Caring Committee

Minutes for December 14, 2004

 

 

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.

 

Barbara Meyer

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.

Barbara A. Meyer