October Report
Prayer Shawl and Quilt Ministry
Thanks to those who
faithfully do this.
Lutheran World Relief is
going to send out
about 100 quilts in mid
October.
As of now only 4 ladies are
making shawls
and quilts. Any new volunteers would be
welcome. Also financial contributions
are needed for material and
other expenses.
Contributions can be
designated in the
Sundays offering.
September Report
Church Van
It’s available to any group
in the church who needs it.
Most of the time the youth
use it and Pastor Erik sometimes
drives it.
Service and missions and
crossbeams need it from time to time.
Property committee is in charge
of maintaining it.
Sending Cards
Charlene sends cards to
people on the prayer request list.
Family members who lost
someone also get one.
Charlene thanks for
faithfully doing this.
AUGUST REPORT
Angel Hands
Gordon Henry put in new shower fixtures for Roni White.
This was especially needed because she had shoulder surgery.
Attendance Records
I cubed re-emphasized the responsibility of the contemporary
service usher to tear out red book attendance sheets and leave
them in the office.
July Report
Meals for New Moms
No help is needed. Things are doing great.
Thanks to Patti Stouch for all her hard work.
Home Communion
There has been a change in leadership but
the same people are helping.
May Report
Prayer Chain
Many thanks to Karen Bergh for the tireless effort she puts in.
People’s prayer needs are being met.
Many thanks also to Marilyn and Charlene for their dedication
to the e-mail prayer chain.
Stephen Ministry
New Stephen Leaders went out of state for training recently.
April Liaison Report
Helping Hands
First of all let me thank Joan Swindle and Jeanne Michel and the 30+
volunteers who help with this effort.
There have been a number of funerals lately and you have always stepped up.
Something that I just learned is that helping hands handle setup of food and
tables and chairs for the service and the reception and transport all the flowers
from the sanctuary into the reception area after the service.
March Liaison Report
Prayer Shawl Ministry
There are 5 people dedicated to this.
This past year 19 shawls and 86 quilts were made.
The shawls and quilts go to people mainly from
our church but can go to people outside the church
as well. Pastor John and Erik may want to advise
the shawl ministry to give shawls/quilts to specific
people. If you know of a need please contact
the pastors. Many thanks to the hard work and
dedication of this ministry.
Caring February Report
Home Communion
Paul lead a meeting for all communion ministers on 1.16.
He opened the discussion as to any problems encountered.
Are CDs of the worship service getting to all the
home bound people? We need to investigate.
It was suggested that plastic wine glasses be used in
the kits since no cleaning is needed after use. However,
there were symbolic issues so we decided to stay with glass.
Also it was agreed that some new communion kits
should be purchased since some were looking a little shabby.
Paul said that the number of ministers is just right for
the number of shut-ins served at the present time.
January Report
Food Help for new Moms
Patti Stouch says she has helpers and a new baby has arrived so the mom
might need help.
Flowers for Shut-ins
Karen has enough helpers but needs to keep track of the volunteers better.
Attendance
Barbara is doing just fine for now.
Helping Hands
NOVEMBER REPORT
Good Grief Group
On hiatus. Was going good but lately interested has waned.
Angel Hands
Right now 2 people have volunteered to help.
Roni White is helping with one person on an ongoing basis.
I was all set to repair a lamp for this same person but she discovered
it was not plugged in (problem solved).
Evelyn Lacy said that she is interested in helping as well.
OCTOBER REPORT
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Just a brief note about my last report on Prayer Shawls.
Normally there are 12 ladies who are doing this.
About 38 shawls are distributed each year.
My apologies for getting the numbers wrong before.
Angel Hands
There is already a response to the notation in October’s
“Grapevine”. On 23 September one person called to join Angel Hands.
She also recommended a senior who needs the services
provided. Anyone who wants to join or who needs assistance
call 988-0335.
September
Caring Report
Phone
Prayer Chain
Karen
Bergh is the one who people call if they want to be put on the chain.
