St. David’s Episcopal Church - Parish Profile 2025
What We Seek
St. David’s Episcopal Church in Cranbury, New Jersey, is seeking a confident, energetic rector to help us grow together in Jesus Christ. We are a parish with a strong presence in the greater Cranbury area, the Diocese of New Jersey, and the world, and we are looking for a dynamic leader to guide us into the future.
We envision a rector who:
What We Seek
St. David’s Episcopal Church in Cranbury, New Jersey, is seeking a confident, energetic rector to help us grow together in Jesus Christ. We are a parish with a strong presence in the greater Cranbury area, the Diocese of New Jersey, and the world, and we are looking for a dynamic leader to guide us into the future.
We envision a rector who:
- Emphasizes worship leadership, preaching, and pastoral care
- Strengthens family life ministries that attract parents, children, and youth
- Delivers thoughtful, timely sermons that speak to today’s world
- Possesses strong parish administrative skills and fosters collaborative governance
- Inspires and guides lay leaders while helping each parishioner discover their gifts
- Supports Christian education for all ages and stages of life
- Builds on our strong outreach and service to the wider community
- Engages hearts and minds in theological reflection that is inclusive and inspiring
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Who We Are
St. David’s Episcopal Church is a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming parish in the heart of Cranbury, New Jersey. We have a rich tradition of lay leadership and an egalitarian culture that encourages all to participate in parish life. Our members bring energy and warmth to the life of the church, and share a deep commitment to worship, fellowship, and service. Located in historic Cranbury, our six-acre campus is minutes from downtown Princeton and within an hour’s drive of New York City, Philadelphia, the mountains, and the Jersey Shore. We are surrounded by excellent schools, colleges, and universities, and we have strong ties to Trinity Church, Princeton, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Our location allows us to draw parishioners from a wide area and to engage with a dynamic, diverse community. Founded in 1968, St. David’s has grown from a fledgling congregation meeting in homes and schools to a flourishing parish with modern facilities. Our campus includes a spacious parish hall, updated kitchen, library, sacristy, choir room, and Sunday school classrooms—all of which serve not only our congregation but also the wider community. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2018, and we remain as committed as ever to our mission of faith, worship, service, and hospitality. |
What We Believe
Our mission is to welcome all in the loving Spirit of Christ, through faith, worship, nurture, and community. We embrace diversity and inclusivity, and we are proud to be an Oasis Welcoming Parish—a safe and affirming spiritual home for LGBTQ+ individuals and all who seek God’s love.
Our vision calls us to:
What We Do –Worship and Ministries
Worship is at the very heart of life at St. David’s. Service liturgies come from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer; hymns from The Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice and Sing II.
Sunday Worship:
Midweek Worship:
Christian Formation:
At St. David’s we recognize that Christian formation is the lifelong process of growing in our relationship with God, self, others, and all creation. The primary focus is for life-long learning and growth for each congregational member. The church supports numerous structured opportunities for ongoing growth, including Sunday School, Journey to Adulthood (J2A), and numerous Adult Study and Discussion Groups.
Pastoral Care:
Pastoral care is a vital expression of Christ’s love at St. David’s. This ministry focuses on offering comfort, presence, conversation, and prayer to those in need. Parishioners and clergy visit members who are homebound, in hospitals, or in care facilities. We provide Communion, blessing, and pastoral counseling as needed. Additionally, meals, transportation assistance, and small acts of kindness are ways we extend God’s compassion beyond Sunday mornings.
Our Grief Support Groups, offered in the spring and fall, provide sacred space for those experiencing loss to find healing and community. The clergy and lay pastoral team collaborate to ensure that every member of St. David’s knows they are seen, valued, and loved as part of our church family.
Outreach:
Outreach is woven into the fabric of St. David’s as we aim to help disadvantaged people of all faiths who live in the surrounding communities.
Fellowship:
Fellowship is central to the life of St. David’s. We believe sharing life together deepens faith and strengthens bonds of love. Some of the ways we create fellowship include:
Our Music Program:
Music is an essential part of the life of St. David’s, enriching our worship and deepening our connection with God and one another. We have a full adult choir led by our Emmy-winning composer, conductor and organist, Dr. Brian Katona. The choir regularly sings traditional classic anthems and contemporary music each Sunday from September to June during our 10am worship. Outside musicians are occasionally brought in for special services such as Easter. Children joyfully participate in music during Sunday school and seasonal services such as Christmas Eve and Palm Sunday.
