The Jewish congregation Beth Shalom of Lake Norman has entered a partnership with St. Alban’s Episcopal Church that will give the Jewish group a home for the foreseeable future. The idea grew out of a chance encounter between leaders on the Village Green in April. They say the arrangement, which begins Aug. 1, will create a variety of social, educational and community services links between the two congregations.

St. Alban’s is a longtime Davidson congregation with a church at 301 Caldwell Lane, in the New Neighborhood in Old Davidson, off Concord Road.

Beth Shalom Lake Norman is a 60-family congregation affiliated with Temple Israel in Charlotte. Since its founding about a decade ago, Beth Shalom has met in various locations, including Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson College and Davidson United Methodist Church.

Congregation President Beth Cupp said this week Beth Shalom has developed many relationships “because we were nomads,” but members have been eager for a more permanent home. “We are so grateful for the colleges and the churches to open their homes to use for the past 10 years, but this will help us have consistency and help us to grow,” Ms. Cupp said

At St. Alban’s, Beth Shalom will be able to bring all its activities under one roof, including monthly Shabbaton services (on the first Friday), Saturday religious education, high holy days celebrations and other events.

But Ms. Cupp said the St. Alban’s partnership is about more than space. “This is not just (that) we went looking for space and found a room,” she said. “This is a true partnership, not just another place where we’re going to hang our hats.”

The Rev. David Buck, pastor at St. Alban’s, said of the partnership: “We want to build friendships and expand our religious horizons.” He foresees joint social and community service activities between the two congregations as well as better interfaith understanding.

MEETING ON THE GREEN

Ms. Cupp said the opportunity to move to St. Alban’s actually came about in part at the suggestion of the Rev. Buck. Both leaders recounted how they met at the Jewish group’s Holocaust Remembrance Day on the Davidson Village Green in April.

“He said, ‘Wow, I see what you’re doing here.’ He reached out to us immediately. He said we want to talk to you about this idea we have,” Ms. Cupp recalled.

Rev. Buck, who became St. Alban’s pastor last year, said he had heard that Beth Shalom leaders were looking for a more permanent location. He also had discussed with his own church leaders the idea of sharing facilities with another faith group.

“Peter Macon (St. Alban’s senior warden) and I talked about how we would love to share our facility with a group of another faith,” Rev. Buck said.

He broached the idea with Ms. Cupp at the Holocaust Day on the Green. “We were able to work it out because our schedules differ so much,” he said.

“This is more than just providing space,” the Rev. Buck said. “We see this as a real opportunity for growth, and as Christians, it’s our heritage.”

Beth Shalom’s spiritual leader is Rabbi Jeremy Gerber, a rabbinical student at Jewish Theological Seminary who has been assigned to the congregation through the Gladstein Rabbinic Fellowship of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

The Rev. Buck said he looks forward to working with Rabbi Gerber and he hopes the two congregations can not only socialize, but engage in community service projects together. The two congregations will meet together to get to know one another in September.

SERVICES

Beth Shalom of Lake Norman will have its first monthly services at St. Alban’s Friday, Aug. 1 at 6:15 p.m. The Shabbaton service will be followed by a catered dinner.

The Shabbat celebration continues Saturday at 9 a.m. with Torah readings, a service for kids, and a lunch. Adult education is planned Saturday evening at 8.

For details or reservations, visit www.bslkn.org.