If
they are calling in a request on another’s behalf, the person must give
his(her) ok
before
Marilyn will add their request to the computer. From there it will go on
the
published
request lists (i.e. church bulletin and newsletter). There are about 10
requests
that
fall in this category each month. Karen says the chain is working well.
E-mail
Prayer Chain
Marilyn
and Charlene have divided this as follows:
Marilyn
takes requests via e-mail during working hours, Monday- Friday.
Charlene
takes requests after working hours (M-F) and on weekends.
The
reason both the e-mail and the phone prayer chains exist is
because
not everyone feels comfortable with the computer
Caring
Committee Liaison Report – August 2010
Prayer
Shawl Ministry
This is a ministry that is going on all over the world. For our church this ministry is for mothers of new babies, people with severe illness and those left behind after a death in the family. Currently there are 6-7 knitters from our church doing this. This year eight shawls were completed (each shawl takes 8 hours to make). Monetary contributions are welcome. Just designate Prayer Shawl Ministry on the weekly church envelopes. The number of knitters is dwindling so anyone who wants to join is very welcome. There are a few concerns that were expressed. Inadequate communication is getting to the shawl ministry. Who wants a shawl? People needing shawls need to be added to the church prayer list.
Helping Hands Ministry
There are 35 women who are involved in this. It has been going strong for 6 years. Pastor John or Erik make a request for reception help for an upcoming funeral. Then one of the "helping hands" takes charge of the set-up, food, flowers and clean-up for the reception. Helping hands will accept donations to cover the reception costs. Anyone wanting to join the team is welcome.
May, 2010
Meals for Moms
Patti Stouch runs “Meals for Moms.” She organizes the meal deliveries for families with new babies. 12-15 ladies on her list provide meals for moms for about 6 weeks after their babies arrive.
Stephen
There is a current need for “Stephen Leaders.” These usually come from the Stephen Ministers. Leaders oversee the operation of the ministry and provide training for new ministers. Get in touch with Pastor John if you are interested.
Home Communion
2 vacancies exist Please see Paul Christiansen to volunteer. Also, Paul thinks that offering to help home bound with trips to the doctor, errands or small repair jobs (smoke alarm batteries, etc) is ok to do.
Church Van Ministry
The van pool is being under utilized. We need someone to take charge of this so people who need rides to church and various church committees can make efficient use of the vans.
CARING COMMITTEE REPORT - LIAISON REPORT
For the month of March I’ve emailed leaders of some areas under the “caring committee”. The responses were encouraging and they are included in this report.
Flower Team
Karen Gramacki informed me about the duties of the team. The system is working well. Karen finds people who are willing to deliver flowers to shut ins, the hospitalized, and those in care facilities. People can signup in advance to purchase flowers. A letter is sent to whoever’s turn it is to buy flowers. The letter suggests that they can deliver the flowers to the homebound if they choose. In addition alter flowers are sometimes recycled to the home bound.
Attendance Records
Barbara D’Addario picks up attendance sheets from the office. She finds out who will call the absent people. She thinks that 3-4 weeks is enough wait time before calls should be made. She would welcome any volunteers to assist her.
Card/Phone Call
Ministry
I understand this is also called “the sunshine ministry.” Charlene Sakioka is doing this. She sends sympathy or get-well cards to people who have prayer requests. She is able to do this herself for now.
Communion to Home
Bound
Paul Christensen has this under control. I’m helping with this and it’s rewarding.
Angel Hands
Barbara D’Addario really needs volunteers for this. I’m thinking that someone needs to “plug” this in order to get it going. Barbara says that many home bound people would appreciate help with “fix it” and “errand” tasks that they are not able to do themselves. For example: replacing light bulbs, picking up medicine or food, giving a ride to the doctor’s office or to church. Also, fixing a drawer, replacing smoke alarm batteries, buying stamps at the post office, etc. Barbara needs a volunteer’s list (I’m thinking Time/Talent). She wants to generate an “ongoing list” of people/needs. She wants to generate some cash for the effort (i.e. request at Make It Bake It). I’m going to ask Paul about me asking the people I offer communion if they need little fixes/small errands.
