believe in Jesus, the risen Christ,
Who is Lord of life and king of glory
Conqueror of all dark and deadly powers
He meets us on every path and calls us to be children of the lightWe believe in the Holy Spirit
Who works through the lame and the little, the wrinkled and the newborn, the hurting and the hopeful;
Nudging our prayers, kindling our longings and prompting our praise.We believe in the Church,
The community of Easter people, called to caring and sharing, seeking and finding, loving and laughing, life beyond dying.
My faith was nurtured by my Mom and Dad, Anne and Carey Joynt, and by a great Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. My theological stance is Reformed and might be called progressively evangelical. I love Scripture, embrace learning, and enjoy finding connectivity between the truths of the Bible and the truths I learn from my colleagues and parishioners.
We are grateful for the leadership, inspiration and spiritual guidance provided by David. Since 1997 David has been active with planning worship, preaching, teaching, and helping members grow and find places to belong. Prior to coming to PCTR David was a Parish Associate in Hopewell, NJ and Pastor in New Castle, Delaware. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from Lehigh University, a Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Theology from Oxford University, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary in Theology and International Politics.
A passage that has inspired me throughout my life is Matthew 7:7 - 12.
"Our Lord is the One who gives us all we could ever need but calls us to ask, seek and knock and challenges us to live out our lives doing to others as we would have them do to us."
Victoria A.P. Pruner, Associate Pastor for Children and their Families
It is a great privilege to join together to worship God each week. As we lift our songs of praise, remember John Wesley's famous directions for singing: "...Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength... Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing..." With those words in mind, let us follow the directions of the psalmist as we gather to worship, and "Let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" (Ps. 95:1-2)
With great joy we welcome Josh to his new role at PCTR. Josh directs the Sanctuary Choir, Onevoice, the Chancel Handbell Choir, the Voices in Bronze Handbell Choir, the Senior High Choir, and the Junior and Senior High Bell Choirs. Additionally, Josh plays the organ and piano in worship and works closely with the other Music Ministers to plan and lead worship. Josh's academic background includes a Bachelor of Music degree from Centenary College of Louisiana and a Master's Degree in Music from The University of Kansas. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate at the Institute for Worship Studies. He has previously served churches in Kansas, Missouri, and Louisiana.
It is such a blessing and a privilege to be a vessel for the Lord, through the music that He puts within me. I move forward in this position with excitement to see all of the continued blessings that God has planned for this wonderful church, and anxious to do His calling in this place.
"God, please bless my music, that it might always glorify your name,
and may using it to serve you always be my aim."
(Ramona K. Cecil)
Office Staff
Church Secretary: Linda Calvillo
Pastoral Secretary: Linda DelVecchio
Financial Administrator: Kathryn Greenway
Program Secretary: Barbara Hickey
Sexton: Joseph Lelievre
Minister of Music Emerita: Kay Healy-Wedsworth
Westminster Nursery School
Director: Barbara Newsom
The Session and Board of Trustees
Moderator of Session: David M. Joynt
President, Board of Trustees: Doug Polhemus
Clerk of Session/Secretary, Board of Trustees: Patricia Grill
Vice President, Board of Trustees: Dan Raisch
Church Treasurer: John Forsythe
Westminster Nursery School Treasurer: Richard E. Lane