Deacons Ministry
The office of Deacon is… .gif)
one of “sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ.” (Book of Order)
We are here to care for and serve the members of CPC, to be the “hands and feet of Christ” in our community. We are here to help in many ways such as:
- providing meals or transportation
- grocery shopping
- planning/serving at a funeral reception
-
visiting members in nursing homes or hospitals
We minister to those in need through prayers, phone calls, letters, or personal visits.
We may also be called to assist in the sacrament of Communion during worship as well as helping with the pastor’s ministry to the sick and hospitalized.
Each Deacon has been assigned to be a contact person for a specific need (meals, transportation, prayer requests). If you are comfortable approaching a specific Deacon, we welcome you to reach out to us individually.
Should you need Deacon assistance and are not sure whom to contact, please contact Diane O’Connor in the church office (office4cpc@gmail.com / 735-5029) and she will notify the appropriate Deacon coordinator.
It is a calling to serve the church and its community of believers.
Current Deacons |
|
| Name | Email Address |
| Beck, Judy | judithb@embarqmail.com |
| Boyer, Val | boyerfam@gmail.com |
| Dhein, Betty Ann | bettydhein@comcast.net |
| Edelsberg, Cathy | acedels@juno.com |
| Fitzgerald, Kathy | kfitz724@yahoo.com |
| Grove, Keith | kscmtgrove@embarqmail.com |
| Hovey, Nancy | nancyhovey@comcast.net |
| Kotter, Wes | weskotter@gmail.com |
| Nace, Cathy | cathy.m.nace@embarqmail.com |
| Pustai, Linda | lindaschipmann@hotmail.com |
| Pusztai, Gabriella | ggpusztai@yahoo.com |
| Tombs, Bob | tombsrobert@yahoo.com |
Which Deacon Should I Contact?
Deacon Update
March 2012
The Deacons have been blessed with wonderful guidance from Pastor Linda. Attending almost every meeting, she provides constant support. Recently, we began seeking Linda’s assistance concerning approaches to difficult situations. The Deacons discussed how easy it is to send a card, make a phone call, visit someone for a happy occasion – a wedding, a graduation, a baby. However, we honestly admitted that we didn’t feel prepared to help effectively in more trying times. Over several meetings, Linda shared information with us to better equip us to serve needs of our congregation. Through handouts and discussion, we focused on topics like grieving. Linda helped explain the grieving process and gave advice on how to “be there” for someone needing such support.
These discussions have enabled each of us to grow in knowledge and in spirit. We pray, through Linda’s teachings, that we become more valuable servants of Christ as we pray for and assist our CPC friends who need care.
Deacon of the Month for MARCH – Bob Tombs.
The Deacons will gather again on March 1st.
We’re always praying for you!
February 2012
John 8:12 (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
At the start of our Deacon meetings, we light a candle to remind us that Jesus is in our midst. With His light at our center, we gather to pray for church friends and family.
…prayers for healing, for strength, for comfort, for peace, for safe travel; prayers of thanksgiving and praise for positive news and answered prayer. We pray for specific people whose needs have been brought to our attention – from the CPC office, from friends, from congregants, from each other. As a group, we review the list of names one by one so we all are updated on each need or status. Then each prayer request is chosen by a Deacon who will pray aloud for that person or need. The Deacons alternate their prayers as each need is voiced individually to our Heavenly Father. It is a quiet and special time as we focus on these prayers and feel God’s presence.
What is prayer? How do YOU pray? Prayer is a two-way conversation with God ~ talking to Him and allowing Him to speak to us. Prayer is anywhere, anytime, formal or informal… in church, at home, in the grocery store, in the traffic jam…. with eyes closed or with eyes open. God requires no religious lingo or elaborate phrasing; just speak from your heart as you would to a friend. God doesn’t care if you stumble on your words or if sometimes you have no words at all. Sometimes God wishes us just to “be still”. He wishes us to be silent, to listen to Him so that He may speak to us. Sometimes the most meaningful prayers have no words.
So pray… every day, all throughout the day. God wants to hear from you. Prayer does make a difference.