Prayer Chain…
Helping Hands…
Prayer Shawl
Ministry…
…are doing well and need no assistance for now. Same with Stephen Ministry.
Caring Committee
The three divisions—flower delivery (coordinated by church office), cards to shut-ins, and home communion--continue to function well.
· There are new volunteers from the Time & Talent survey. Home communion ministers will be oriented on January 9, 2005, and begin service after that.
· Card ministry members will also meet in January, with new members beginning and some prior members transitioning to other ministries.
· A new division is being explored—one in which a person who has experienced a particular medical treatment or problem will be available to one who is facing that same problem to answer some of the questions that the person may have—what to expect, strategies that help with recovery, etc. An informational note will be in the next Grapevine, and a survey for interested people will be distributed in January.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara a. Meyer
CARING COMMITTEE
10/7/03
This Committee has evolved into three divisions,
with distinct functions, thus reflecting a holistic caring ministry.
One
division is that of flower delivery.
This group is coordinated and assigned as part of the weekly worship
team through the church office.
Another
division is the “cards and contacts” group.
These people keep in contact with church members who are identified by
the Pastors as having special needs.
They may be temporarily or permanently homebound, or have another
identified need. The contacts may
involve cards, phone calls or visits as appropriate. This is an intentional expression of caring
from the church, and is in addition to any personal or individual friendship
connections.
The
third division consists of members who have volunteered to distribute communion
to those who are either temporarily or permanently homebound. The pastors are in the process of preparing
the congregation and those whom they visit to receive theses visits—which will
supplement and not replace the regular Pastoral visits. Training for and initiation of this service
will be occurring soon.
This
committee will meet as needed rather than on a scheduled basis. I will be the conduit for information to and
from the members providing the various functions. In addition, I will be contacting people who
have stopped attending church in order to identify any needs or concerns from
there.
Thanks
to all who have taken on a part of this caring committee ministry. Please call me at any time if you have
questions or concerns.
445-7673
Caring
Committee
Minutes
8/12/2003
Members
Present: Barbara Meyers, Pat Garant, Louise Vincent
Members
Absent: Diane Hawkins, Karen Vieira
·
·
The meeting was
called to order at 7:20 PM
·
·
Minutes of the
July meeting were reviewed
Discussion/
Actions:
·
·
The updated
“special needs” list was reviewed. The
list now includes birthdays and anniversaries for special remembrances. The new list was given to those present and
will be distributed to others at the next meeting.
·
·
The church
attendance lists and follow-up with “missing members” was reviewed. This was the subject of a recent article in The
Lutheran. It was decided that after
summer vacations (beginning with the September list) Barbara will initiate
contacts with those who have not attend church in the previous month.
·
·
Rally Day –
Karen and Diane have been preparing materials to use for recruitment; these
will be reviewed at the next meeting.
All committee members will be present and participate in Rally Day
activities.
·
·
Louise
suggested placing a monthly “caring note”: in the Grapevine, focused on a brief
health and safety reminder appropriate to the season. Louise will be responsible for this activity.
Next
meeting will be on Tuesday, September 2nd , at 7:30 PM. (Note the meeting time is being changed
beginning with the September meeting)
Respectfully
Submitted,
Barbara
A. Meyer
Caring
Committee
Minutes
7/9/2003
Members
Present: Barbara Meyers, Diane Hawkins,
Karen Vieira, Pastor John
Members
Absent: Pat Garant,
Louise Vincent
·
·
The meeting was
called to order at 7:05 PM
·
·
Barbara let the
group in an opening prayer
·
·
Barbara
reported that Barbara Graziani had put a letter of resignation in from the
committee
·
·
The group was
updated that a Sunday flower delivery program is in place.