Our Finance:
St. David’s parishioners are generous stewards of God’s blessings. Over the past year, stewardship pledges increased by 3%, reflecting the congregation’s commitment to sustaining our ministries. Each year, we conduct a spring campaign that raises additional funds to support special projects and outreach.
We maintain a modest endowment, which we carefully steward with a 5.5% annual draw. Our Reserve Fund provides an emergency cushion, and planned giving initiatives offer opportunities for parishioners to make legacy gifts that strengthen the church’s future.
Income is supplemented through various fundraising events—such as our annual yard sale, fantasy auction, and golf outing—and rental income from community groups who use our parish hall. We also continue to manage our mortgage responsibly, working toward long-term financial stability.
Though we began 2025 with a deficit budget, careful cost-cutting, increased fundraising, and new revenue streams give us confidence in ending the year with a balanced budget. Our congregation demonstrates strong support for the mission and ministries of St. David’s, and we look forward to growing with our next rector’s leadership.
Our Communications:
We keep our church family connected and informed through:
Our Parish Survey:
As part of St. David’s self-assessment in the discernment process, the search committee worked with other lay members to conduct a survey of the parish. Parishioners responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to express their views about life at St. David’s and to share their thoughts about the strengths and challenges that we face during this time of transition. The high survey response rate demonstrates that we have an engaged parish that cares deeply about its mission and about the rector search. For a detailed summary of the parish survey, click here Parish Survey.
Our mission is to welcome all in the loving Spirit of Christ, through faith, worship, nurture, and community. We embrace diversity and inclusivity, and we are proud to be an Oasis Welcoming Parish—a safe and affirming spiritual home for LGBTQ+ individuals and all who seek God’s love.
Our vision calls us to:
- Share in Christ’s eternal priesthood
- Extend love by embracing diversity and promoting tolerance
- Meet the physical, social, and spiritual needs of God’s people
- Develop and maintain committed lay leaders and clergy
- Provide spaces and resources for youth engagement and Christian formation
- Exemplify the mission of St. David’s Church through faith and commitment
What We Do –Worship and Ministries
Worship is at the very heart of life at St. David’s. Service liturgies come from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer; hymns from The Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice and Sing II.
Sunday Worship:
- 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (quiet and contemplative)
- 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (with choir, hymns, and a Children’s Talk; also streamed on Zoom and Facebook Live for those who cannot attend in person)
- Summer services often include creative approaches, such as outdoor worship on the church lawn
Midweek Worship:
- Wednesday morning Healing Service
- Evening Prayer on Zoom (Tues-Thurs)
Christian Formation:
At St. David’s we recognize that Christian formation is the lifelong process of growing in our relationship with God, self, others, and all creation. The primary focus is for life-long learning and growth for each congregational member. The church supports numerous structured opportunities for ongoing growth, including Sunday School, Journey to Adulthood (J2A), and numerous Adult Study and Discussion Groups.
- Our Sunday School for children (Pre-K through grade 5) is led by devoted teachers who use engaging lessons, crafts, and music to help young disciples grow in their faith. We also offer a nursery program for our very youngest members.
- Our youth program, Journey to Adulthood (J2A), guides middle and high school students through a two-year cycle of spiritual formation, service projects, and pilgrimage experiences that help shape a lifelong Christian commitment. One of our annual highlights is the J2A led service in June.
- Adults are invited into deeper faith and reflection through seasonal studies during Advent and Lent, Bible discussions, and book groups that encourage exploration of scripture and spiritual growth.
Pastoral Care:
Pastoral care is a vital expression of Christ’s love at St. David’s. This ministry focuses on offering comfort, presence, conversation, and prayer to those in need. Parishioners and clergy visit members who are homebound, in hospitals, or in care facilities. We provide Communion, blessing, and pastoral counseling as needed. Additionally, meals, transportation assistance, and small acts of kindness are ways we extend God’s compassion beyond Sunday mornings.
