The Board of Deacons

Deacons' Doings, June 2008

In one minute I can change my attitude.

And in that one minute I can change my entire day.

One thing we can always bank on in June is longer days and shorter nights. I’ve read the explanation how the sun and earth works to bring about this phenomenon, but I simply look at the calendar and know its June and therefore it will happen. Thinking of the word bank, imagine belonging to a bank that each morning credits your account with $1,440 with ONE condition: whatever part of the $1,440 you fail to use during the day would be erased from your account, and no balance would be carried over. What would you do? You’d draw out EVERY cent EVERY day and use it to your best advantage. Well, you do have such a bank, and its name is TIME. Every morning, this bank credits you with 1,440 minutes. And it writes off as forever lost whatever portion you have failed to invest to good purpose. Invest your time wisely with God, He chose to invest wisely in you.

What month is it again? Oh, June. If that’s the case you can bank on more thing-it is Strawberry Festival time on the side lawn.. Well, we can’t bank on it being there for sure, but it certainly will be at the church on Wednesday June 11th from 6-8 PM. So mark it down, and remember to treat yourself to a wonderful evening with us enjoying hot dogs, lemonade, and that oooh so good strawberry dessert. Forget that diet for one day, and please don’t desert the dessert!

June is also Vacation Bible School month. We deacons are faithfully looking for ways we can employ our serviceable “deacon hands of the church” in some manner. So plan on seeing us actively participating in some way. Another hands on method was our approval of a $100 donation to VBS to be used in any manner that will enhance the experience for all the kids during the week.

This year 9 Student Care Baskets were distributed to our post secondary ed students. We reminded them that God gives us everything “at the price of an effort.” How delightful it will be to see them relaxing around the church again, when their lives aren’t as frenzied.

This month’s newsletter probably won’t arrive in time to remind everyone to make an extra effort to worship on June 1st as we celebrate Sunday School Sunday. To me it is one of our church’s signature services. “Were You There” when our youth gave us their very best? I hope so. I also hope you didn’t forget their lemonade sale on May 25th, I know Ms. Angel, Ms. Nancy and Ms. Rhonda did their best so you wouldn’t forget.

A Catholic priest broke his arm in a fall. The Bishop suggested he take some time off and recuperate. The priest said he would go visit another priest friend who had a cabin in the mountains of West Virginia. Each day, the two priests would go for a hike in the woods. One day they came upon some hillbillies. One of the locals asked him who they were and how he broke his arm. Just to have some fun, the priest said, “I’m Father Jacob, a Catholic priest. I broke my arm falling off the commode.” After a pleasant conversation the priests continued their walk. One of the hillbillies looked at the other and said, “Zeke, what’s a commode?” Zeke replied, “Don’t rightly know....I ain’t Catholic.” (no offense intended to West Virginians or Catholics)

There is a big difference between looking cool and not so hot.

Your faithful and humble servants,

The Board of Deacons

submitted by Rick Masten, Moderator

Members of the Board of Deacons are elected at the annual congregational meeting and are set apart by ordination. As such, they are spiritual officers of the church. They are charged with the responsibility of handling the charitable work of the church. By custom and usage, the Board of Deacons administer certain benevolent funds. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment should be chosen for this office.

The Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month (Sept.-June) at 7:15 PM. The current moderator is Rick Masten.

You already know that deacons greet worshipers at each entrance on Sunday and that they distribute the order of worship program. You already know that deacons receive your offering each week. If you have ever attended the Strawberry Festival in June, you’ve seen deacons very busy at work. They are responsible for a Community Food Drive, and they are in charge of the FPCE Food Bank.

You may not know that each deacon is assigned a shut-in (or two) to visit regularly. The Manger Tree is another of their projects, and this year’s tree is already up, with lots of names adorning it. It’s the deacons who serve the luncheon following the annual congregational meeting in January. They provide back-up transportation for senior members when Access fails. They are in charge of the Tape Ministry (did you know that each service is taped and that you can order one?) They select the Melfard Douglass Scholarship recipient each year. In addition, they send a "care package" to each of our college students when finals are coming up. They also take an Easter basket and a Harvest basket to each of our shut-ins.

By now you’re probably saying "Wow! I didn’t know they did all that!" Well, they do indeed -- and we may have overlooked something.

The Deacon’s Prayer

Oh, Lord Jesus. You came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and for our sakes became poor, that we, through your poverty might be rich. Set me apart to my office of deacon.

Grant me your spirit of compassion for human needs. Inspire me with devotion to the Church Universal. Guide and sustain me in all service until my work on earth is done, through your will alone. Amen.

DEACON FOOD PANTRY NEEDS

Our shelves need restocking:

personal care items
cereal
soup
canned vegetables
peanut butter
tuna
noodles
pasta Items are accepted weekly, but the first Sunday of the month
has been designated as a special collection day.

Thank you for your giving and caring.