And remember ~ we’re always praying for you!
Deacon of the Month for FEBRUARY – Keith Grove
The Deacons will gather again on February 2nd .
January 2012
A prayer for you in the new year…
“Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future. We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us - but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year. In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love….”
(taken from a prayer written by Billy Graham for "The Saturday Evening Post" in 2008)
We pray that you look to God in 2012 for guidance. We hope that you feel His ever-present love in your lives.
At our December meeting, we gathered for prayer, discussion and a time of fellowship with each other. Thank you, Judy Beck, for hosting a lovely evening.
Join us for Fellowship Hour! Your Deacons will be hosting during the month of January. Please join us after the worship service for coffee and treats. If anyone is interested in contributing a baked good, fruit or treat during January, please let one of the Deacons know. Hospitality is always looking for volunteers to organize one Sunday’s coffee hour, or just to contribute a snack. You should find Hospitality’s binder on the counter during Fellowship – just pick a week and sign up!
Deacon of the Month for January – Wes Kotter. The Deacons will gather again on January 5th.
We are always praying for you!
December 2011
We hope this holiday season you find within our church not Christmas presents, but Christmas presence. We pray that you feel welcomed and loved, cared for and prayed for; that you feel a part of our family; that you feel the spirit of Christmas all year long. Our monthly Deacon meetings focus on you ~ our church family and friends. We care about you, so we pray for you. In the presence of Christ, we offer up the needs of our congregation to our loving God. If you should have a specific prayer request, please let us know so that we may pray for you during our special gathering each month.
The Deacons have been asked to assist in worship, so you may see one of us reading scripture on occasion. If any of you would like to worship God through reading scripture on a Sunday morning, we would love to see you in the pulpit too. If interested, please contact Eileen Mansfield (Worship Committee) at worship4cpc@gmail.com.
Remember this season to count your blessings – large and small. And remember this Christmas those less fortunate. Help us to fill the food pantry collection baskets in the sanctuary and, in turn, fill the bodies and souls of our neighbors.
It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you...yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.
--Mother Teresa
Deacon of the Month for DECEMBER – Linda Pustai
The Deacons will gather again on December 1st.
We’re always praying for you!
November 2011
Happy autumn! Have you looked around and appreciated its beauty? We are surrounded by trees filled with leaves of different colors and some leaves still green, waiting their turn. Have you noticed…? Each leaf changes color and begins to fall at its own pace; each leaf a different shape, a different size, no two exactly the same.
Have you looked around and appreciated the beauty of our church and all who worship here? We are surrounded by people blessed with different gifts, some already sharing with the church, some still waiting their turn. Have you noticed…? Each one of us honors God in our own way ~ teaching Sunday School, ushering during a service, making a meal, saying a prayer…. No two of us are exactly the same.
We are to use our gifts also to serve one another. With Thanksgiving around the bend, we Deacons remind you how thankful we are for the opportunity to serve you throughout the year. Let us know if we may help you in some way.
If you haven’t already, please take a peek at our Deacon bulletin board in the hallway just outside of the office. Thank you to Betty Ann Dhein for updating the information. Learn who we are, what we do, and how to contact us!
Deacon of the Month for NOVEMBER – Cathy Edelsberg
The Deacons will gather again on November 3rd.
We’re always praying for you!
September 2011
Recently, the Deacons participated in two focus group sessions with the Mission Study Team. If you haven’t yet attended a focus group, we encourage you to contact one of the Mission Study Team members and meet with a group in September. We offered our input on the strengths, weaknesses, and future direction of our church. Mission Study is interested in your opinions as well.
You all should be receiving shortly a letter from the Deacons welcoming you back to our fall church schedule. If you do not receive it, please contact one of the Deacons (listed in the weekly bulletin) so that we may be sure you are on our address list.
Over the summer, we welcomed four new Deacons: Kathy Fitzgerald, Linda Pustai, Gabriella Pusztai, and Bob Tombs. We thank each one for joining in our ministry and for being eager to serve our congregation.
Deacon of the Month for SEPTEMBER - Nancy Hovey
The Deacons will gather again on September 8th.
