Cindy Gnech
Colonial Park United Church of Christ is a part of Cindy Gnech’s DNA. Our church was the first one she visited with her family when they moved to the Harrisburg area when Cindy was just 12. Cindy has been a CPUCC member for more than 50 years now. She was confirmed at CPUCC, married her husband Tino here, and both of her children were baptized in the church.
Cindy’s talents and spirit of volunteerism runs deep at CPUCC. Currently she serves on Council as the Generosity Steward. She chairs the Capital Campaign Steering Committee and the new fund-raising effort called Bridge to Tomorrow and coordinates the grocery card fund-raising program as well as CPUCC’s Meals on Wheels delivery program. In addition, Cindy trains and schedules lay readers, handles the church prayer chain, participates in lay support by sending cards to members, and coordinates the child protection clearance records. She has also served as Council President (three years total), church Treasurer (approximately 12 years), and a Sunday School teacher, as well as various other positions on Council and different committees.
When Cindy looks back at her time at CPUCC, she is surrounded by warm memories of serving church dinners as a teenager to help pay off the church mortgage, a trip to New York City with her confirmation class, and so many fellowship events over the years as well as Good Friday prayer vigils and Bible studies.
By being so involved in the church, you’d think that Cindy wouldn’t have time for anything else. But she is not one to sit idle. She volunteers with the United Way’s Money in Your Pocket program since 2012. This important program provides free income tax preparation for low to moderate income individuals and families. If you happen to attend a show at the Hershey Theatre, you may just run into Cindy where she volunteers as an usher. (Let’s hope she gets to enjoy the shows too!)
How did Cindy get such a strong sense of responsibility and commitment? She credits her parents and grandparents – her mother Elinor is also a member of CPUCC at the young age of 93! Cindy also thanks wonderfully supportive friends and her church family.
“I’m inspired by many members of CPUCC, who work so diligently for our church, and by leaders in our country and around the world who seek to serve God in everything they do,” she said.
When Cindy finally gets a chance to relax, she enjoys being a grandmother to her three grandchildren, reading, and walking.
Oh, and remember the show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Turns out that Cindy is a game show aficionado, and she was on the show back in 1999! She didn’t get into the hot seat face-to-face with Regis Philbin or come home with a packed wallet, but it was an exciting and whirlwind experience.
Not only is CPUCC’s DNA a part of Cindy Gnech, but she has also left an indelible mark on the fabric of the church, and we all thank her for it.
August 2024
Meet other members of Colonial Park United Church of Christ by clicking HERE.