Our Grief Support Groups, offered in the spring and fall, provide sacred space for those experiencing loss to find healing and community. The clergy and lay pastoral team collaborate to ensure that every member of St. David’s knows they are seen, valued, and loved as part of our church family.
Outreach:
Outreach is woven into the fabric of St. David’s as we aim to help disadvantaged people of all faiths who live in the surrounding communities.
- We support local and regional organizations including the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, RISE food pantry, and Womanspace through volunteer work, donations, and special drives.
- Our Knitters Group knits hats and scarves for the Seaman’s Church Institute, as well as providing much needed personal items.
- Our annual Giving Tree, Coat Drive, and Back-to-School Backpack and School Supply Drive help meet tangible needs in our wider community. Parishioners organize collections for families in need, and we partner with other faith communities to extend Christ’s compassion beyond our walls.
- Our parish hall serves as a meeting space for support groups, fitness classes, and cultural organizations, allowing us to provide support for the broader community.
- We deepen our reach into the local community by annually participating in Cranbury Day, the Hightstown Harvest Fest, and the Cranbury Memorial Day Parade.
Fellowship:
Fellowship is central to the life of St. David’s. We believe sharing life together deepens faith and strengthens bonds of love. Some of the ways we create fellowship include:
- Signature events like our Ladies’ Tea, St. Nicholas Party, and annual Parish Picnic foster a sense of community and belonging across generations.
- Seasonal traditions such as the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and the annual Easter Egg Hunt offer fun and meaningful ways to gather in Christ’s name.
- Informal gatherings like coffee hours after worship provide a place for conversation and connection, helping newcomers and longtime members alike feel part of a Church family.
Our Music Program:
Music is an essential part of the life of St. David’s, enriching our worship and deepening our connection with God and one another. We have a full adult choir led by our Emmy-winning composer, conductor and organist, Dr. Brian Katona. The choir regularly sings traditional classic anthems and contemporary music each Sunday from September to June during our 10am worship. Outside musicians are occasionally brought in for special services such as Easter. Children joyfully participate in music during Sunday school and seasonal services such as Christmas Eve and Palm Sunday.
Our Finance:
St. David’s parishioners are generous stewards of God’s blessings. Over the past year, stewardship pledges increased by 3%, reflecting the congregation’s commitment to sustaining our ministries. Each year, we conduct a spring campaign that raises additional funds to support special projects and outreach.
We maintain a modest endowment, which we carefully steward with a 5.5% annual draw. Our Reserve Fund provides an emergency cushion, and planned giving initiatives offer opportunities for parishioners to make legacy gifts that strengthen the church’s future.
Income is supplemented through various fundraising events—such as our annual yard sale, fantasy auction, and golf outing—and rental income from community groups who use our parish hall. We also continue to manage our mortgage responsibly, working toward long-term financial stability.
Though we began 2025 with a deficit budget, careful cost-cutting, increased fundraising, and new revenue streams give us confidence in ending the year with a balanced budget. Our congregation demonstrates strong support for the mission and ministries of St. David’s, and we look forward to growing with our next rector’s leadership.
Our Communications:
We keep our church family connected and informed through:
- Weekly e-blasts sent out via email
- A regularly updated website that keeps parishioners up-to-date
- A monthly newsletter (“The Tablet”) and occasional announcements
- Active Facebook and Instagram accounts
Our Parish Survey:
As part of St. David’s self-assessment in the discernment process, the search committee worked with other lay members to conduct a survey of the parish. Parishioners responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to express their views about life at St. David’s and to share their thoughts about the strengths and challenges that we face during this time of transition. The high survey response rate demonstrates that we have an engaged parish that cares deeply about its mission and about the rector search. For a detailed summary of the parish survey, click here Parish Survey.
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Our Strengths and Challenges:
Strengths:
Challenges:
We seek a rector who can walk with us as we honor our strengths and embrace opportunities for renewal going forward. Come Join Us: We are a parish rooted in faith, open to transformation, and eager to welcome a rector who will guide us into the next season of ministry. Together, we will continue to grow in Christ’s love and share it with the world. |
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A community rooted in Faith and Service.