They were an unexpected surprise. And in turn, the Synod of the Trinity passed on that “surprise” to its presbyteries and congregations as a way of spreading the wealth.
With the Synod’s copier lease coming due, the Synod explored rates with regional companies before settling on Doceo Office Solutions of Carlisle, PA. In turn, the Synod received six black-and-white multi-function desktop copiers from Doceo, which the Synod offered free of charge to anyone in the region who was in need of a copier.
“As a thank you for us as our Xerox copier provider, we were offered these six copiers to use through our ministry and mission,” explained Chantal Atnip, the Synod’s former treasurer and strategic ministry support.
What follows is a brief summary from the entities who received a copier explaining how the gift will be used:
Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church, Venetia, PA (Washington Presbytery)
“The copier works beautifully, and we are most grateful,” said Judy Mayer. “We are a very small congregation with limited resources and our old copier was on its last leg. Consequently, I was printing on my home computer and carrying things to the church. Now we can do it all where it needs to be done.”
Columbia Presbyterian Church, Columbia, PA (Presbytery of Donegal)
“Columbia Presbyterian/Hands Across the Street in Donegal Presbytery is grateful for the copier that was available from the Synod of the Trinity,” said Nan Best. “Hands Across the Street has located its Transitional Housing Ministry in a building several blocks from the church. That is where the shelter and resource center are open. Up to this time guests and the coordinator had to shuttle back and forth from the shelter to the church when a copy had to be made. Often the guests, who are work on finding resources for jobs, funding or an apartment, need copies in order to complete the goals they have set. Now the inconvenience of making copies four blocks away will be gone. Thank you!”
Presbytery of Donegal
“The presbytery is keeping the copier on hand to give to the next fellowship or small congregation whose copier dies,” said Erin Cox-Holmes, Donegal’s executive presbyter.
First Presbyterian Church, Kensington, PA (Presbytery of Philadelphia)
“We had one inkjet printer that was at least 7-8 years old connected to our church computer,” said the Rev. Shawn Hyska. “We would end up spending $30 a month on the small ink cartridges. The computer was used primarily by our treasurer and pastor when needed. In addition, we had a floor-standing Xerox copy machine that was ancient. It has been at the church at least seven years, and when it arrived it was already 3-5 years old. Over the years, various elements of the printer have broken or become difficult to use.
“The copier graciously donated to us from the Synod has helped us in two ways. First and foremost, it has increased our printing capacity to print from the office computer. The floor-standing copier machine is such an older technology that we aren’t able to print to it. Having a laser printer to print from the office computer has been a blessing. And second, we know that one day soon the floor-standing copier will stop working altogether, and when it does, we’ll be prepared with the copier from the Synod. We have begun using the new copier more frequently due to its better scanning and printing quality.”
Washington Presbyterian Church, Allenwood, PA (Northumberland Presbytery)
“We had an inkjet printer that was not working,” said Jane Baker, a member of the church’s session and Children’s Church teacher. “The copier enables us to make copies of materials for meetings (session and congregational). We appreciate that we were able to get this copier from the Synod.”
Refreshing Springs Ministry, Aliquippa, PA (Beaver-Butler Presbytery)
“I have to pay 10 cents per copy at the local seminary or email documents to a church in the presbytery and then go pick them up, which is about 8 miles away, in order to get copies,” said Tega Swann. “Having the printer sitting in my home office is definitely something that is helpful.”