DEACONS
HAPPY FALL! The leaves are changing, the air is cool,
and the FCON family is busy Welcoming, Serving and Seeking Christ
together!
Deacon’s Fund
A few updates from the
Deacon’s: With your generosity we were able to provide $300 of assistance in
the last month. As Winter approaches the needs increase and we pray
blessings on all those in need, all those who were able to give, and those who
wished to give, but could not.
Name Tags
The Deacon’s will be
collecting names and deposits of $5.00 for professionally made magnetic name
tags to replace our current paper/plastic name tags. These will be more
comfortable, easier to use, and more gentle on your clothing. Please check in
with Sarah Holt and place your order!
Communion
Pastor Scott will
continue to offer communion for Christian Education Teachers and volunteers @
9:30 on Communion Sundays. All are welcome to join our CE volunteers for
this important sacrament.
Deacon’s Of The Month
November will be Sarah Holt and Rob Shaw;
December will be Jim Lehan and Emily Ellen; January will be Jim Lehan and
Laura Carr.
Thanksgiving
Please mark you
calendars for Tuesday the 25th at 7:30 PM, as we will celebrate an
Ecumenical Service with several area churches celebrating the season of
Thanksgiving!
CONFIRMATION
We are approaching
the start of the confirmation season – please include our confirmation
candidates and mentors in your prayers.
Hat’s Off…
A monthly feature of
the Deacon’s…. This month we want to tip our hats to the Parsonage Study Committee. The entire congregation
appreciates their time and energy to research and present the important
information needed to help discern God’s will as we make a decision regarding
the Parsonage.
YOUR
DEACONS ARE:
Kevin Riley, Buddy Bowden, Laura Carr, Emily Ellen, John Evans, Jeanne
Groff, Sarah Holt, Ruth Kantzer, Jim Lehan, Phil Lukens, Jack Perkuhn, Ronalae
Salisbury, Rob Shaw, Patti Sparrow, and Gay Zervos.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Deacon?
The term deacon applies to both men and women. The Diaconate at the Federated Church of
Norfolk shall consist of twelve (12) elected deacons plus a Deacon-at-Large who
is an officer of the Church. The twelve
(12) elected deacons will be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected
at the annual meeting. All nominees
shall be members of the Federated Church of Norfolk. Four (4) deacons will be elected each year for a three (3) year
term.
What are the duties of a
Deacon?
The Diaconate shall be responsible for the spiritual welfare of
the church. To accomplish their duties
the Diaconate selects from their membership a Chairman (or Co-chairmen), a
Deacon’s Treasurer, and a Deacon’s Clerk.
What are the Duties of the Deacon Chair and Co
Chair?
The
officers of the Church are accountable to the Executive committee. The Chairman of the Diaconate shall:
1. Direct all activities of the Diaconate.
2. Assist the Pastor in the service of Baptism.
3. Assist the Pastor in the admission of new members.
4. Represent the Diaconate at Executive committee.
What are
the Duties of the Deacon-at-Large?
1. Be available as a liaison between the Pastor and the
Diaconate, and between the Pastor and the Executive committee.
2. Be available to the Pastor for special projects and
assignments.
3. Act as a non voting ex-officio member of the
Executive Committee
4. Act as a voting member of the Diaconate.
What are the duties of the Diaconate?
- Be responsible for the spiritual welfare of the
Church.
- Prepare the communion table and assist the
Pastor in administering the elements of the communion service. Communion shall be served the first
Sunday of each month, unless otherwise directed by the Church or the
Executive committee.
- Be responsible for collecting the special
offering taken at each regular communion service. Funds collected will make up the
Communion Fund which will be used to care for people with emergency needs
as determined by the Chairman of Deacons, the Pastor, and the Deacon's
Treasurer.
- Lead the worship service if the Pastor is not
available. Secure interim and
supply Pastors as needed.
- Develop programs for the growth of the Church.
- Appoint a head usher yearly.
- Establish and maintain permanent subcommittees
for the following: music, alter guild, missions, visiting and Church
delegates.
What are
Deacons for Life?
Those who have served the church as a Deacon for many years may be recommended by the Executive Committee and honored by the congregation at annual meeting by being designated as Deacons for Life. As such they may attend all Deacons Meetings if they choose to do so. Our congregation currently has two Deacons for Life: John Evans and Ruth Kantzer. Their names are listed on a plaque in the sanctuary along with the names of those who have received this honor in the past.
SPECIAL
PROJECTS
Deacon
Neighborhood Project
Our membership has grown and
we feel it is increasingly difficult for the minister to connect and stay in
contact with everyone. In an effort to
keep a ‘small town’ feel, the Deacons have divided up the membership into four
“neighborhoods.” Each neighborhood will
have three Deacons acting as Neighborhood “Shepherds.”
Our goal is to connect with
all members: whether active, sporadic, or inactive, sick, shut in or in
crisis. We want to make ourselves
available to anyone wishing to share joys or concerns.
Nametags will be used to
help members recognize one another and their neighborhood shepherds.
We are looking forward to
doing activities such as:
v
Neighborhood
opportunities to meet with the new Pastor
v
Coffee hour hosted each
neighborhood,
v
Neighborhood cookouts
v
Neighborhood lighting
of the Advent Wreath
If you feel more comfortable
contacting the Pastor or a different neighborhood shepherd, please feel free to
do so.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SHEPHERDS
Pink Neighborhood: Sarah Holt, Ronaele
Salisbury, and Patti Sparrow
Purple Neighborhood: Emily Ellen,
Jim Lehan, and Jack Perkuhn
Orange Neighborhood:, Kevin
Riley, Jean Groff, and Gay Zervos
Green Neighborhood: Buddy
Bowden, Laura Carr, and Rob Shaw