Church Staff
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;” -Colossians 3:23
Pastor - Rev. Donald Potter
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Pastor Donald Potter is a native of Canton, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and religion from Spring Arbor College, Spring Arbor, Michigan. In 1976 Don graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, concentrating in pastoral theology. His first call to parish ministry was as Associate Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church, Kittanning, PA. From there he served as Associate Pastor at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, from 1978 to 2000. In July of 2000 Don became Pastor of the Presbyterian Congregation of Middletown, Middletown, PA. As a member of the Presbytery of Carlisle, Don serves on the Committee on Ministry and has just completed serving as a member of the Administrative Commission of the Carlisle Presbytery to dissolve the Olivet Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg. Don is an active part of the Middletown Ministerium and the Interfaith Council, serving as Chairperson of the Food Pantry Board of Directors. Don’s hobbies include reading, bird watching and traveling with a special interest in travel on cruise ships. He is a collector of ship memorabilia.
Director of Music - Shirley Newhart
Shirley was born in Nanticoke, PA. Her mother studied piano and sang in the church choir, and her father studied piano and organ and served as the organist at her church, Bethel Welsh Congregation. Shirley has two brothers, Bill and Jim who live in N. E., PA. She began studying piano in the 2nd grade, the guitar in 7th grade, the organ in 10th grade, and the banjo and percussion in 11th grade. She studied cello in 1995 and recently acquired a flute which she is learning to play on her own. She studied music at Wilkes University and earned her B. S. degree in music education. Her first teaching job was in the Sayre Area School District where she worked as an elementary, jr. and sr. high coral music educator for 6 years. While in Sayre, she earned her M. M. Education degree from Ithaca College. She moved to Middletown in 1979 and she worked at Elizabethtown College as the Director of the Preparatory Division of Music and taught piano and Secondary Music Education to music majors as an adjunct professor for 5 years. She did post graduate work at Westminster Choir College and also completed her Principal's Certificate at PSU. She began teaching for the Lower Dauphin School District in 1992 and retired at the end of August to pursue her love of church music.
Shirley and her husband Bob Hainly reside in Southpoint Commons, Hummelstown.
Secretary - Diane Rowe
Newsletter Editor - Atah Akakpo-Martin
Treasurer - Jody Coble
Sexton - Jay Wilsbach
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Jay lives in
Middletown with his wife of 42 years. They have 3 grown children and 7
grandchildren. Jay’s interests include fishing and hot rod cars. He is
also a die hard Middletown Blue Raider fan.
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