Discussion/
Actions:
·
·
The committee
has a $500.00 budget authorized by the Church Council. At this time, the primary expense is for note
cards and stamps that each member send out.
Those present decided that members will purchase their own cards and
stamps and submit receipts for reimbursement themselves.
·
·
Pastor John
will update the “special needs list” regularly for distribution to the
committee. He also suggested that we
include special remembrances such as birthdays, anniversaries, relocations,
graduations, deaths – this will be included in our outreach.
·
·
Discussion
about the need for additional participation on this committee. Karen and Diana will work together to develop
materials for the next Rally Day –
September 14th. Barbara will write a brief article for the
Grapevine to invite participation.
·
·
We reviewed a
booklet about home communion by trained lay members of the church that Barbara
obtained at the Synod Assembly. Pastor
John explained the preparation of the congregation for this new ministry. It is anticipated that this will begin later
this year or early 2004 after sufficient discussion and training.
The
meeting closed with a prayer by Pastor John, and was adjourned at 7:45 PM
Next
meeting will be on Tuesday, August 12th at 7:00 PM. (This is postponed from August 5th
because of Vacation Bible School)
Respectfully
Submitted,
Barbara
A. Meyer
Minutes – Caring Committee
6/3/03
The
meeting was cancelled because of lack of a quorum. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
July 1, 2003 at 7:00 PM in the Parish Life Center.
Barbara
A. Meyer – chair
Minutes – Caring Committee 5/6/2003
The
meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM with an opening prayer and introduction
of committee members.
Discussion: Purpose of committee and
review of potential tasks & approaches to tasks:
Attendance
– noted
that there is inconsistent use of the “red book”; some people have assumed that
the plate envelopes are also a way of recording attendance; other issues – the
book my not be circulated, pencils may have broken
off or be missing, only 1 person in family or group may sign in without
indication that others are present.
Support
in time of need – reviewed the list provided by Pastor John; discussed possible
ways to reach out to these people, including bringing communion to them.
Action
Decision:
Attendance: Place a short article in the grapevine to
explain the importance of the “red book” and remind people to sign in; ask that
the books be checked weekly for functional pencils; refresh the notice in the
Sunday bulletin so that people notice it. (Barbara will follow up with these
items) Follow up with people whose
attendance is slipping; as this is problematic due to above noted records; the
committee will defer this activity at this time; however, after the new membership
directory is distributed, we will consider contacting every member/ member
family in a general survey to include issues related to attendance. The committee will ask for council input
about the survey tool to be used and for assistance with making the contacts.
Support: The list was divided and 5-6 of the persons
on the list were assigned to each committee member present. “Sunshine Cards” and telephone contacts will
be initiated. Pastor John and/or Pastor
Erik will be invited to attend a committee meeting in order to discuss our role
in support, as well as training members to distribute communion to shut-ins.
Other: distribution of Sunday
flowers; this has been problematic.
Barbara will contact people who had indicated a willingness to do this. This activity will be incorporated into the
worship assistant assignments with reminders as for other assignments.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10
PM. Next meeting 7:00 PM Tuesday 6/3/03
(meeting to be regularly conducted on the 1st Tuesday of the month;
7:00 PM Parish Life Center)
Barbara
A. Meyer – chair
Members
Present:
Barbara Meyer, Pat Garant, Karen Vieira, and Louise
Vincent
Members
Excused Absence: Barbara Graziani, Diane Hawkins
Caring Committee Report
This committee is not currently functional! It is my plan to bring some of our members
who are nurses together to form the nucleus of this group by offering a “caring
service” to the congregation. We would
start by checking blood pressures after each service one Sunday a month. This can be a vehicle for reaching out and
beginning to identify other needs that might not be so readily evident and that
we may be able to assist with—such as referrals to Pastors or Stephen
ministers, transportation, grocery shopping, or even “just” social contacts.
I am in the process of contact
people to participate on the caring committee and more fully develop our
activities.