Deacons
Deacons Members: Doris Allen, Jennifer Blakeney, Ed Briskey, Nancy Burcham, Cathy Ghiandoni, Monika Juodisius, Janet Kickel, Karen Loughridge, Cindy Newton, Dele Solaru. Joy Stang, Mark Waring, Marilyn Wilk
The Deacons Ministry consists of 12 involved and active church members and one Youth Deacon. All seek to emulate Jesus Christ in sympathy, witness and service to others.
The Deacons supervise the CARE Network, now in its sixth year, which includes all members of the congregation. CARE has been defined as
- Christ-like
- Attention
- Reaching Everyone with
- Empathy
In a planned rotation, members of a different CARE group each month have been charged with the care and nurturing of the entire congregation. The CARE groups are named after religious places or sites found in the Bible, i.e. Mt. Sinai. Jerusalem, Canaan, etc.
Each CARE group has approximately 20-25 individual members and families led by the assigned Deacon. The responsibilities of a CARE group include the immediate needs of the people in our congregation, such as providing transportation or delivering meals to new parents, someone who is sick or needs a break, and sending cards to the sick, infirm and grieving.
The monthly CARE group also supplies hosts for continental breakfast and coffee hour before and after the Sunday service. CARE group greeters welcome and extend fellowship to our members and guests each Sunday before the service and distribute flowers after the service. Each Sunday a greeting card table is hosted where cards are signed and mailed to members who could use cheer or congratulations.
The CARE groups have been well coordinated and have brought improved co-operation from the congregation. Our visibility has been improved with an article of communication and /or education in the monthly Tower. The names of the CARE group members and leader have been printed in the weekly Sunday bulletin. The Deacons’ corner bulletin board has aided in keeping the CARE network in our members’ minds. The support and guidance of Rev. Clover Beal has been very helpful.
The Deacons Ministry members have worked well together this year. The co-leaders have brought efficiency and effectiveness to our meetings and programs. Again this year there has been a Deacon Elder on Session. This has promoted greater communication and continuity with Session and the other ministries.
At the Deacons’ Retreat in January the role of what it means to be a FHC Deacon in 2009 was explored. Thus the newly-elected Deacons came away with a real understanding of their new responsibilities. The Deacons have continued to support each other all year long.
The Youth Deacon has attended the majority of our monthly meetings and overseen the Youth members of the congregation as they carry out the responsibilities of the CARE group on the 4th Sunday of the month.
Through the generosity, time and talent of a member of this congregation the Deacons have been able to present a prayer shawl along with a special prayer to 11 of our members who have been hospitalized, homebound, sick or unable to be an active member. This program has been well received and appreciated for the second year.
Two years ago the Deacons, along with interested members of the congregation, began to explore the possibility of a targeted ministry of care to caregivers - individuals caring full-time or part-time for homebound family members with physical needs. This year four caregivers were identified. Regular visits to the caregivers provided prayer and emotional support. A special basket of self-care products and devotional materials geared for caregivers and a list of home repair contractors was distributed.
This year a new directory with a compilation of pictures, names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses was completed and distributed to the congregation in September. As a ministry the Deacons decided to present a copy of this directory to the persons in each new-member class.
An intergenerational celebration with the theme of “The Love Boat” was enjoyed on the kick-off Sunday in September. It was a great success and under budget thanks to the free-will offerings of so many generous members.
An opportunity for a monthly blood pressure check has been coordinated by the Deacons and carried out though the generosity of physician and nursing members of our congregation.
Deacons have assisted in serving food, punch and coffee at each memorial service. A team has taken Communion to the homebound and those in nursing facilities twice this year. We hope to offer four opportunities for Home Communion in the coming year.
It has been our responsibility to keep the membership data of the congregation updated. We hope to reach out more to newer members about the purpose of Deacons and the CARE groups.
The goal of the Deacons Ministry is to include and involve members and friends of Forest Hill Church in the work and play of our congregation. To that end, it has been a very successful year and we are grateful for the support and encouragement of our pastors and the members of our church community.
Karen Loughridge, Deacon Elder; and Dele Solaru, Deacon