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St. Matthews Society
Remembering Nativity
The Cathedral Church of the Nativity serves as a gateway to Bethlehem
as one enters the city from the south on Wyandotte Street. The Gothic
Revival architecture of the building and its campus is impressive.
However, Nativity is much more than the physical. It is a spiritual
place, a holy place and the home to a vibrant, caring, and growing
Episcopal community.
From its humble beginnings in 1861 when Robert Sayre invited fellow
Episcopalians to worship in his home, the Nativity family has had
a very significant and positive impact in the community. This has
been possible as the result of the vision, generosity and active
interest of its members over the last one hundred and forty two
years.
Outreach has always been a priority at Nativity starting with the
development of missionary parishes in both Bethlehem and Allentown,
several of which matured into Trinity Bethlehem, St. Andrews in
Bethlehem and The Church of the Mediator in Allentown. More recently
Nativity has supported the establishment of St. Brigid’s in Nazareth.
St. Luke’s Hospital, the first hospital in the Lehigh Valley, was
founded in 1873 primarily through the efforts of Nativity members.
A few of the more recent programs supported by Nativity include
New Bethany Ministries, the HIV/AIDS Task Force as well as the South
Bethlehem Neighborhood Center. In the past Nativity was home for
the Sayre Day Care Center and now houses the Welcome Place and the
Southside KIDS program. Canon Joel Atkinson’s community ministry
in south Bethlehem is one of the most visible and active outreach
ministries in Bethlehem.
Our outreach ministries are also made possible by the existence
of the Cathedral and Parish House. These facilities are used by
a number of community organizations. In 1993 we undertook a $1.2
million capital fund drive to repair the stained glass windows,
restore the organ, improve the lighting in the Cathedral, reconstruct
the Narthex and upgrade the heating system including air conditioning
the sanctuary and Sayre Hall. More importantly, a majority of the
monies raised were used to make the Cathedral and Parish House more
accessible to the handicapped. This was accomplished by constructing
an elevator in Sayre Hall and a ramped cloister connecting Sayre
Hall and the sanctuary. As the result of a parishioner’s gift, a
new pipe organ was installed in 1999. Finally in 2001 it was discovered
that extensive repairs were required to the bell tower, all of which
were recently completed.
Much of the construction work and support of Nativity’s outreach
has been funded through gifts and fund drives. However, endowments
established over the years by parishioners who had the vision and
a commitment to Nativity, contributed significantly to both areas.
Much more outreach will be required in the future to assist those
in need. Capital projects will arise over time to assure the soundness
of the structures and make way for continuing growth. It is now
our turn to make a commitment to Nativity’s future and ability to
meet our Christian calling.
The St. Matthew Society provides members of Nativity with a way
to contribute to an endowment which will be used for the needed
outreach and capital programs outside of the operating budget. To
date a total of $567,000 have been received with additional pledges
with Nativity designated as a beneficiary of an insurance policy
or an estate. Those members of Nativity who have become members
of the St. Matthew Society are listed here. We on the St. Matthew
Society Endowment Fund Board would request that each of you pray
and reflect on your blessings and if able, remember Nativity in
your estate. You can contact any member of the Endowment Board for
information or help with your planning. Together we look forward
to the Nativity family continuing to be a vibrant and positive force
for Christ in the greater Bethlehem area.
The St. Matthew Society is an honorary legacy society established
to recognize and thank all those who have provided for the future
life and work of the Parish through bequests and other planned gifts
to the Endowment Fund. Members are recognized with their names on
a plaque mounted in the Slype.
If you have questions or want information about planned giving,
please call the church office and a member of the Endowment Fund
Board will meet with you.
Nativity St. Matthew Society Members
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The Very Rev. William B. Lane
Mrs. Fances M. Arthofer
Donald C. Barnum
Jan and Warren Beer
Benjamin C. & Eleanor A. Boylston
Mr. & Mrs. Marion H. Campbell
William L. & Dolores J. Cauller
Marion & George W. Chapman
Thomas T. & Sylvia Church
Beverly Craul, in remembrance of Glen D. Craul
Lawrence & Katherine Eighmy
Charles R. Eyer
Arlene S. Fisher
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Gamber
James J. & Susan Haering
Deborah S. Haight
Vivian L. Hippensteal
Louella C. Howard
Grace Howells
Kit T. Hower
Priscilla Payne Hurd
Patricia E. & Richard M. Hurd
Donald & Sandra Kelley
Mr. & Mrs. David H. Klinges
Mrs. Victoria I Leach
Jane Elizabeth Linderman
Barbara & Thomas Lloyd
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Dr. James Martin & Mary Mulder
Charles M. & Jean S. Montgomery
Russell E. Morgan Sr., M.D.
James & Sarah Norwine Family
Philip & Maureen Schenkel
The Very Rev. Robert D.& Anne M. Schenkel
Barbara Ames Schultz
Robert & Cidney Spillman
Bill & Mimi Stanford
Bruce C. Swan
Helen L. Vaughan
Endowment Board
Lawrence Bell, Sr.
Edward Boksan
Benjamin Boylston
Eleanor Boylston
William Cauller
Lawrence Eighmy
Richard Guyer
Betty Isaacs
Philip Schenkel
Andrew Warner
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