FPCS Deacons

THE BOARD OF DEACONS ANNUAL REPORT 2006

Members: Lisa Stovall, Carol Weisman, Lucia Spahr, Claudia Falk, Lorraine Myers, Sue Harrison, Patti Powers, Cheryl Sanford, Becky Wagenhauser, Leigh Satriano, Meredith McLeod, Cate Zimmerman

Moderator: Lisa Stovall,

Co-Vice Moderators: Carol Weisman, Lucia Spahr

Treasurer: Claudia Falk

Corresponding Secretary: Lorraine Myers

Recording Secretary: Sue Harrison

When you answer the call to become a member of the Board of Deacons, you are ordained into a ministry of Sympathy, Witness and Service. As a Deacon, you are charged with the care of the members and their families of this congregation. YOu try to be there in times of sorrow and joy, and to share your faith with those in your care. The Deacons of this church extend this care to those past the boundaries of these walls to the community around us and beyond.

In 2006 the Board of Deacons tried to accomplish this in the following way.

Preparation of the Sanctuary for Service. There are two Deacons assigned to the preparation of the Sanctuary for each month. During this time they will place the silver, the linens, the candles, the paraments, and any other special needs that the service may require. Velma Teichert still schedules the ushers. Bente Schmidt continues to provide the communion bread and assists with the communion preparation. It is always an honor when the Deacons are called upon to serve communion to the congregation during a service. Please be aware that the Deacons who are assigned to this duty each month are there to assist you as well. They are there throughout the entire morning. If they cannot offer the help that you need, they know how to contact your Deacon for further assistance. We are all good listeners and we love to chat.

Visitation. This Board has taken much care in this area. We have tired to visit those who are unable to come to the service several times during the year. We also deliver the flowers that are donated to the church on Sundays. Many of our Deacons have visited those in our districts when there is a time of sorrow or a time of joy. The Deacons have tried to keep in touch by mail, phone and in person with as many as we can. We have assisted each other: when on e of us could not go, some one else would. In November, we hosted Meet your Deacon Sunday, inviting you to come and meet us and learn who has been charged with your care. In that way, you would feel more comfortable coming to us. However, please feel free to contact any Deacon if it would serve you better. We have given one of our Deacons the responsibility of seeing to the particular needs of the new members of our congregation. This Deacon will b e there to see that they are welcomed into the congregation and know that they also have a Deacon to help them.

The Fellowship Hour. The Deacons will assist the volunteers who sign up for providing the refreshments each Sunday. the Board of Deacons also provides the beverage for each Sunday, and a Birthday Cake each month. We believe that this hour provides the members of our congregation with time to become friends and neighbors. A time to talk to one another and learn what is going on in the lives of our church community. We have asked the different committees and organizations of the church to host a Sunday so that the rest of the congregation could learn of their good works. We have asked that they place some information in the bulletin letting you know their goals and how you can join them. This information provided the basis for our updated Faith in Action Booklet.

Holiday Giving. At Easter and Thanksgiving, the Deacons asked for donations and then created food baskets for those in need. In 2006 there were 12 families at Thanksgiving that needed assistance. Some of these families were also in need of food assistance throughout the year.Most received food assistance at Christmas. This year we also tried to help the Adopt an Angel program in any way that we could.

Deacons Fund Assistance Program:

I am happy to report that this year some of the families that we were assisting in 2005 no longer need our assistance. We have helped with emergency funding for many different reasons, from an oil bill, food money, and assistance with rent. All of the needs that we have answered have been with careful concern for honesty and discretion so that the identities of those in need remain confidential. Pastor Hulsey and/or Catherine Wallace have worked with us to ensure that the monies have been used for real needs, and in ways that will help the families to move forward in their lives to a better one.

Email News and Video. Each week Carolyn Gehlbach continues to e-publish the wonderful news letter. Tom Sartain continues to organize the video taping of the Sunday services. He provides copies to be used by those who are unable to attend the service. A copy is also provided to families of those who receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Anyone who is interested in assisting in either of these programs should see Carolyn or Tom.

Faith in Action Books. I am pleased to report that the Faith in Action Book was completed in October. This book is a listing of the many organizations of the congregation, their functions and activities. Its purpose is to give us all a better understanding of this congregation and how we work. You will also find in it a listing of the organizers of the organizations and how to contact them. A very special thanks to Carol and Patti for their wonderful work.

The Board of Deacons continues to offer a care givers table that provides cards and addresses so that you can show your support to our church community.

We have tried very hard to work with Session and Rev. Hulsey in an attempt to balance the budget. We have made some changes that are outlined in the Benevolence report.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have assisted the Board throughout the year. Special thanks to Tracy Belvin for serving as vice moderator, George Kessel, Mary Lou Dorsett and Jane DuBois, all of whom served on the Board for the first half of the year.We would also like to thank the congregation for their support, both financially and emotionally. If there are any suggestions, please feel free to bring them to the Board. A very special thanks to Catherine Wallace and to Pastor Hulsey for their guidance and training throughout the year.

The calling to be a Deacon on the Board here at this Church is a calling of your time, your energy and your heart. It is a calling that is rewarding in many ways. It gives you the opportunity to be more than you know. It gives you the chance to connect with others in need, as well as in times of joy, but most of all it gives you the chance to live on the corner of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor.